The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-09
Effort to show that the Appropriate
Were below the billion Mark.
REAL FACTS In THE CASE
PENSIONERS ROBBED OF MILLIONS
TO MAKE UP ron DEFICIENCIES.
Gen. Henicrson's Statement - Condf-
ton OF the Trcnsury--AIlegcd Cause
Of AGRICULTURAL Depression.
Special to the indianapolis journal.


Special to the indianapolis journal.
WASHINGTON, March S-Members of the
appropriations committee engaged in
confusing the country as to whether the
Fifty-third was a .'billion-dollar' Congress.
MIR. Cannon, who was the chairman of the
committee in the Fifty-first Congress. has
furnished his analysis. He has shown to
his satisfaction that the Congress just adj
Journed spent more than the Fifty-first did.
Mr.. Sayers, the Democratic chairman of APP
preparations in the Fifty-third, has figured
out an entirely different comparison and re-
suit. And now comes General Henderson,
of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the
committee with review which differs from
both that have preceded his. Mr.. Dockery,
or Missouri, is at work on fourth COM
pick statement which will juggle the millions
still further. The fact is that these are all
blicn-dcllar'' Congresses The differences
between the grand totals of the past three
Congresses are but a very few millions,
no matter whether the figuring of the Demo-
Gratis or the Republicans is taken There
is just one thing to be said, and it is SO
plain that everybody can understand it:
moreover, there is no dispute among the
members of the appropriations committee
about it. All that the Democrats claim to
have saved in comparing the money voted
by the Fifty-first and the Fifty-third Con-
crosses Is not equal to one-half of the re-
duction in the pension appropriations. The
f'ffty-third Congress appropriated for the
old soldiers OF the country si0.oO0,Goo less
than the Fifty-frst did. The total appro-
priations of the Fifty-third, no matter who
does the figuring, cannot be brought any
where near that amount below the Fifty
first. The loudest claim the Democrats can
,cci6 aIrat %, vad.t of
is not equal to the amount they have
saved on pensions. That is all the coun-
try wants to know The rest of the figuring
is unnecessary.
Chairman Sayers's Figures.
WASHINGTON, March S--Representative
Sayres, chairman of the House appropria-
tons committee. has made statement of
the appropriations of the last Congress He
presented in the statement tables showing
appropriations of the three Congresses, as
follows: Fifty-first, $1,O35, $50 100; Fifty-sec-
ond $102z .527 F'ifty-thrd. 1890, 33s,69l. Mr..
Sayres says: The appropriations made by
the Fifty-third Congress, including perma-
nent appropriations, show reduction of
-36,765,S56 under the appropriations made by
the Fifty-second Congress and 4lS UNI
der those made by the Fifty-first Congress.
The bills as they became laws appropriated
sI6.434.4s0 less than the estimate, ss,0s0.9O9
more than as they passed the House and
S. ,955 less than the laws for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1885,
Mr. Sayres. making comparison with
last year. shows that there is a net increase
of s5s77,32o. The principal increases are:
Navy. $4.3ss,9o0 postofiice, s2,SO9,SsS; sundry
civil bills, sl2,sSi5S4; on account, of perma-
nent appropriations, Sl1,999.276 The princi-
pal decreases are: Indian bill. $l.6S5,6i7;
bill having passed this session. s11, 100;
deficiency, $2072os4.
Mr.. sayres. discussing the appropriations,
says: Notwithstanding the considerable
reduction made in the total appropriations
by the last session, under those of both the
preceding Congresses, 1t viii be noticed that
the appropriations for the deficiency at this
session are less than they were at the last
session, and even less than the average for
the two sessions of the Fifty first Congress
Ia result which is to the credit of the
present economical administration of the
government. Wasteful and extravagant
methods in administration have heretofore
made large deficiencies in annual appropra-
tions to be sup.lied by Congress at each
rent appropriations, sl13,07S,s56 includes
sH, I'll, 796 to pay interest on the public debt.
including the Pacific railroad Indebtedness.
and $40 25o,0O0 to meet the requirements of
the sinking fund The present Congress has
Dor works though it has had to provide
nearly twenty million dollars to meet con-
tracts authorized by the Fifty-first and Fiji
ts'-second Congresses.
Considering the growth of the country
In millions of population tince the close of
the Fifty-first Congress. four years ago. and
the enormous obligations entailed by the
legislation Of that body, confidently assume
that the reduction of expenditures amount
ing to more than A5.sso.000 made by this
Congress under those authorized by the
Fifty-fjrst Congress will meet the expecta-
frrS f1f Tphn r.
dial approval To have checked the bien-
rnnar rlo 4 an achieyement in Itself to
have done not only that but to have
duced the appropriations of the Congress
below the billion mark is a triumph vast in
lis proportions and significant of return
to economical and honest government.
General Henders0n's Statement.
WASHINGTON. March S.--Representa-
tive Henderson. Of Iowa, the ranking Re-
publican member OF the House committee
on appropriations, makes critical state
ment OF the appropriations OF the last Con-
gress from a somewhat different stand
point than that of his junior associate. Mr..
Cannon 1t summarizes the total of APP
preparations at $500, 1913 e9l. but. with author
lied contracts. increase of the interest
charged by the sale of bonds and assured
deficiencies, he brings the total up TO sl,019,-
0lS,c50. which, he says. was far in excess
OF the so-cailed "billion-dollar Congress-
The statement proceeds I'm addition to all
of this the Fffty-thrd Congress has in
creased the navy LOCO enlisted men and
added 3l3 officers and employees to carry out
the internal revenue provision of the Will
son tariff law.
A to the decrease of pension appropria-
tions by So. 305,565 the statement says:
"Helr Is where the present administration