Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-04-02
From the Washington Union.

From the Washington Union.
The Deficiency Bill.
The House of Representatives has been in Com.
rittee of the Whole for several days a bill which
appropriates three millions Of dollars to make
up deficiency in the appropriations for the fiscal
year ending on the 3Qth of jane, 1852. The PEN
dency of such measure makes the impression that
there must have been very material error or
mistake either in the executive estimates or the
gressional appropriations at the last Congress,
that there has been extraordinary ooseness in
the execution of the laws by disbursing officers. If
we are not mistaken in the temper of the people,
they will have their attention arrested by PROPOSE
ton to add three millions to the fifty millions appro-
priated for the current year, and very satisfactory
explanation will be required from the Executive who
now calls for so large an additional amount of mon
ey, and from the members of Congress who respond
to that CALL We strongly inclined to the opin-
ion that deficiency bills becoming rather too
much matter of course, and chat there is readi-
to yield to such executive calls which is calcu-
lated to elicit some criticism. If correctly
informed the present deficiency bill is intended to
comply with an executive call for about three mil
lions of dollars which it is said becomes necessary
to carry the operations of the government until
the 30th of June, 1852. The alleged necessity for
the additional arises from the fact that the last
Congress refused to appropriate the amount then
called for by the executive estimates by about three
millions, and that the expenditures have gone or
according to the scale of the executive estimates and
according 70 the law of Congress- it now becomes
necessary for the present Congress to correct
ror of the last Congress. To mind this state of
facts is extraordinary and demands corresponding
degree of scrutiny on the part Of members of Con-
gress.
We do not mean to be understood as ntmating
that there has been any msappcation of the pub
lie money which has produced the alleged defcen-
cy: that the facts when developed, may not show
that the deficiency ought to be supplied. What we
is, that when the Executive has made his esti-
mates, and submitted them to Congress, for the
nual appropriation, and when Congress has refused
to appropriate the amount estimated by three mil
lions of dollars if the Executive goes expend
according to his estimates. and not according to the
actual appropriations, he should be prepared with
most satisfactory for dsregardng the law of
Congress and following his own discretion. The
Executive may be able to give such reasons; but
unless he can, are unable to upon what justi-
fable principle Congress caa sanction such an as
sumption. That our position may be more clearly
understood, we take for illustration The
Executive calls for five millions of dollars for the
Quarermasters 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 it is done in violation of law and if the Execu-
tive asks the Congress sanction the excessive
penditure, it should be done only upon the most
elusive reasons. When Congress appropriates a
specific to sustain specific branch of the gov
eminent, the Executive has authority for trans
cendnes the limit fixed by Congress. To do so is to
violate the law and violation of law by the Exc
cutive ought to be sanctioned except under the
ure of absolute necessity What maintain, there
fore, is, that the present deficiency bill presents a
case in which the Executive should be held to ri
gid Accountability. Why has more money been ex-
pended than was appropriated by Congress! Why
were not the expenditures made according to the
scale indicated by the congressional appropriations
What was the controlling necessity to Justify the
Executive in setting his discretion above the law
How has the money been expended These are
questions which necessarily arise in the case and
unless they are satisfactorily met and answered
most dangerous precedent will be set the result of
which will be that the executive estimates. and not
congressional appropriations, will become the law
of the land. We deem it proper to repeat that we
do not make these remarks for the purpose of init
mating any opinion as to the propriety of passing
the deficiency bill, but with the sole view of show
ing how important it is that those who are notified
that they will be held responsible for the expendi
lures according to the appropriations by Congress
may the necessity of looking closely into this dan
gerous innovation upon the proper practice of the
government. If the Executive have deficiency
bills passed whenever he chooses thus to have
| cesses of expenditure sanctioned the responsibility
should rest distinctly and singly upon those who
make the estimates, and not upon those who appro-
pirate according to the estimates, In other words,
upon this new doctrine the business Of making ap-
preparations by Congress will become mere formal
proceeding, having responsibility attached to it.
This surely is not in accordance with the true spir
it of our institutions, and it is innovation which
should be promptly met by the most rigid investi-
cation into the necessity for the present deficiency
bill We do not believe that the public will be sat
ished that this government is economically admins
tered with an annual expenditure of over fifty mil
lions of dollars until the subject shall be thoroughly
sifted and there be better time to begin this
investigation than is presented upon this executive
application for the passage of the deficiency bill be-
fore Congress.