The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1902-01-17

ways ana MeanS.)
large. The committees on appropria.
tons study the requirements of each
bureau, and make appropria lions less
than the amounts asked for in a ma
jority of the cases.
The chairmen of the committees on
appropriations, and the committee
clerks are charged with great and
grave responsibilities. While the
senator's and representatives are tax.
ing their vacations and giving heed
usually only to those matters which
concern their states and districts,
these diligent and faithful public serv-
ants are looking after the income and
outgo of the government. When the
committees on appropriation make
their reports on the great appropria-
ton bills, the congress adopts those
their recommendations.
1t is popular fallacy that every
member of congress carefully studies
these matters. They do nothing of the
kind. They know practically no more
about the appropriation bills for
which they vote than the people do at
home, who never see the bills. They
take it for granted that what the chair
man of each committee reports is all
right.
There are members of two other
committees who have not the time to
acquire the Washington habit of over
restfulness. The house committee on
ways and means and the senate COM
mittee on finance have duties which ne
cessitate careful attention to details
and investigation of finacial conditions.
The congress devolves upon those COM
mittees the work of levying taxes by
customs duties and internal revenue.
The chairmen particularly must be IA
miliar with the resources of the gov
eminent, the necessity for cutting
down the revenues or of increasing
them. From those committees, for ex-
ample, came the bills which increased
the federal revenues for the war with
Spain, and the resultant increased ex-
penditures.
While the committees on appropria-
tons make provision for expenditures
of the executive, legislative and judi
cial departments of the government,
these other committees see to it that
there is always sufficient money in the
treasury to meet those appropria-
TONS Their members must know ex-
actly what amount of taxation should
be laid upon every article, from a
needle to a barrel of whisky. You may
we'll understand that the statesmen
charged with such far-reaching affairs
must be far-seeing and broad minded.
Other members maystake time for va
cations and even for junkets, but these
gentlemen must remain at their posts.
In congressional affairs they are "the
men behind the guns" who keep the
ship of state on even keel. Senator
Aldrich, of Rhode Island, is chairman
of the senate committee on finance.
Representative Payne, of New York, is
chairman of the committee on ways
and means.
The emphasis placed upon the impor-
lance of the work of these four COM
mittees is not intended to minimize the
work of the numerous other commit
tees, but to show that there are some
of our public servants whose duties
are exceptionally important, so that
they cannot enter upon that somnolent
condition which Congressman Smith,
of Michigan, SO graphically and truth
fully portrays as characteristic of
large classes in our national capital
SMITH D FRY.
Little Overnight
HHayensf vau foI1n6 the unrSiuu hot