Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-26
VIEW OF THE LEADERS
That Economy Should Be Ex-
ercised All Along the Line.
NOT TO EXCEPT NAVY
POSSIBLE THAT NO NEW CON-
TRACTS WILL BE AUTHORIZED.
Similar Treatment Proposed to the
Public Buildings and River
and Harbor Works.
lot TO EXCEPT NAVY

When Speaker Cannon, at the beginning
of the session. in his homely fashion re-
minded an importunate, pork-seeking MEM
Der of the House that, with reference TO the
federal finances, there was a gap of $780,
000.0OO between the vest and the pants he
cast gloom over the House. THE boys"
took this remark as fair warning that no
pork bar'ls would be preached this session
The gloom has been steadily growing as
the Speaker has continued to impress the
necessity of economy upon the members of
the body over which he presides and over
whose actions he most assuredly exercises
potent domination With many fond glance
backward at the possibilities of breaking
out the stores and preaching the pork, the
boys have fallen back into the routine of
legislation upon very economical basis
The Speakers Admonition.
Before the Speaker started for his home
in Danville last week he gave parting
admonition to the boys, not to try to start
any log-rolling for pork bar'l bills in his
absence. He served notice that if he came
back and found any evidences of the cards
having been stacked against him in his abb
sence, there would be trouble. He remark
ed that the was similar TO the situa-
tion described by the small boy who was
eating an apple and was asked by his chum
for the core: There amt goin' to be no
CORE
The Speaker reminded his colleagues of
the fact that President Roosevelt in his
message to Congress had impressed upon
the legislative body the views of the eXecu-
tive that economy should be exercised by
Congress in all its acts. The speaker went
on to say that personally he would like
to see the boys get lots of their bills
through but when the President and the
Secretary of the Treasury insisted upon
economy, why, really, he didn't see what
else the House could do but keep the ap-
preparations down.
President Favors the Navy.
Now, it apears that 'the boys in look
ing over the Presidents message found that
he had recommended economy in the alb
straet and in the same breath urged gen.
erous appropriations in detail For instance
he did not want a nggardly policy ex-
ercised with reference to the navy. His
recommends tions were explicit for gener-
Gus support of the navy, the building of
more ships and the paying and provisioning
of more men and officers. This advice did
not fall upon fertile ground in the minds
of some of the western men.
In fact, it did not seem to make a decid-
ed hit with Speaker Cannon. He thought
that economy to be economical ought to be
symmetrical-that the gap between the vest
and the pants ought not to be filled at the
expense of any particular garment. 1t was
his idea that there should be economy all
along the line and not in spots.
Views Of Many Leaders.
This view was shared by many of the re-
publican leaders in the House. When the
legislative, judicial and executive appro-
prfation bill was reported to the House it
was found to carry about $1,000, 600 for the
support of the entire civil government of the
United States Those figures We're con-
trasted with the estimates for the navy,
amounting to Sis. 5.O00,0O One of the two
military branches of the government was to
cost S115, 600 600 and the entire civil estab-
lishment, including Congress, the judiciary,
the executive departments and the thousand
and one offices of the everyday life of the
nation, were to cost S29000,000. There was
discussion of this proposed discrepancy, in
the cloak rooms and corridors for a fort
night prior to adjournment, and some rum
blings have been heard since the holiday re-
cess began.
Let it be remembered that there was no
note of hostility to the navy in these dis
cussions. On the contrary, the navy is prob
ably the most popular branch of the gov
ernment with Congress as it is with the
people.
Existing Contracts.
But the lawmakers realized that exist
ing contracts call for an expenditure of
about $s5 100000 for the navy In the next
year and some of them thought that sum
should not be exceeded for the succeeding
year.
Careful inspection of the appropriation
bills of past sessions of Congress disclosed
the fact to some of the House leaders that
this Congress could refrain from increasing
appropriations anywhere and yet keep the
public work agoing. The continuing con-
tract system of river and harbor work
calls for the expenditure of about 10000. 600
this year. On public buildings about $1O,-
100000 worth of work Is contracted for and
Is sufficient to keep the current work up.
The prospects at this time point, as they
did at the outset of the session and as COM
mented upon at that time to rigid economy;
to cutting down the estimates of all DEPART
ments no river and harbor bill and no
public building bills. 1t is certain that the
navy will have to stand a reduction of es-
Inmates along with the others