Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-06
THE RULES OF THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Randall Interviewed In Relation 10 the
Proposed Change.
fBy telegraph to the Dispatch.l

WASHINGTON. December MIR.
Randall to-day gave to q reporter Of the
Associated Press his views respecting the
proposition 10 change the rules Of the House
70 IS 10 take from the committee on Ap-
piOpriatiOns Jurisdiction over some OF the
appropriation bills
'"The Democratic party came into the
conuOl OF the Federal government he
"a q, Ion the distinct undersi audlug that 10
would adhere 10 an economical admins
tration. This cannot be overlooked or
eyaded II 10 expects 70 remain in power 10
all governments the preparation OF suita-
bie bills 10 meet expenses has been con-
nded TO one OrgaL ilatiOn. Nothing can
&c certainly done until 10y careful and COM
uehensiVe scrutiny the amount ~ neces-
sary expenditures has been determined.
Taxation depends upon the amount of
eNIcBd lures. and an increase OF cN-
Ieuditures means an Increase OF taxation.
TO keep down the CNirdN agance Of
appropriations. estimates made 10y heads
OF dcIaTt nlents have been sub to
question and examination Item by Item.
The rcahuIy has been protected by every
safeguard which could he devised. Al Is
now proposed thai nearly al these safe
guar d. shall be broken down and the Treas
ury thrown open. Increased aPproprla-
lions. judging from experience, VIII IN
eyliably follow, a. each OF The many
committees 10 he authorized by THIS
change To- consider appropriations and
INTO which Appropriation Committed rs
now constituted is TO be divided, will
naturally enhance Us own importance. In.
stead OF one committee having charge OF
eXpeuditu and checking unnecessary a p
prOpriations there will lee many acting in
deuendently OF each other, and nobody VIII
know the aggregate ofthe annual Rppropri-
atiODs until II Is too late to avoid the dlsas-
teI OF deficient treasury, which may al
any time in the near future be precpltated
upOn the people. The proposition j. too
pain 10 need argument. and there is not a
business man In the country VINO VIII MOI
appfC ciate the correctness and force OF TINS
sfatement. The surplus revenue We now
have will not continue forever and the
habits Of eXtraYagant appropriations cam
not be changed at once. The agricultural
and riVer-and- harDor bills were taken
nom the control OF the Committee on APP
piopriations, and here Is evidence OF the
failure OF the venture. II is known mat
the expenditures under the first have been
wasteiully made, and II j. notorious that
much OF the money appropriated ia The
latter might as vel have been thrown
away.
The appropriations for the Agricultural
Department from 1877 10 1850 inclusive,
When they were under control OF the Com.
mittee OH Appropriations averaged $780,
647 per anuum. From 1851 10 les6 The
agricultural appropriation bllls being uRdef
control OF the Committee on ApprOprla-
lions averaged s43e.6l6 per annum. The
appropriations for rivers and hsrbors from
1875 10 1850. when this subject
was controlled 10y the Committee
on APPROXIMATIONS. averaged $3.50 92s
per annuIn. Prom 1851 10 1855 in
elusive, during which the Com mlttees on
Commerce and Rivers and HarbOrs have
had the subject in hand. the annual appro-
pratiOns have averaged sl8.b7l,243. III
this enormous increase OF expenditure
characterizes the first experiment OF the
Withdrawal OF these two subjects from the
protecting safeguards heretofore enforced
under the existing rules and generally since
10 A.f ion f he m nj
can tell the devastation OF the pub
lie finances when the Treasury doors
are thrown wide open 10 the unre-
silicted and unrestrained machina.
tons and combinations ofevery character?
such combination might even enter Con-
gress Itself and the General Government
would then become hoibed 10 start into
existence very dangerous policy. The
same reasoning that would take from the
Committee on Appropriations some OF
the regular appropriation bills would
Likewise devolve The function OF an
appropriation committee upon neat
~ every other committee OF the
House. as. for instance. the reasons that
would turn the naval bill ov& 10 the Com
nlttee on Naval Affairs would Just as logl-
cally send the estimates for public buildings
10 the Committee on Public Buildings ana
Grounds: for the surveying and other eX-
mittee on Public Lands; for the expenses OF
the United States courts To the Committee
on Judiciary; for the public printing TO the
Committee on Printing; for lighthouse
esiablishments revenue cutter service, and
life-saving service 10 tie Committee on
Commerce; for minis and assay offices 70
the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and
Measures; for territorial expenses 10 the
Committee on Territories; for legislative
expenses (COngress) TO the Committee on
Accounts: for the Library OF Congress
and Botanic Garden 10 the Commit
lee on Patents; for the Bureau OF
n mi E1nea.
ton: for the Bureau OF Labor 10 the Com
mittee on Labor: for the improvement OF
the Mississippi river to the Committee on
LeVees and Improvements OF the Mlssissip-
pi River for audited claims certified by the
accounting officers OF the Treasury to the
Committee on Claims; for pensions, other
than these growing out OF the late war, 10
the Committee ON Pensions.
prlation bills for the service OF each fiscal
year. these committees would and shOula,
by the same methods OF reasoning, be
charged with providing for all deficiencies
in separate bills, making two regular DIS
to come from each committee, thus null
tiplying the mum Der Of Irregular appropriation
bills each session from the present number
OF fourteen TO not less than nifty.
"Ts commit the power to control the ep-
preparation bills 10 standing committees
coupled with their present leglt mate pow
ers. would cut the House od from every
avenue of information touching the public
service except through the com mittee con-
trolling each particular branch. thus break
ing down what Is now q most wholesome
check possessed by the House. through the
Appropriations Committee, over each
committee and by all of the committees
over that OF the Appropriations A
potent fs CT to be considered IN connection
with this proposition is the state ment OF
the Treasurer that the estimated expendi-
lures for the ensuing fiscal year aggregate
s3S9, goo, while the estimated reve-
nues for The same period amount TO only
telb, 000, 600. being an estimated excess OF
expenditures over revenues OF s24, 500. 000.'
A B0undary.Line.
by telegraph to the Dispatch.l
W aCIIN0nnN nnna..Ia- -Tha