The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-10-17
APPROPRIATIONS
WORRY CONGRESS,
MONEY IS NEEDED
Next Session VIII Be
Called on From Many
Sources.
" Two-BilIion-Dollar Con-
gress" May Be AppIi-
cable in Future.

Looming up bigger and more trouble
some than ever before, the problem OF
how to hold down appropriations and
keep them commensurate with the reve-
nues, and at the same time satisfy the
rapidly growing demands for Govern
rnent expenditures. is giving the Re
publican leaders of House and Senate
NO end of worry and apprehension. II
is coming 20 be the most vexing ques-
ton with which Congress has to deal
It has been serious enough with pre-
ceding Congresses. but all indications
are the Sixtieth Congress, which will
begin its first and long session the first
Monday In December, viii find Itself
sortly beset.
Clamor for Appropriations.
On the one hand. there win be a
fieTcer and more insistent ciamor for
Apr oprlations and authorizations than
ever assalled any other Congress; on
the other hand. will be the fact that
appropriations have already reached
vast aggregate nearly the limit OF the
cuunlrys revenues on the ba Sis OF pres
ent laws, and more revenue win have
10 be raised or deficit incurred IL
the outlay is TO keep on swelling.
There IS the further important fact
that Presidential and Congressional
election is approaching. and IT might
prove embarrassing TO the Republican
party II the Democrats keep the issue
of extravaganza to the front.
Where IS II going TO end?" is the
. question that the men who are re-
sponsiJle in the appropriation Of money
by Congress are asking.
Enormous Outlay.
The total appropriations made by
the second or last session Of the Fifty
ninth Congress amounted TO Ssle 94S SO,
including the permanent annual ap-
preparations. This broke all previous
records. The first or long session Of
the Fifty-ninth Congress provided for
total appropriations OF SS79.5Ss.1S5. This
total broke all records up to that time.
In the aggregate, the Fifty-ninth Con-
gress appropriated the enormous sum
OF LIES .S64. or over one and three
quarter billions. The Fifty-eighth Con
gress was not Ear behind. with q total
OF $l,GOi. 257 ,0l0.
Some folks. a few years ago. stood
appalled, when they heard the phrase
b "a biliion-doliar Congress" applied.
That was i'm the days of Tom Reed as
Speaker of the House. But the term
has not merely become outsrOwn and a
ti.lng OF history, but the day is close
At nlnd, unless unexpected checks are
put on appropriations. when the term,
q two-bilion-do Congress will
have 20 be applied.
Indications are, too. that "a billion
dollar session" win be applicable to the
approaching session OF Congress. With
the pressure from every side TO get &
fist IL the public Golfers that seem GER
tain TO be exerted. IL Is difficHlt to see
how the limit of appropriations can be
held below the billion mark. aside from
authorizations OF enormous expendi-
lures that viii be saddled on future
Congresses
Demands of Navy.
The navy last session required nearly
S150.G0O,OOO But the general board wants
<our giant battlcships and a number
OF smaller vessels. rhe President Will
back up the general board. possibly not
Tor its whole program, but for a much
larger one than usual. More warshipS,
and these 20.0OO-tOn ones cost $1,000. 900
apiece, mean more money for men and
maintenance. and as the navy expands
vast sums must be spent on coaling sta
tons, docks, navy yards, and the like.
But a greater outlay than that for
the advocates OF the improvement OF
the inland waterways. particularly Of
the deepening Of the Mississippi and its
tributaries This vast project would re-
quIre hundreds Of millions Of dollars.
Then, there Is the Panama Canal,
which few expect TO see completed, ex-
cCpt at a cost far greater than the sum
originally calculated on. The army is
railing for more pay per officer and
man, and for more officers and men.
More money IS wanted for coast de-
lenses. A strong effort will be made to
get a public building bill passed the
coming session, bill making authorize
tons of many millions. The Agrcul-
more funds TO defray tho cost OF meat
inspection. pure-fOod inspection. and
its constantly expanding activities ir.
various directions. Before long Federal
grain inspection win be undertaken In
all probability.
Increase in Salaries.
Practically every department Of the
Government wants more money. Con-
gress has just given itself 80 per cent
increase in salary, and is erecting mag
nihcent onflce buildings for both sena-
tors and Representatives.
along which increasing expenditures are
running, or are well-nigh certain 10
IUn, In the near future. What Con-
gress has to consider Is how to find
revenue TO meet the enormous outlay.
In some quarters the inter 5Sting opin-
ion obtains that Congress viii be forced
not the coming session, but soon, q
take up, seriously, the President idea
OF a graduated Inheritance tax Later.
consideration of the income tax may be
forced upon it.
nam O-r rA%nnDe