The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-09
For the Session just Closed They
Were S5fS,1o3,f5s, or S25,3s3,276 he
low the Executives Estimates.
STATEMENT BY Mr.. CANNON
WITH GENERAL RECOMMENDATION
AND POINTED SUGGESTIONS.
Mr.. Sayers's Review from n Democrat.
fc Ssandpoint-Free List i'm Tariff
Bill to He Small.

WASHINGTON March s.-Representa-
tive Cannon, OF Illinois. chairman of the
appropriations, committee of the House.
and Mr.. Sayers. of Texas, who is at the
head of the minority OF the committee,
have prepared their reviews OF the appro-
priations of the Congress just ended and
they will be printed in the Congressional
Record tomorrow morning. Mr.. Cannon's
statement IS OF more than usual signif-
canoe on account of the recommendations
and suggestions he makes for methods of
keeping down appropriations in the future.
Mr.. Cannon makes the total appropriations
submitted to the President for his approx
al at the last session. including the general
deficiency. which failed in conference. Sis
103 i5s, or $50 ,276 less than the estimates
submitted to Congress by the executive.
The appropriations for the first session
were $5l5.A5.l94, making a total for the
Congress of 81 ,043, ,OlS which, he says, is
$40 797. SIP more than the appropriations by
the preceding Congress. The increase. he
points out, includes: For Notifications. 49,,
&c., 49,; for river and harbor works. includ-
ing contracts therefor. $2476.506; for pub
lie buildings, none of which were author
lied by the Fifty-fOurth Congress, .$2,345,-
394; for the postal service. sl1.454.SO5: for
account of permanent appropriations MAIN
ly to meet interest and sinking fund
charges for the bonds issued by the Cleve-
land administration, $24 ~.
THE appropriations are" says Mr.. Can
non. lin my judgment, in excess of the
legitimate demands Of the public service.
But this fact, while greatly to be deplored,
Is not, in my opinion, properly charSeabe
TO the action OF either Of the great polit-
zeal parties IF the country. Ii is the
suit of conditions accruing out of the rules
of the House and oct OF the rules, prac
tees and so-called courtesies of the SEN
ate, together with the irresponsible manner
whereby the executive submits to Congress
estimates to meet expenditures for the con-
duct of the government. If the appropria-
tions made by Congress have been extrava-
CANT and beyond the revenue or the gov
eminent. how much more so have been
the estimates of the executive. The record
shows that in no instance during niail'
years past have the appropriations made
by Congress measured up 10 the full
the administration.
1T is said that ours is the only govern
merit in the civilized world Wherein the
administrative branch apparently assumes
no degree of responsibility To the taxpay-
ers for its demands for the expenditure
of public money, and that ours i the only
govegpment wherein the 1t gislatiVe branch
alons exercises the junction or duty of
any considerable degree or cO-oYeraIlOh -
the part of the executive. ii is hoped, and
! believe that the incoming president with
his long experience as distinguished
member of the Legislative branch of this
government. viii exact of his Cabinet coun-
sellers some degree OF wholesome effort in
the direction of intelligent recommendation
OF public expenditures. TO the end that Con-
crosses may not have to strive unaided
and alone toward bringing our public ex-
penditureS within the sum OF our public
revenues" He eritieises the action of the
Senate in always loading up the general
deficiency bin and making il a vehicle
for all sorts of claims.
In discussing the remedies for keeping
down appropriations Mr.. Cannon makes the
following pertinent suggestions: "The rem
edy for this evil is for the great committees
of the House and Senate the judiciary.
claims and war claims 10 formulate an in
telligent measure that will provide a trib-
claims may be sent for full and intelligent
consideration. By such a measure those
who have honest and legitimate claims
against the government can be paid, and
that some OF the claims above referred TO
are just and should be paid there is no
doubt But claims that are based on fraud
can De Stigmatized as fraudulent by such a
tribunal, and Congress. once for all. can be
relieved of the annual opportunity for their
consideration. There are too many appro-
priation bills. Instead of fourteen there
ought not to be more than ten The agri-
cultural bill ought to be made, as it was
prior 10 lSSl part OF the legislative, eX-
ecutive and judicial appropriation bill.
which provides for the official STATS and
ments except the Agricultural Department.
The army, fertilization, Military Academy
and naval appropriation bills ought to be
consolidated into one. By such consolida-
tion much time now wasted in irrelevant
general debate ana formal proceedings
would be saved to the House.
Mr.. Sayers. in his statement makes the
total appropriations CO this Congress 81, :
1882 i'm excess of the Fifty-third Congress
$l6.332. 40 over the Fifty-secOnd Congress
and S..151.9oS in excess over the Fifty-frst
Congress; He says; The present Congress,
Hcsns, has made or sent TO the President
for approval. including the general def
cheney bill as agreed on, appropriations in
excess or those made by the Fifty-third
Congress. which was controlled by the
Democrats. TO the extent of $54. 1917. SD The
principal elements of this increase are on
account of fortihcations. river and harbor
works. the postal service and the naval es-
Establishment. In addition to this enormous
Increase IN direct appropriations this Con-
gress ar It's hrst session authorized con-
tract liabilities for river and harbor works
foruncatlons, increase OF the navy and
other public works amounting to- So 1e 4S0
At least two-third. or one-haIf OF this large
sum, remains TO be provided for by future
Congresses, constitutes a fixed charge
against the revenues of the country which
by reason OF extravagant appropriations
now falls short S, 600 900 a month of meet
ing the expenditures OF the government"
After discussing in detail the increases
Mr.. Sayers concludes: 1.-The APPROXIMATIONS
Tor TIE support or the federal government
have grown 10 such startling proportions
within the last dozen years as to render n
well nigh impossible to devise means nj
raising revenue wherewith to meet the ex-
pendltures. III the new administration Just
about TO cross the threshold of power car
ries out Its pledges by giving to the coun-
try protective tariff, IL will utterly fail to
produce the means or meeting expenditures
IL they are to be maintained on the exist
Ing high plane, unless, per adventure 10
the protective tariff measure should be sup