Washington sentinel., 1900-09-01

Hasa ssa a
0 BmetalIc commission ...... d. -s O
v AIger army commissioner. 1sS o
samoan commission ,,.,-," 500
( Queens Jubilee commission. Coo
Special Paris Exposition
commission iOn.......,............... 2oO
} Reciprocity commission ....... 40 %,
, Joint high commission with
Canada ,-,.. ...... ............,...- 2IO OC
ca aud Porto Rico Evacua
ton mmission...........,..... 90 oc
! Hague Peace commission. 3scr
| Hawaiian commission .... ..... 40 or
ls;hmlan canal ConmissIon......r I. 600 oc
in5,ia. Cotllllllssion .'.'''.;. ,.. so oc
| per year,. ........, ........ Iso on
Hon haries Hamlin, special
commissioner to Japan....... Is oo
Hon John w. Foster. special
ycommlssl oner -, ....,.. ...... 80, ,oo
hon Robert p. Porter, special
commissioner TO Porto Rico
ana cuba ......... .,,,............. 40 oct
This does not include the new
Philippine Commission CTalt com.
mission).
The Postal commission and
California Debris commission are
also omitted, as likewise the
Mississippi River commission and
the District of Columbia commits
sion, as they are under continuing
statutes.
1t is impossible to give the exact
expenses Of these commissions,
except as TO the Paris commission
and the second Philippine COM
mission. They are charged upon
the books ofthe Treasury Derart-
ment to National Defense and
Emergency, under the unusual and
extraordinary column. In this
head. ia the receipts and disburse.
neHts o. -a year 69g, appear
among other items the lollo wing:
Under the head of National
Defense in the War DEPART
ment, charged to Miscellany,
Is an item mof...................... g $50 9or
Under the head of Emergency.
IN Miscellany, in charged an
Item ot...,,- ...............,. .... I 600 Ooo
Oncer the head OF Navy Mis-
cellaneous, under the item Of
National Defense. 6.1o7. zo1
Under the head OF Emergency
in the Navy Department is
an item Off,. ........ ......... 1850. 267 |
These items are put in lump
and the purpose oil such expendi- |
lures IS not named. The books |
themselves show these expendi
lures to be unusual and extraor-
dinary, and they are the only large
expenditures which are not item
zed.
In these itsms are contained the
eXP Penses Of the various commits
'ions and 1t seems impossible to
earn OF what these lump sums
consist. All Of the expenses given
ire estimated, except those Of the
Peace commission and the second
commission. Applying
he rate OF cost known TO exist as
% these two commissions, it will
'e seen that the estimates of the
'ther commissions, while based
'nlV upon estimates, are probably
90 low rather than too high.
Government by commission
eems to be an expensive luxury.
But as the Government has gone
nto the commission business, the
,eople must loot the bills.
The p licy Of the Administra.
ION in creating so many commits
ions, involving as they have the
expenditure OF hundreds OF thou.
ands OF dollars, was vigorously as.
ailed by Senator Culberson. OF
Texas. Talking on this SUBJECT
senator Culberso1 said:
During the last session OF Con.
.ress l introduced a resolution in
he Senate calling upon the Presi.
ent to furnish that body with a de.
allied statement of the sums ex.
ended by his numerous commits.
ions.
This resolution after much par.
eying by the majority was passed
nd Mr.. Mckinley vas acquainted
nth the desire Of the Senate. lie
ompletely ignored the resolu.
ion- After giving the President
ufticient time, called the atten-
ion OF the Senate to his negligence
nd a second request was made
'o answer vas furnished and. in
ny opinion, none ever will be.
This IS the first time in the his
orY OF the country that a President
las refused to furnish information
o the Senate; it evidently shows
hat the Administration does No.
are to have the subject ventira-
ed, The cost of the commissions
'lIl not begin to cover the amounts
expended by those worthless insti.
utions."