Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-13

W oe ooue "ncu tue proper tiue comos- An
effort is being made to impress upon the
whole House an appreciation of the importance
Of very decided reduction of appropriations
in all directions. Setting out with the PROPOSE
ton that economy Of expenditures is to be
me Of the strong features Of the
democratic policy, the champions Of this idea
are now looking into the matter very carefully
to determine where q saving can be most ef-
fectively brought about. 1t is probable that
the appropriations will be kept down to the
bare needs Of the government and that nearly
every proposition for new and unusual appro-
priations will be rejected.
1t Is expected that soon after Speaker Crisp
resumes work at the Capitol, and before the
new rules are reported. he will have a confer
ence with the several chairrnen Of committees
having charge OF appropriation bills for the
purpose OF discussing with them the necessity
Ior cuiting all appropriations to the loves:
possible point.
In view of the fact that there is some danger
OF en- the bills being put back in the appro-
Prialons committed if other committees having
these bills fail to enter heartily into this saving
policy, it is probable that there will be no diff
Guilty In securing the earnest cooperation of
the several chairmen.
WHAT MR.. DocKERY Is DOING.
Mr.. Dockery is engaged in the work Of prov
ing that the condition of the United States
treasury is such as to make economy compul-
sorry. Since Messrs. Dingley and Henderson
TOOK issue with him as to the figures be made
use OF in the discussion of the Russian relief
resolution he has been going over the records
OF the department and is prepared to give more
figures showing that the treasury is pretty
nearly empty.
The republicans of the committee have
shown opposition to the resolution asking the
secretary OF the Treasury for statement of
appropriations made by the last Congress
which we're not expended. 1t is understood,
however, that the President and Secretary Fos-
ter Will not object to having the facts of this
matter known, as it will show that
though the Fifty-frst Congress may have
been extravagant the administration was
extraordinarily economical in refusing to ex-
pend all the money appropriated. The Fifty
hrst Congress is among the things dead and
tested by its record.
STUDY OF THE APPROPRIATION BILLS.
Mr. Sayers OF Texas is making a general
study OF appropriation bills for the purpose Of
discovering specifically where cuts can best be
made.
Mr.. Breckinridge Of Arkansas is inycstigat-
ing the question OF permanent annual appro-
prlations, the result Of which will probably be
u recommendation that all such appropriations
except those upon which depends the govern
ment credit be repealed
1t Is said that there will be a very consider
able saving made in the contracts for carving
the mails, and that on the post Office bill there
may De saving OF four or five million dollars.
Ihls saving might be greater, but there will
probably be some additional expenditures for
the improvement of the system Of city de-
liveries
1t is expected that the Indian appropriation
this year will be about nine millions less than
1t was last year. Several millions will be cut
on the sundry civil, legislative and fertilization
IF THERE SHOULD BE WAR.
II there is war with Chile there will be no
saving in the military and naval establishment.
On the contrary all the money necessary will be
granted. This, however, would be regarded as
an extraordinary expenditure, not chargeable
to the regular annual appropriations.
Up to this time the members Of the appro-
priations committee proper have been showing
the most earnestness in the efforts to advance
the policy OF economy, In order to make their
efforts successful they must have the earnes.
cooperation of the other committees having
appropriation bills.
The appropriations committee has very few
bills in which any considerable reduction can
be made. There are only two or three bills
that they can do anything with. They have
charge OF the pensions, the sundry civil, the
legislative. the Distric: Of Columbia and the
fertilization billJ.
WHERE NO CUTS CAN BE MADE.
At least two Of those hills ars practically out
Of the reach Of the committee, as the estimates
practically fix the amount Of the appropria-
tions. The first is the pension bill, which
makes appropriations to carry on: the law, the
sum being definite.
The other is the District of Columbia bill.
the amount Of which is practically fixed BY the
amount OF the revenues of the District. I'm
der the new law, which makes the government
share equally with the taxpayers of the Dis
trict the municipal expenses, all the
revenues collected in the District
are paid into the treasury and the
government pays an equal sum as its share Of
the taxation. This practically fixe3 the amount
OF the appropriation, SO that there cannot well
be difference Of more than o few thousand
dollars between the estimates and the appro-
priations. Even if this were not SO there could
be little or no saving to the government in
that bill.
With these two bills out the committee has
only three left, each Of which carries large
amount for the routine expenses of the gov
ernment Therefore the saving accomplished
by wise economical policy in this committee
cannot count for much against the aggregate
OF appropriations unless the same policy is
adopted as to bills in other committees