The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-06
THE HOUSE RULES.
Mr.. Randall Points Out Some of the Dangers
that Would Follow the Proposed Changes

WASHINGTON Dec. 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 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
confided to one organization. Nothing
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 proposed that
nearly all these safeguards shall be broken down
and the Treasury thrown open. Increased ap-
preparations, judging from experience will
inevitably follow, 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 its own Importance.
Instead of one committee having charge of the
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
ostion is too plain to need argument, and there is
not business man in the country who will not
appreciate the correctness and force of this state
ment The surplus revenue we now have Will
not continue forever, and habits Of eXtravagant
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 It is known that the eXpendi-
lures under the first have been wastefully made,
and it is notorious that much of the money ap.
propriated in the latter might as well have been
thrown away. The appropriations for the Agri-
cultural Department, from 1877 to $780, inclu-
sive when they were under control of the com
mittee on appropriations averaged $l90,647 per
annum from 1881 to 1885, the agricultural ap-
preparation bills being under the control of the
committee on agriculture, the appropriations
averaged $4396l6 per aEnum. The appropria-
tions for rivers and harbors, from 1876 to 1880,
when this subject was controlled by the COM
mittee on appropriations, averaged 81, 800, 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
$l3, 591 ,243. If this enormous increase of 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 financies when the
treasury doors are thrown wide open to unre
stricted and unrestrained Vaccinations and
combinations of every character2 Such
combination might enter Congress
ITSELF and the general government would
then become 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 that Of appropria-
tions. 4 potent fact to be considered in connec-
tion with this proposition is the statement of the
Treasury, that the estimated expenditures for
the ensuing fiscal year aggregate 1888. 5S9, 600,
while the estimated revenues for the same peri
cd amount to only 1915 900 000 being an esti-
mated excess of expenditures over revenues Of
$24, 50O,0 000."