Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-21
STARTLES THE HOUSE.
Chairman TaWney Predicts a
Deficit of 500, 600, 900.
BILLlON-DOLLAR SESSION
Estimated Revenue Will Be $780,
573,246.
MORE PRUDENCE REQUESTED
Appeals to His Colleagues to Exercise
the Utmost Scrutiny on Every
Proposition to Spend Money.
MORE PRUDENCE REQUESTED

In speech on the floor OF the House THIS
afternoon, during consideration Of the sun
dry civil bill. Chairman Tawney OF the
House committee on appropriations made
the unqualified statement that the appro-
priations at the present session Of Congress
would exceed those Of any session since the
foundation of the government, and that the
deficiency in the treasury for the fiscal year
Of 1908 would be not less than 500, COO
He appealed to his colleagues to recognize
the gravity of the situation and to do ev-
erything in their power. individually and
collectively. to prevent the appropriation Of
more money than the government would
have for that year.
The greatest interest was displayed by
members Of the House In the chairman's
startling announcement, and he spoke to q
crowded chamber.
1T is not possible at this time in this
forecast with great accuracy the total ag-
gregate Of appropriations for the fiscal year
1908, but We have sufficient information
certainty that this session Of Congress win
In the aggregate amount appropriated for
the expenses Of the government during 1908
previous session Of Congress in the history
Of the republic Sea
IT feel 1t is my duty to give to this house
the information on which this statement
body but the other branch Of Congress and
the conference committee now consider
ing appropriation bills may scrutinize more
closely the necessities of the public service
and the necessities of appropriating for
specific objects than has been done thus
far In this session.
Il do this not in any spirit Of criticism,
but in the hope that the fact may SO ap-
peal to the membership of this House and
to others that each member will feel that
personal responsibility which is hts anu
endeavor from now until the close OF me
session to keep down appropriations. so
that the record of this session will not be
one that any member cannot fully justify.
Total Estimates.
1.-THE total estimates for appropriations
for all purposes for the fiscal year 1908,
as submitted in the book of estimates at
the beginning Of this session. aggregate
95.69O.643.6S. These regular estimates
are exceeded in five Of the annual supply
bills which have been passed by the
House or passed by both House and Sem
ate, and are now in conference by $22,-
919.29s.96
'In addition to this the obligations fixed
by legislation now pending between the two
houses in the river and harbor bill and the
navy bill equal $73 .634, 523. There were also
supplemental estimates for sundry civil ex-
penses of the government of $4,000 OOO
making a total Of 81. OO5, 244. 1853 81, included
Tn the annual. estimates for the permanent
and annual appropriations. supplemental
estimates and obligations Hxe by the river
and harbor and naval bills and by the sup
Elemental sundry civil estimates.
Assuming that only 80 per cent of the
estimates are provided for by appropria-
ton, or that Congress reduces tnem by 10
per cent, the aggregate would still be $9O4,-
720,O21.7S.
Estimated Revenues.
1.-THE estimated revenues Of the govern
ment for the fiscal year 1905 upon the
basis of the current year and upon the
basis of the increase Of the revenue during
the current year. will not exceed 1884,
573,246.
This I believe to be a liberal estimate.
Therefore If the several appropriation
bills are not materially reduced before
their final passage we must expect dur
ing the fiscal year 1908 a deficit of at
least 500. 100000.
ut may be said that the appropriations
for the Panama canal are not chargeable
on the revenues, but in this statement I
have eliminated obligations created by leg
islation that has passed at this session Of
Congress indeterminate in amount, but al
most certain to more than equal all of The
appropriations that are rembursable to the
treasury or that may not become a charge
upon the revenues for the next fiscal year
I'm view Of these facts I appeal to the
membership of this House to exercise the
utmost scrutiny and give to every propo-
sition for the expenditure Of money during
the next fiscal year the most careful con-
sideratiOn, to the end that the closing ses-
sion of the Fifty-ninth Congress will not
be charged with having unnecessarily cre-
ated deficit or appropriated more money
than the government. from Its revenues,
will be able to meet"