Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-14
Rigid Economy in Govern
ment Expenditures,
LEADERS PROGRAM
ONLY APPROPRIATION BILLS AND
CONTINUATION OF CONTRACTS.
Pruning to Be Dictated by State OF
Public Finances-Lookingt to
the Next Election.

Information from headquarters is to the
effect that the prospective new Speaker of
the House of Representatives and the men
whom he will gather about him to aid in
carrying out his policy. intend to insist
upon rigid economy in the public expendi-
lures to be authorized by the next session
of Congress 1t is intimated that such a
policy, for political reasons, will be in
dorsed by the President and the admins
tration.
The program of the administration lead
ers in the House will be this, according to
the information now at hand:
No pork barT' appropriations of any
kind.
No new public building bills. but only the
continuance of appropriations for projects
hitherto authorized.
No general river and harbor BILL but only
provision for contract work provided for
by previous sessions.
No tariff legislation of any kind and no
reciprocity legislation except for Cuba.
No financial legislation and no changes
in or expansion Of antitrust legislation al
ready on the statute books.
In fact, nothing new, novel or startling in
legislation, and only the utmost conserva-
tism.
Finally, adjournment of Congress by
April, or in May at the latest.
1Tuu1uS OF expenditures.
1t is said that tie pruning of expenditures
will be in large measure dictated by the
state of the public finances. There is
reason to expect decrease of receipts for
the next fiscal year. There is also occasion
to fear falling off in exports, which would
reflect upon trade conditions The admin
istratiOn it is said, desires to preserve the
equilibrium between receipts and eXpendi-
lures, so that no startling deficit might be
used to unsettle financial conditions in this
country by interests that would, for Specu-
lative purposes be glad to take advantage
of such an excuse.
1t is explained that the chief desire of
the administration with respect to the
work of the coming Congress is to have as
little as possible outside of supplying the
necessaries of life to the government in
other words, please omit frills and flowers.
The record of the Congress will be taken
for review before the court Of last resort
the yoters-a year hence.
There is one difficulty in carrying out the
plan, but 1t is believed it can be overcome
some 125 newly elected representatives who
n ust make record of their own. They
will be up for denomination by the time
the first session adjourns. They depend
upon pork to help them and upon their
record on great public ques tons. If they
have to sit still and vote on cut and dried
policies of retrenchment and have no
chance to spread-eagle little what is there
in it for them?
Speaker Realizes the Situation.
The new Speaker, 1t is said, realizes fully
the situation in that regard He is deter
mined to hold the situation well in hand
however and in his own hand at that.
The committee on rules and the committee
on appropriations are the two instruments
of paramount influence in shaping the rec
ord of Congress- These two committees
the Speaker will organize to suit the pur-
pose of the administration.
Mr. Hemenway. the prospective chair
man of appropriations committee is thor
Cughly in accord with the Speaker and the
administration. There have been rumors
for some time of changes in the personnel
of the committee on rules. AS long ago as
last summer there was talk that one long
time member of the committee on rules.
MI Dalzell of Pennsylvania, in point of
fact, might have to give way to man
whom the Speaker considered a little closer
to himself personally. 1t has been Mr..
Cannon'S desire to make that change and
il it is not done 1t will be because of opposi-
ton of Mr.. DalZelfs friends and the possi-
bility Of creating serious discord in The
republican ranks.
The election of republican House of
Representatives and the carrying of the
presidential election will be the aim of the
republican leaders at the coming session,
and that object will be kept in view all the
time, 1t is said, and be paramount to all
ether considerations.