Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-29
MANY INVESTIGATIONS
Searching Inquiries to Be
Made by Congress.
REFORM IN METHODS
NO MORE LUMP APPROPRIATIONS
TO BE MADE.
Why the Law Making It an Offense
Punishable by Dismissal, &C.,
Was Re-Enacted.
REFORM IN METHODS

limitations are at hand from high con-
gressional sources of intended searching
investigation by Congress at the next ses-
sion of departmental expenditures of appro-
prations. 1t is said that some sweeping
reforms in present methods may be expect
ed result of the congressional inquiries
If conditions are found to be as now sus-
pected. There was deep-seated dssa atisfac-
ton at the last session with certain fea-
lures of departmental disbursements, and
the statement is made that the disclosures
OF recent months have served to increase
the feeling in congressional quarters that
some changes of methods are necessary.
1t is said that probably the first gun may
be fired II President Roosevelt demands
more money for isthmian canal construc-
ton when he sends his special message to
the extra session he intends to call No
vember IL. 1t is said that Congress will
ask for statement of the expenditure OF
$lO,0OO,0C0, authorized by the original canal
legislation. which sum was appropriated In
gross and placed at the disposal OF the
President
Against Lump Appropriations.
This accounting will not be demanded in
a spirit of distrust of the President, but to
emphasize the new stand which Congress
intends to take against granting lump sum
appropriations and mysterious contingent
funds 1t Is not going too far to say that
complete revolution in the present sys-
tenn of voting these blanket appropriations
Will be recommended by influential con-
gressmen, and probably will be carried into
effect.
Inere sof mas been a growing disposition
since ls9S OF the executive departments to
ask for blanket appropriations, to be dis
pursed in the discretion of the head of the
department In 1898 Congress gave Presi-
MD X al Law N ~ M.
preliminary expenses of the war with
spain. That action has never been critt-
clseo TOT congress realized that it was
necessary. NO accounting was asked The
president distributed the money among the
departments where II was most needed
but that action, it is now said, gave the
departments a taste of the delights of
nand!lng non-specific sums, and com
lialht was made at the last session that
the appetite has become yoracious in sew
erai OF the departments. There was pro
nounced friction several times in the last
S session between heads of departments
ana committees of Congress over the ap-
preparation Of contingent funds and Iump
sums, and especially over the growing
haolt or creating deficits
Why One Deficiency Occurred.
one head Of a department was asked
why there was such large deficit in his
once. and calmly replied that the deficit
existed because the previous Congress
had not appropriated the sum he thought
sufficient to run his office, and he had
gone ahead and spent the money>anyhow
This answer amazed the COMMITTEES yvbich
was laboring under the idea that only
congress could authorize expenditure of
the peoples money.
The result was the re-enactment Of a
provision of law making it an o.ense
punishable by dismissal from the service
hne and Imprisonment for officials to Gre
a te deficits
The blanket appropriation and contingent
fund evil was not entirely checked how
ever, at the last session because ii was
impossible to undo in jiffy a system that
had been building up for years But the
leaders are after 1t in earnest this time and
1t Is said that radical action may be ex-
pected If next sessions Investigations are
as effective as they are expected to be
made.
to be aroused to the subject before cure
can be applied. The Congress leaders who
grappled with 1t last session found a fire
In their rear always. AS soon as an ap-
preparation was menaced 1t was found that
the head of that department could rally
to his support men in the Senate and
House whose patronage was threatened and
then there would be trouble. 1t COM
mented upon, after Congress adjourned
that the total deficits of appropriations in
the several departments, created by the
departments themselves were just about
the total deficit which threatened the fed
eral finances.
The Contingent Funds.
1t is said that the departments use their
contingent funds for purposes never de-
signed by Congress and as fast as the de-
partments secure increased funds, so do
they expand the scope of expenditure. One
source of irritation to Congress is the
rapidly expanding secret service bureau. 1t
Is alleged that the contingent funds of de-
partments are being drawn upon 10 pay for
investigations by the secret service bureau
Of the Treasury Department. a branch of
the government that was intended to put
down counterfeiting, but which has grown
in recent years until 1t takes in most every
thing from guarding the Presidents person
to Investigating Oregon land frauds.
In this connection 1t is recalled that at
one time last session the secret service was
suspected of maintaining espionage over
congressman and a very emphatic warning
was quietly issued to the effect that if any
secret service man put his foot Capitol
IIill in connection with any congressional
affairs the service would think that the
dome had tumbled down upon it.
So, all these things. some of them small
and some of them large, as the canal eX-
the flames of irritation betgeen Congress
and the departments and enhance the feel
ing in Congress that the exc ,utve branch
Is encroaching upon the legislative Out
of this situation will come the investiga-
tions which are contemplated at !he next
session, and which. 1t Is predicted in Con-
gressional circles will bring some highly
interesting disclosures.