The Washington herald., 1908-05-23

Hot shot was directed at the Senate
yesterday from the House The grape
and canister were hred in a speech OF
Representative Burlesop. of Texas. to
Which the Republican side listened at
tenuvely and applauded vigorously. An
issue between both branches Of Congress
was outlined and it seemed TO be ae-
centuated by the practically unanimous
action Of the House in rejecting one con
ference report after another, which was
presented on account of Senate amend
ments which called for increased appro-
priations.
Mr. Burleson took advantage of the
time allowed for debate on the District
appropriation bill, to which there was
no particular objection On either side. 20
lombard the Senate for what he regarded
as lis presumption in swelling the amount
OF appropriations of the House on all
bills.
Calls on the House.
The Senate had usurped authority, in
his opinion in adding to the amendments
Of House appropriations, and he called
on the House to drive the Senate back
10 its place. The action of the Senate in
adding to the amounts of the House ap-
propriations would make the government
deficit this year enormous, Mr.. Burle-
son said, if approved by the House
The other side of the Capitol was not
accountable 10 the people, and Mr. BurIe-
sons side of the Capitol was accountab bic,
and il should stop the encroachments of
the Senate.
AIr. Burleson declared that Senate ex-
travagances had aided in making this
session of Congress the most extrava-
CANT that had ever been convened He
warned the House that if a check was
n0t put upon the Senate this government
would pass away as democratic govern
mants before Ii had passed.
Nr. .Burleson said:
Mr.. Speaker II is extremely probable,
not certain, that for the first time in
he history of this government the ap-
propriations for a single session of Con-
gress will exceed &lG0G0 co., il is well
known 70 US all that the country holds
the House directly responsible for all the
expenditures made by Congress. But il
is only fair to the House and to the
majority party in the House 10 say that
they are not wholly hlamable for this
gross, extravaganza which is running riot
in this country, because it is due largely
70 the other end CT the Capitol. Cap
plause on both sides)
Praise for THWney.
1t is bUt fair and just TO say that the
distinguished gentleman. Mr. Tawney. at
the head of the Committee on Appropria-
tons of The House. day after day, week
after week, has impressed upon this
House the importance and Tie necessity
Of cItting down and keeping down the
appropriations. Republican epplausel
If the House Committee on Appropria-
tions and other committees controlling
appropriation bills had followed the esti-
mates Transmitted 70 the Speaker at the
beginning Of this session of Congress-
there would have been a deficit over the
estimated revenues OF Sis CC1.ol0
After weeks Of arduous labor. yea,
more than arduoUs labor. after more
weeks OF drudgery. the House commit
tees reduced these estimates by SS3. 000O01.
The bills We're then transmitted to the
ether end OF the Capitol With what re-
suit? Without any responsibility resting
upon them, because the country does not
hOl3 them responsible. when the bills
were returned they were returned in a
condition that / shall now indicate.
The army appropriation bin was re-
turned increased by S14GQO9 the Dis
trict appropriation bin was returned in
creased by $40 900, the fertilization bill
was returned Increased by s. 100000, the
Indian appropriation bill was returned
increased by $2.0O0 900; the naval appro-
priatiOn bill was returned increased SIS
0o0 coo; the post-0ffice appropriation bill,
carrying as it does, a ship subsidy propo-
sition and a railway mail pay graft. was
increased by S7.000000; the pension appro-
pTiatlOn bin was returned increased by
$l3, 0000O0; the sundry civil appropriation
bill was returned increased by 81 100000;
the deficiency appropriation bill was re-
turned increased by 100000; the public
buildings bin was returned increased by
So 000.000 in round numbers.
The legislative bill. which provides for
q few, not very many humble depart
ment clerks. was returned increased BY
less than half a million dollars; and the
agricultural appropriation bill. which
makes appropriations for that great in
dustry which bears the burden Of taxa
ton. was practically increased only BY a
half million dollars.
''MT. Speaker. the fathers did not intend
that the other end of the Capitol should
exert its influence over appropriation bills.
1t has encroached upon the prerogatives
Of this House until we have reached the
point where the revenue-raising body
can be compelled 10 increase the burdens
resting upon the people, whether 1t viii
or no.
IN my deliberate judgment unless
some steps are taken, and taken speedily,
10 seouTge the other body backward to
the exercise of its proper functions. this
government viii 60, as every other dem
ocratic government organized has gone
TO It's death as the result OF extrava-
gauce, corruption, and the kindred evil of
miltarism.
"The trouble is that at the other end
Of the Capitol a horde Of amendments
are placed on the appropriation bill con-
ceding amendments that number one or
two in which tl4ey have a special in
Faraef