Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1897-03-13
OVER A BILLION DOLLARS
STARTLING INCREASE OF APPRO-
PRIATIONS by CONGRESS.
Chairman Cannon Says Reform Must
.Originate With the President
and His Cabinet.

WaShingt ton, March S.-RepreSentatlVt
Cannon, of Illinois, chairman Of the ap
propriation committee of the house, ant
@Representativ Sayers of Texas, who i:
at the head Of the minority Of the com
mittee, have prepared their reviews O:
the appropriations of congress lust end
ed, and they will be printed in the Con
gressionai Record tomorrow morning.
Cannon's statement is Of more thar
usual significance on account of the rec
concentrations and suggestions he makes
for methods of keeping down appropria-
tons in the future. Cannon makes the
total appropriation submitted to the pres
ident for his approval at the last session
including the general deficiency which
failed in conference S51S 103, ,45S, or S25,-
3S3,2l6 less than the estimates submitted
to- congress by the executive. The ap-
propra tiGnS' for the first session We're
5l5S45, 1914, making the total for the con-
gress of 81 ,043, 43l 010, which he says is
$40, 195,S12 more than the appropriations
for the preceding congress The increase,
he points out, includes for fortitica tons,
$12, ,563 ,46I; for rivers and harbors' works,
including contracts therefor, $2.476, SOC; for
public buildings, none of which were au-
thorized by the Fifty-fourth congress.
$2,3i3394 for postal service, $l1, ,454, 305; for
the naval works, $S,94l, ,523, and on account
OF permanent appropriations mainly to
meet interest and sinking fund charges
for the bonds issued by the Cleveland ad-
minis traton, S24 49S, TAI.
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
.deplered, 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-
tions 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
azed: world :, Wherein the administrative
branch apparently assumes no degree of
responsibility to. the taxpayers for its
demands for the expenditure of public
money, and that ours is the only gov
wherein the legislative branch
exercises the function or duty of check
siderable degree of cooperation on the
part of the executive. 1t is hoped, and
[ believe the incoming president, with
his long 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 unalded
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 F'ifty-third con-
and 81, 7,75790S in excess over the
Fifty-first 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 upon, appro-
priations in excess of those Iaade by the 53rd
congress, which controlled by the demo-
Gratis, to the extent of S541I9,1S2. The prn-
eipal elements of this increase are on account
Of the Notifications, 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,
increase Of the navy and other
public works amounting to $75, 16,4S0 At least
wo-thirds or one-half of this large sum
mains to be provided for by future congresses
To that extent it constitutes a fixed charge
against the revenues of the country, which by
'eason of extravagant appropriation, now falls
short S. 600, 600 a month of meeting the eX-
of the government.
After discussing in detail the increase
ne concludes
The appropriations for the support of the fed
eral government have grown to such startling
proportions within the last dozen years to
'ender it we'll nigh impossible to devise means
If raising the revenue whereWth to meet the
expenditures. If the administration just
.boutt to cross the Threshold of power carries
,ut its pledges by giving to the country pro-
ective tariff it will utterly fail to produce the
means Of meeting expenditures, if they are to
De maintained the existing high plane, un-
ess, peradyenture, the protective tariff meas
Tres be- supplemented by taxes on coffee and
ca.