The Portland daily press., 1897-03-09


Fault Is with the system-Mr. sayers
of Texas Also Has A Leave to Print Ar
tic1e On Subject.
Washington, March e.-Ths Congress
sional Record will contain a statement
tomorrow, made by the chairman OF the
House committee on appropriations,
Joseph G. Cannon Of Illinois, relative to
the appropriations made by the 54th Con-
gress. Mr.. Cannon's statement Is in
part, as followsi
The total appropriations of two ses-
sions of this Congress are 81. .043. 49,, 0ls.-
So. The appropriations of the 53d Con-
gress, which was Democratic In both
branches with Democratic executive,
amounted, according to the official
tables, to $3.50, 239, 205. SO. To this sum
should be added 81, 400, 600 on account of
interest and sinking fund charges for
bonds issued by Democratic adminis-
tration, which were not included in the
estimates of the permanent appropria-
tions submitted to Congress and stated
in the tables, which brings the sum
total of the appropriations for all OBJ
jsots by the SD Congress up to $685.
689, 205 SO or $40, 1877, "a less than ap-
propriations including deficiencies !, by
the present Congress.
In explanation Of this apparent excess
of appropriation by the 54th Congress, 1t
should be stated that the 54th Congress
made increases over it's immediate pre-
decessor on account of the Notifications,
SIC, 565, 467; river and harbor works, In
oluding contracts therefor, s2 476, 406; oon-
struction Of public buildings, none Of
which were authorized by the 54th Con-
gress, 90, 343, S94; postal service. S11, 49,
305; naval establishment, 50, 947, 525; per-
manent appropriation, mainly to meet
interest and sinking fund charges for
bonds issued by the administration just
leaving power, S24, 9s3, 744 or total of
$62, 76S, 939.
Mr. Cannon admits that the appropri-
ations exceeded the legitimate demands
of public service, but this results, he
says, from conditions growing out Of
rules of the House, the so-called courtesy
of the Senate and the excessive estimates
submitted to Congress.
Mr. Cannon condemns the practice of
the Senate in reCent..ye of amending
the appropriation bills notably the gen.
eral deficiency bill by incorporating
provisions to pay the claims Of every
kind and character outstanding against
the government.
Mr.. Cannon joins Mr.. Dockery in con-
demning the present arrangement of di-
viding appropriation bills among a num-
Der OF committees.
Mr.. Sayers of Texas another member
of the committee on appropriations will
make public under leave to print. his
views respecting the appropriations by
the S16h GOnurass -
He says: / believe in the continuing
contract system as applied to river and
harbor improvements and other necessary
public works, but not to the extent to
which it has been entered upon by this
Congress. In the river ard harbor bill
passed at the last session under suspsn-
sion of rules, 81 works were authorized
to be placed under contracts, involving
q total expenditure Of $59, GIG, 404. 81.
One of these works authorized to be
prosecuted under contract for 81, Zoo. 600
was So absolutely destitute of merit
that the war department refused to take
any steps whatever looking toward the
prosecution of the work.
One of the causes for the enormous
growth in appropriations OF late years
has been the increase of our navy. Since
that work was inaugurated in 1888,
structed or authorized to be construct
ed at a cost of moro than $180, 600, coo.
Already the number of ships would re-
oulre it is. said, twice the present num-
ber of authorized officers and men In
the navy to keep them all in commits
sion.
The appropriations made for the sup-
port of the federal government have
grown to such startling proportions
within the last dozen years as to render
1t well nigh impossible to devise
means of raising the revenue wherewith
to meet the expenditures. If the new
administration just about to cross the
threshold of power carries out its pledges
by giving the country protective
tariff, it will utterly fail to produce the
means of meeting the expenditures .if
they are to be maintained on the existing
high plane. unless, peradventure tn
protstoive tariff measure should be sup
plemented with a tax on coffee and tea
and perhaps other taxes of an equally