The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-23

The House OF Representatives has been in Committee
OF the Whole for several days on bill which appro-
PIRATES three millions of dollars to make up de-
ncency in the appropriations for the fiscal year ending
on the aOh OF June, 1852. The tendency Of such a
measure makes the impression that there must have been
some very material or mistake either in the exe
ecuive estimates or the congressional appropriations at
the last Congress, that there has been some exraor-
binary ooseness in the execution Of the laws by dis
bursting officers II we not mistaken in the temper OF
the people. they will have their attention arrested by
proposition to add three millions to the fifty millions APP
propnaled Tor the current year. and very satisfac-
tory explanation will be required from the Executive who
now calls for SO large additional amount OF money
and from the members of Congress who respond 10 that
call We strongly inclined TO the opinion that def
cheney bills becoming rather TOO much matter Of
course and that there is readiness yield to such ex
eculive calls which is calculated to elicit some criticism
II we are correctly informed the present deficiency
bill is intended TO comply with an executive call
for about three millions of dollars, which it is said
becomes necessary TO carry on the operations Of the
government until the 30th of June, 1852 The al
legged necessity for the additional sum arises from
the fact that the last Congress refused TO appropriate
the amount then called for by the executive estimates by
ooou' t"SC hioho, ahu Tue expenditures nave
gone according TO the scale Of the executive estimates
and not according the law OF Congress- it now becomes
necessary for the present Congress correct an error Of
the last Congress To our mind this state of facts is ex
aordnary and demands corresponding degree Of scru-
tiny on the part Of members Of Congress.
We do not mean to be understood as intimating that
there has been any misappcaon OF the public money
which has produced the alleged deficiency or that the
facts, when developed may show that the deficiency
ought 10 be supplied. What mean is, that when the
Executive has made his estimates and submitted them to
Congress, for the annual appropriation and when Con-
gess has refused to appropriate the estimated by
three millions OF dollars if the Executive goes on to ex
pend according to his estimates, and not according to the
actual appropriations he should be prepared with mos,
satisfactory for dsregardng the law OF Congress
and following his own discretion The Executive may
be able to give such reasons but unless he cam we are
unable to upon what ustfabe principle Congress can
sanction such an assumption, That position may be
more clearly understood, take case for illustration
The Executive calls for Ave millions of dollars for the
Quarermasers department. this is his estimate for the
year. Congress deems this amount too large and only
appropriates three millions. Now, if the Executive
goes and expends five Millions say that is done
in violation OF law; and if the Executive asks the
next Congress 10 sanction the excessive expenditure
should be done only upon the conclusive reasons
When Congress appropates specific sum to sustain
specific branch Of the government, the Executive has no
authority for transccndng the limit fixed by Congress
To do SO is to violate the law and no violation of law
by the Executive ought be sanctioned except under the
pressure Of absolute necessity What maintain there.
FORE is that the present deficiency bill presents case
in which the Executive should be held TO rigid accounla
| bity. Why has money been expended than was
appropriated by Congress Why not the expendi-
lures made according TO the scale indicated by the
gressional appropriations What the controlling
necessity justify the Executive in setting his discretion
above the law How has the money been expended
These questions which necessarily arise in the case,
and unless they satisfactorily met and answered a
most dangerous precedent will be set the result OF which
will be that the executive estimates and the congress
sona appropriations, will become the law OF the land We
deem proper 10 repeat that do not make these remarks
for the purpose inmang any opinion the propriey
OF passing the deficiency b but with the sole view of
showing how important it is that those who are notified
that they will be held responsible for the expenditures
according to the appropriations by Congress may the
necessity OF looking closely into this dangerous nnova-
ton upon the proper practice OF the government II the
Executive can have deficiency bills passed whenever
he chooses thus 10 have excuses of expenditure
toned, the responsibility should rest distinctly and
sngly upon those who make the estimates and not upon
those who appropriate according 10 the estimates In
other words, upon this doctrine the business OF
making appropriations by Congress will become mere
formal proceeding having responsibility attached 10 it.
This, surely, is not ia accordance with the true spir,
of our institutions, and il is innovation which
should be promptly met by the most rigid investiga-
ton into the necessity for The present deficiency bill. We
do mo-, believe that the public mind will be satisfied that
/ this government economically administered with an
annual expenditure Of fifty millions of dollars, until
the subject shall be thoroughly sted and there can be
no better time to begin this investigation than is present
ed upon this executive application for the passage OF the
deficiency bill before Congress.
The whiB Presidential Candidates and the Wing Party
/ New York.
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