New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-20
TO MUZZLE THE MAJORITY.
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS AFRAID OF THEIR
FOLLOWERS.
WILL THEY RESTORE THE POWER OF THE AP-
POPULATIONS COMMTTEE7-wHY AP.
PROPRIATIoNS ARE INCREASED
AND DI MI NJ SHED.
ssY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.

AND DIMINISHED.
10Y TELEGRAPH TIE TRlBUNEI
Washington, March 19.-COnvcrSaii0ns with several
prominent Democratic Representatives since the ad
journment OF Congress justify the belief that serious
effort VIII be made at the beginning Of the next session
TO restore to the Appropriations Committee the juris-
dicton and authority appropriations which it
possessed prior to the organization OF the XLIXth
Congress- when it lost control OF SIX Of the general
appropriation bills. From 1868. when it was first
established, that committee prepared and reported all
| bills making appropriations. until the rules re.
vised in the XLVth Congress when jurisdiction over
bills making appropriations for rivers and harlors
conferred upon the Committee Commerce. and like
| jurisdiction over bills making appropriations for TIC
Department Of Agriculture given to the Committee
on Agriculture. In the XLVIIth Congress the juriS-
dction conferred upon the former committee
fered to the newly created Committee Rivers and
lIaTbors.
Upon the organization of the XLIXth Congress a
strong disposition to curta the power Of the Appro
priations Committee ana especially the influence of
samuel J. Randall its chairman, was apparent The
free-trade wing Of the Democratic party in full
control and IL was intensely hostile to the Pennsylvania
statesman account of his opposition to the Morrison
Tariff bill OF the preceding Congress. TO down sam
Randall" was the most popular freetradc phrase OF
those days. 1t would not do to dcpOSc him from the
craftsmanship of the Appropriations Committee; the
the influence of that committee. Another reason as
signed and urged with considerable force thas
the power of the committee had been used to obstruct
and thwar legislation proposed by other committees Of
the House. 1t was argued that II II va good thing
to give the control appropriations Tor Internal
improvements and for agriculture 10 separate commit
tees it would be still better thing 10 distribute the
appropriation bills among as many committees Us
practicable.
The result was that the Army and Military Academy
bills were given to the Committee on Military Affairs
the Navy bill the Committee on Naval Affairs; the
Indian bill TO the Committee on Indian Affairs; the
Postoice bill to the Committee on PostOihceS and Post
roads, and the Consular and Diplomatic bill to tho
Committee on Foreign Affairs. That, apparently, was
considered sufficient Of punishment for Chair
man Randall for the District Of Columbia bill was
not given to the District Committee: the Fertilization
bill to the Committee on Military Affairs, nor the
Pension ILL to the Committee on Invalid Pensions as
the alleged principles Of distribution obviously re
quired Those bills. together with the Legislative, the
Sundv Civil and the Deficiency bills, were left with the
Appropriations Committee.
Why Is it proposed 10 restore to that committee
its former power and iniucnce7 The assigned
is that the change has been found detrimental to the
public welfare first, by creating confusion, and sec
ond by causing an abnormal increase Of appropria-
tons and expenditures. The real reason Is that the
leaders of the Democratic majority in the new House
Appropriations Committee will be composed of eX-
perieuccd members whose characters and dispositions
are well known, while ii IS altogether probable that
majority Of several Of the other committees which
control appropriations under the plan of distribution
will he composed Of new men, About onehalf of the
members of the majority new members, great
many Of whom arc political accidents" unknown to
fame and destitute of legislative experience. More
over about two-thrds of them represent districts in
Northern States which even Democrats concede TO he
Republican doubtful" 1t Will not do privately
say the southern Democratic leaders Of lOnE experience
intrust much power 10 this accidental contingent
which has Unexpectedly swecd majority to such
unwiedy propOrons.7 And 50, in cudgcling their
brains 70 prevent that calamity, they have hit upon
the cXpcdent of restoring to the Appropriations Com
mlttec the power of which they eager 10 de
prive it six years ago.
1t is mpracticable to gauge correctly the relation
and effect Of the plan OF distribution upon an m
crease Of appropriations that increase j. affected by
other cduse>-especay change OF political cohtfol
well a. by tho steady gOwtn 81 the country
IA population, the increased cost oil administration
Que - the demand for iinpIoVcd methods cue Mhc1
the Democrats obtained control Of Congress In 100
II cut down appropriations relentle,sK 80 ua' tii
toiaI IOr the ALlNu 'OhsitsS- f-'V'ooooOo
So3,0oO.ooO less than the total for the picccdln'
con sress. which Republican; bat the total for IT,
Mn 'ohtic's "hich "He aSo bciho' id'''' i"', -
1867 100000 which was an increase OF fOo,OuUOVp
s5OOO,UOO greater than the total Of the NLllId Con-
eIcss. Again the total OF the NLNltn Congress, also
Democratic was SoJ.OOo,OOO Rlcdtcf tidu that 81
The NLk IA and SOY 100000 gicdc. Than tAat u
the ALlNth Congress. 81 course the acton 0l the
XLlNih CUncless wds "A piece OF partisan deEaspES,
and taken in utter disregard 81 The Interests or
requirement, Of the pahlic service. After tn Demo
Gratis RECLAIMED control OF Congress, eight year.
ago they did The same thlnr a-din. Tho
total appropriation, Of The ALNlIltu tOncIvss,
which Was Democratic, were 4IOOOV,OVO les than the
total of the ALVilth Congress, which Republican;
but the total OF the NLlAt COnEcs-, whicn a!'p
Democratic. c3l,OOO.O0O greater than The total
its Democratic predecessor and the total Of the LIN
COngrcss-alsJ DemOcTatic-was 81 100000 gratrr
than total of the XLlXth and 1000 900 greater
than that of the XINIllth Congress OF course the
down appropriations without regard to the
Qurcmcpts OF the public service. Moreover, The
Lth Congress let an enormous deficit to be provided
for by its Republican successor.
1t will hardly do, Therefore to ascr6e the IN
crease Of appropriations wholly 10 the plan Of dis
t?Guting appropriation bills; in fact, after making
due allowance for the effects OF partisan desire %
make pOlitical capital and for the necessary,
avOidabic aud natural annual increase OF expenditure
il cuts bat q small figure.
That the plan of distribution" does cause good
deal trouble and confusion everybody who l. familiar
with the subject must admit IL; that alone probably
is sufficient reason why all appropriations should
cmananatc from committee which c0nld be held
rc>pon~ble and which would be dllc 10 exercise
in; AID intelligent discrimination IN regard 10 the
irlatvr importance and necessity OF the various oh
iccts Of Appropriation and expenditure