The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-08
COMMENDABLE ECONOMY.
MIR. Hemenway and His Committee
Have Earned CONGRATULATIONS.

Have Earned Congratulations.
New York Tribune.
AS chairman of the appropriations COM
mittee of the House of Representatives Mr..
Hemenway is proving worthy successor
to Mr. Cannon. The present speaker in his
ten years of service at the head of this
committee won an exceptional reputation
as treasury Watchdog" He fought an
amending battle against waste and extraya-
gance in national expenditure He was not
a cheeseparing zealot, nor did he believe in
practicing parsimony in and for itself. But
he tried to HOLLAND usually succeeded in
holding-the sum total of federal appro-
priations fairly within the limit of the gov
ernment's actual needs. His mantle seems
to have fallen on the shoulders of an econo-
mist of equal determination and equal vigi-
lance. Il anything, the new watchdog of
the treasury is more Argus-eyed and i'm
placable than the old one. For under his
manipulation the governments estimates
of expenditure for the fiscal year 1904 o.
have suffered shrinkage of over $50, 900 600
and a prospective deficit of s430O0,0O0 has
been converted into prospective surplus
of so 100000.
MIR Hemenway signalized his promotion
to the Chairman ship of the appropriations
committee last winter by frankly warning
the House that only the most exacting
economy in appropriations could prevent
a treasury deficit for the next fiscal year
estimates calling for an expenditure of
s727 474 2O6 To this total $1,000, 600 of sup
Elementary estimates had to be added.
making net outlay of s47. 600 600. But
the estimated revenues for 1904'o5 were
only s104, 900 900, leaving the government to
face a losing balance of S43000,0D0 Mr.
Hemenway did not content himself, how
ever, with merely warning the House
against overheard appropriations. He set
TO work to clip the supply bills which
passed through his own committee and to
scrutinize critically the expenditures au-
thorized by other committees. Reporting
the last of the great appropriation bills
that for the sundry civil expenses of the
government he was able TO give a highly
astonishing and gratifying account of his
stewardship.
harbor bill. by cutting the sundry civil bill
sl7 900 900 under the government estima ties
and by judiciOuS economy with other APP
propriation measures the total of the ex-
penditures 10 be authorized for 1904-o5 now
stands at S6S2, 000.000 instead of $T41 000, 900
The estimated deficit has disappeared and
a surplus of S22.000,0o0 is indicated. IL gov
eminent receipts for the year reach s704.
600 600. the total predicted by the treasury
exnerts Some of the House bills have vet
TO run the gantlet of amendment and ex-
mansion in the Senate, where less rigid
views of economy usually prevail. But In
conference committee many of the Senate
additions will be stricken out. and, with a
ieevay of s22 900, the total of appropria-
lions voted at the pres'ent session will
scarcely outrun the treasury's expected in
come MIR. Hemenway and his committee
deserve the country's sincerest congratula-
tions The Nation is in no mood at pres
emit to welcome additional taxation, and
| lacking additional sources of revenue. the
only sound and patriotic policy for Con
gress TO pursue is to compel the govern
ment 20 live within its means and TO for
swear contracting debts which IL has nc
cash In sight to pay.