The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-08
THE COST OF CONGRESS
Expenditures of the Last Session
Compared With Others
CANNON MAKES EXTRACTS
The Last Session in Excess of the
Billion Dollar Clique
What the Appropriations Show in Round
Numbers--The Past Congress Was
Comparatively Dear One

Washington, March Representative
Cannon of Illinois, on behalf of the Re-
publican: minority of the House commit
tee on appropriations, has prepared a
summary showing the total expenditures
of the Fifty-third Congress and compa ring
them with the expenditures of the So
called ''billion dollar Congress-, oil
which Mr.. Cannon was at the head of the
appropriation committee. The statement
will be published tomorrow as part OF
the Congressional Record. 1t says;
I avail myself of tie opportunity to
present for the information of the public
and of the country, statement OF the
aggregate appropriations made by this
Congress-the first half of Cleveland's adj
ADMINISTRATION as compared with the aggre-
gate of appropriations for the Fifty-tirst
and Fifty second Congresses, respectively,
under Harrison's administration. For
this purpose l insert comparative state
'ment which has been carefully compiled
and is correct"
From this statement it appears that the
appropriations of the Fifty first Congress,
when Reed was Speaker of the House and
hcan, weresin round numbers $685. 900, 900,
while the appropriations for the Fifty
second Congress, when the House was
Democratic and Crisp was Speaker, was
in round numbers 81, 027, 900, 600, and the
appropriations for this Congress, with
President, House and Senate all Demo-
cratic, are in round numbers $500, 900, 900.
Moreover, the late sale of thirty-year
four per cent United States bonds-the
payment of interest upon which is per-
manent--swells the total Of appropriations
for this and the next fiscal year by 50, 900, :
000 making the grand total actually ap-
propriated by this Congress in round
numbers $685. 900, 900. This exceeds the
appropriations made by the Fifty first
Congress, called by our Democratic friends
the billion dollar Congress- in round
numbers, $1,000, 900.
This Congress, furthermore, in addition
to the actual increase in appropriations,
has authorized public works to be done
under contract leaving the next Congress
to make appropriations therefore as fol-
lows:
By Notifications act 1925, 900; by sun
dry civil act So $50, 900; by District of
Columbia act, $261, 76l; by naval appro-
priation act, $13, 715 900; total, 81, $50, 754.
Thus the appropriations and authorize
tions of this Congress are seen to be in
round numbers ST. 015, 900, 600.
The appropriations for the public SER
vice as rule make dry reading, but to
he careful student of public questions
they tell more OF the policies OF admins
j =
from volumes of words and protestations
l call attention that appropriations of
pensions TO the defenders of the Repu bile
in war and to their widows and orphans,
by this Congress, under Cleveland, are
$40, 100, GIG less than those made by the
Fifty second Congress the last two years
under President Harrison. This $40, 000,-
900 decrease gives i'll figures the tangible
result of an unfliendly-I will go further
and say unjust administration of the pen
sion laws under Cleveland.
The condition of the country was far
different under Harrison's administration
from what it has been and is now under
this administration. Then there was
universal prosperity. Now there is uni
versa1 adversely. Then under wise
revenue laws, the people cheerfully con-
tributed to the support of the Government
from their abundance and were glad when
the treasury poured from its full Golfers
the necessary money literally and wisely
to carry on the Government, and after all
this was done a surplus still remained to
anticipate the payment of the war debt.
Now our people are out of employment,
values aTe shrinking, and the people pay
their taxes into the treasury with great
effort and find such payment oppressive.
The debt of the Government ms tead of
decreasing, is increasing and increasing,
not to maintain resumption, as it is
claimed but TO pay current expenses.
This administration has issued and sold
United States bonds time and time again
for the avowed purpose, it is true, of
maintaining resumption, but in point of
fact it has taken the proceeds, it is taking
the proceeds and will continue to take the
proceeds to pay the current expenses of
the Government.
This Congress has wholly failed to pro-
vide sufficient revenues, while it has in
creased appropriations. In the meantime
the administration has rejected every
practical effort of the minority to assist
in remedying the evils that beset the
treasury.
This is a government of the people,
through parties, and there can be no true
relief in the premises until the people
correct the error made in 1892 by giving
the Republican party full power in 1886,
thereby enabling that party to write it's
policy on the legislation and administra-
ton.