The new North-west., 1897-03-12
OVER A BILLION DOLLARS
STARTLING INCREASE OF APPRO-
PRIATIONS by CONGRESS-.
Chairman Cannon Says Reform Must
Originate With the President
and His Cabinet.

Washington, March 8.-Representative
Cannon of Illinois, chairman of the APP
preparation committee of the house, and
EepreSen alive Sayers of Texas, who Is
at the head of the minority of the COM
mittee, have prepared their reviews OF
the appropriations of congress just end
ed, and they will be printed in the Con-
gressional Record tomorrow morning.
Cannon's statement is of more than
usual significance on account of the rec
concentrations and suggestions he makes
for methods of keeping down appropria-
tions in the future. Cannon makes the
total appropriation submitted to the pres
1dent for his approval at the last session,
including the general deficiency which
failed in conference, $51S, ,103 ASS, or $685.
3S3,276 less than the estimates submitted
to congress by the executive. The ap-
preparations for the first session were
$515, 5,S45,14, making the total for the con-
gress of $l,043, 437, ,O10, which he says is
$40, 5,S12 more than the appropriations
for the preceding congress. The increase,
he points out, includes for Qualifications,
2,563 467 for rivers and harbors' works,
including contracts therefor, 81, ,476, ,506; for
public buildings, none of which were au-
thorized by the Fifty-fourth congress
1884; for postal service, $11 454 ,3O5; for
the naval works, $S, ,523 and on account
OF permanent appropriations mainly to
meet interest and sinking fund charges
for the bonds issued by the Cleveland ad-
ministration, $24, ,49S,744.
The appropriations are," says Mr..
Cannon, "in my judgment, in excess OF
the legitimate demands of the public ser
vice. But the facts, while greatly to be
deplored, are not, in my opinion, properly
chargeable to the action of either of the
great political parties of the country. 1t
is the result of conditions accruing out
of the rules of the house and out of the
rules, practices and so-called courtesies
of the senate, together with the ire
sponsible manner whereby the executive
submits to congress estimates to meet
expenditures for the conduct of the gov
ernment.
The record shows that in no instance
during many years past have appropria-
t1ons made by congress measured up to
the full amounts recommended and asked
for by the administration. 1T is said
ours is the only government in the civil
lied world wherein the administrative
branch apparently assumes no degree of
responsibility to the taxpayers for it's
demands for the expenditure of public
money, and that ours is the only gov
ernnent wherein the legislative branch
exercises the function or duty of a check
upon public expenditures without any con-
siderable degree of cooperation on the
part of the executive. 1t is hoped and
J. believe the incoming president, with
MS loHS experience as a member OF the
legislative branch of the government,
will exact of his cabinet councillors some
degree of wholesome effort in the direc.
ton of intelligent recommendation of
public expenditures, to the end that con
gress may not have to strive unaIded
and alone toward bringing our public
expenditures within range of our public
revenues"
Mr.. Sayers' Calculations,
Mr. Sayers, in his statement makes
the total appropriations of this congress
S54 197, ,S12 in excess of the Fifty-third con-
gress, $16,SS2,4 ,470 over the Fifty-second
congress, and 81, 757,9 ,90S in excess over the
Fifty-hrst congress. He says:
The prestn congress, organized in both
branches by the republicans, has made, or sent
to the president for approval, including the
general deficiency bill as agreed 11non annro-
priations in excess of those made by the 53rd 4
congress, which controlled by the demo-
Gratis, to the extent of $54,179,1S2. The prin-
cipal elements of this increase are on account
of the fortitications, river and harbor works
postal service and naval establishments. In
addition to these enormous appropriations, this
congress- at it's first session, authorized to
contract liabilities for river and harbor works
Notifications increase of the navy and other
public works amounting to $75,S16 4SO At least
tWo-thirds or one-half of this large sum re-
mains to be provided for by future congresses |
To that extent it constitutes fixed charge
against the revenues of the country, which by
reason of eXtravagant appropriation now falls |
short $5 900, 900 a month of meeting the ex-
pendtures of the government.
After discussing in detail the increase |
he concludes:
The appropriations for the support of the fed
eral government have grown to such startling |
proportions within the last dozen years as to
render it well nigh impossible to devise means |
of raising the revenue wherewith to meet the |
expenditures. If tile new administration just |
about to the Threshold of power carries |
out its pledges by giving to the country pro-
tective tariff it will utterly fail to produce the
means of meeting expenditures. If they are to
be maintained the existing high plane, un-
less, peradventure, the protective tariff meas |
be supplemented by taxes coffee and