The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-07
Objections Urged by MIR. Randall.

IfTOW OuF 0teO W CHWuOysI
WASHINGTON. Dee. 5.-Mr. Randall to-day
gave to a reporter of the Associated Press his
views respecting the proposition to change the
rules of the House so as to take from the COM
mittee on appropriations jurisdiction over some
of the bills:
''The Democratic party came into control of
the federal government" he said, with the
distinct understanding that it would adhere to
an economical administration. This cannot be
overlooked or evaded if it expects to remain in
power. In all governments the preparation of
suitable bills to meet expenses has been
conided to one organization. Nothing
can be certainly done until, by care
full and comprehensive scrutiny, the
amount of necessary expenditures has been de-
termined Taxation depends upon the amount
of expenditures, and increase of expenditures
means increase of taxation. To keep down ex-
travagance of appropriation the estimates made
by the heads of departments have been subjected
to question and examination, item by item. The
Treasury has been protected by every safeguard
which could be devised. 1t is now proposed that
nearly all these safeguards shall be broken down
and the Treasury thrown open. Increased ap-
preparations, judging from experience, will
inevitably follow, as each of the many commit
tees to be authorized by this change to consider
appropriations, and into which the appropriations
committee, as now constituted, is to be divided,
will naturally enhance it's own Importance.
" Va DAO AAAN LIE 0AG " S"O
expenditures and checking unnecessary appro-
priations, there will be many, acting independ-
emily of each other, and nobody will know the
aggregate of annual appropriations until it is
too late to avoid the disaster of a deficient
Treasury, which may. at any time in the near
future, be precipitated on the people. The prop
osition is too plain to need argument, and there is
not a business man in the country who will not
appreciate the correctness and force of this state
ment. The surplus revenue we now have will
mot aop&iD,,a forovar and hahita Of aytrayaO CANT
appropriations cannot be changed at once. The
agricultural and river and harbor bills were
taken from the control of the committee on appro-
priations, and here is the evidence of the failure of
the venture. 1t is known that the expendi-
lures under the first have been wastefuiiy made,
and it is notorious that much of the money ap.
propriated in the latter might as we'll have been
thrown away, The appropriations for the Agri-
cultural Department, from 1877 to 1880, inclu-
sive, when they were under control of the com
mittee on appropriations. averaged 1906 per
annum; from 1881 to 1886. the agricultural APP
preparation bills being under the control of the
on agriculture, the appropriations
averaged $439, GIG per annum The appropria-
tions for rivers and harbors, from 1876 to 1880,
when this subject was controlled by the com
mittee on appropriations, averaged $780, 1928
per annum; from 1881 to 1882, inclusive,
during which the committee on commerce and
rivers and harbors have had the subject in
hand. the annual appropriations have averaged
Slo,0JI, Z40. II bnfs enormous increase or eX-
penditures characterizes the first experiment of
the withdrawal of these two subjects from the
protecting safeguards heretofore enforced under
existing rules, and generally since the founda-
ton of the government, who can foretell the
devastation of the public fnancies when the
treasury doors are thrown wide open to unre-
stricted and unrestrained Vaccinations and
combinations of every character2 Such
q combination might enter Congress
itself, and the general government would
then become a hot bed to start into existenae
every dangerous policy. In addition to preparing
the regular appropriation bills for the service Of
each fiscal year, these committees would and
should, by the same method of reasoning, be
charged with providing for all deficiencies in
separate bills, making two regular bills to come
from each committee. thus multiplying the reg
ular appropriation bills each session from the
present number, fourteen, to not less than fifty.
To commit the power to control appropriation
bills to the standing committees. coupled with
their present legitimate powers, would
cut the House off from every ave.
nue. of information touching the pub
lie service except through the committee
controlling each particular branch, thus break
ing down what is now a most wholesome check
possessed by the House, through the appropria-
tions committee, over each committee, and by
all Of the committees over that of appropria-