Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-07
VIEW OF THE MINORITY
MIR. LIVINGSTON CRITICISES THE
APPROPRIATIONS.
Claims That Even With the Increase
Matters That should Have Been
Provided for Were Ignored.

Representative Livingston of Georgia. the
ranking minority member of the House
committee on appropriations. today made
the first statement of appropriations from
the standpoint of the minority
I'm submitting statement OF the appro-
priations made at this session of the Fifty
sixth Congress. / beg to call to the atten-
ton of the House and the country the fact
that, notwithstanding the enormous appro-
priations for 1900 on account of the Span
ish-Cuban war. the army and navy appro-
priations for this session are $5O.000,0OO in
excess of those for the last session.
THE statement I submit shows also that
in every department of the government be-
ginning with the agricultural and ending
with the permanent appropriations, We
have increased at this session the amounts
authorized at the last session. And when
to the aggregate we add the amounts that
should have been appropriated at this ses-
sion, but which have been deferred for no
good reason, or at least for reasons that
need explanation on the part of those in
control-amounts which must be approprf-
ated at the second session Of this Congress,
such as that necessary to complete the MIC
aragua canal (the bill having passed the
House. carrying authorization of an ex-
penditure of $141 ,O0O.OOO and also that
usually appropriated for rivers and har-
bors, $16,0O0.OCO; and for public buildings
and grounds, $3.0O0.OOO; and for outstand-
ing claims, estimated at s1O.O0o.O0O-if. I
say. we add s17.0O0.GO0 to the sum stated in
the table, $7O9, 729, 476 we would have grand
total of $S79 729. 476 for this session alone
And thus the total shown in the exhibit Is
not quite complete or fair, considering that
such large amounts that must be met are
withheld for the next session. submit that
to be fair we should let each fiscal year
take care of all necessary appropriations
and not unload this year on the fiscal year
1902 things that should be provided for and
included in the fiscal year 1901.
And l call attention also to the constant
and gradual Increase in the appropriations
for pensions and likewise to the legislative
executive and judicial appropriations
These items could not have been affected
to any great extent by the Spanish-Cuban
war. 1t shows. indeed, an increase. as be-
fore stated all along the line. despite the
fact that the committee on public buildings
and grounds have held back all matters
before them, and the committee on rivers
and harbors all matters before them. with
two or three exceptions, and all accounts
and claims have been practically barred
from consideration at this session"
Mr.. Livingston then gives a large table
showing the appropriations for the years
1897 to 1901 inclusive, and continues: 1T
should be borne in mind that in the case of
the above noted appropriations for the navy
the authorization of the eight new war
ships Uwo battle ships, three armored CRUZ
sers and three protected cruiSerS) involves
ali ultimate expenditure, for construction
armor and armament, of something like
$5G 900, 900, not ore dollar of which is now
appropriated for and does not figure In the
navy item, but must be met in future years
THE dominant party attempted to COM
nit this Congress at this session, and Will
doubtless renew their efforts at the coming
session to commit the government to what
is known as the ship subsidy scheme. which
involves the sum of 500, 900, 600, to be ex-
pended throughout a term of years."