Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-02-24


on what are called permanent appro-
priations, no committee makes any In
vestigation whatever of the expend-
lures under the permanent appropria-
ton laws.
Examinations Are cursory. u
1--WE have cursory examination Of
expenditures under the annual aenro-
priation bills, similar investigation
of appropriations available until ex-
pended, and none at all of the expend-
iture OF $140,OO0,00O a year under the
permanent appropriation laws OF con-
gress. Rule ten of this house pro-
vides for the appointment of ten COM
mittees Of seven members each; one
on expenditures in each Of the execu-
tive departments and one on expend-
itures on public buildings. Rule II
provides that all proposed legislation
the subjects relating to examination
Of the accounts and expenditures OF
the several departments Of the govern
ment, and the manner Of keeping the
same, the economy, business and cor
| rectness Of such expenditures, their
conformity with appropriation laws,
the proper application of public mon
eys, the security of the government
against unjust and extravagant de-
mands, retrenchment, the enforc cement
of the payment of moneys due to the
United States, the economy and &C
countability Of public officers, the
adjustment of useless Offices, the re-
duction or Increase of pay Of officers
shall be subjects within the jurisdto-
ton of the nine standing committees
on the public expenditures in the sew
eral departments.
"The language of this rule leaves US
gravely in doubt about whether 1t was
contemplated, that these committees
should do more than consider propos-
ed legislation on subjects within their
jurisdiction. Whatever may have been
the original purpose these committees
have long since ceased to be regarded
as charged with the duty of conducting
any Investigations of the expenditures
/ in the departments If under suitable
amendment to the rules these commit
] tees should be specifically charged to
annually Investigate all expenditures
of the departments and report to the
house. misrepresentation and extrava-
gance would be speedily discovered
and done, away With. The house was
astonished a few days ago to- find that
the attorney general had authorized
4 and expenditure about $4,000 out Of
the contingent fund Of his department
for: the purchase of an oil painting OF
his predecessor; but II these commit
i tees on expenditures in the depart
Iments were vitalized, as have sug-
gested, and performed their function,
this house would know that the at
torney general was simply following q
practice Of his predecessors for years.
a practice in vogue In all the depart
ments; that notN only have paintings
been purchased Of cabinet officers out
! Of the contingent fund but Of import
ant subordinate officers in the depart
, ments, until today In the older depart
, ments the oil paintings-allege works
! of art-supposed to portray the feat
). ures Of long forgotten statesmen
;. have 80 accumulated that they. have tc
! hang them in double and triple tiers
on the walls, and the question Is now
not where to get expensive oil paint
= ings to decorate the walls, but where
!, to get walls upon which to hang the
oil paintings. The time has arrived
when this government with its $500,
: OOO, 1000 of expenditures, should author
). ize somebody representing the con
gress as the appropriating power tc
! examine, investigate and report the
: expenditures Of the appropriations
= that we make.
J. Means Change.
eff these committees on expenditures
in the departments cannot be vitalizee
then some other system must be de
e vised by which the congress shall bt
e advised as to how well and how faith
e fully these vast sums are expended b!
it the officers in whose charge we place
!: them. The vitalizing Of these com
# nlittees would not only make each
d standing inquisition of one of thes
It departments would not only confer tn
Is benefits I have suggested, but thei
A. work If we'll done, would be OF inca
Is culable benefit to the appropriattn
,e committees Of this house in determtI
W ing what amounts should be given TO
c. future needs" ~
A Judge Smiths speech was a revels
1t ton to the house and; 1t Is not unlikel
IS that some action will be taken to Civ
IS these ten committees which have hitf
Of erto done nothing except. to- give tn
At chairman committee room, may b
is told to get busy.
Isl Frank J. Stillman.
Or --------7 ---- -
In BLOOMFIELD.