The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-11-26
Statesmen Are Urging Ne
eeSsity of Cutting Down
All Expenditures.
FEW FRIGHTENED
BY CRY OF WOLF"
Indications Point TO a "Two-BilliOn-
Dollar Congress, De-
spite Present Cry.

The cry of economy is once more IA
miliar along Pennsylvania avenue.
Statesmen drifting back to town after a
summer OF strenuous endeavor to get re-
elected are talking vehementIy about
the need FOR it, pointing, meanwhile. to-
ward the Treasury, where Secretary
COrtelyOu is broOding over a large def
cit that threatens to grow indefinitely
larger. Representative Tawney Of Min
nesota, chairman OF the House Commit
tee on Appropriations, is for it, and is
prepared 10 spend the next few months
at the Capitol Insisting on il.
Speaker Cannon is emphaucally IN
favor of economy, and is putting his
foot in the spokes of the conservation Of
resources plans on the plea that econ
Omy is needful. In administration quar-
tiers, the word has gone out that heads
of departments are not TO submit esti-
mates based on increases Of salaries, re-
gardless OF the fact that Congress not
long ago officially recognized that in
creased cost Of living was a fact by
increasing its own pay and also that OF
the Vice President and the Cabinet Of
ficeTs.
However, Washington has heard this
talk Of economy for so many years that
It has grown 10 look for it at the begin
mig OF every session. and To feel that
less Will be heard Of it when the session
closes. 1t looks as il history might re-
peat itself in the present instance.
Last session the billiOn-dOIlar mark in
expenditures appropriated for. continu-
ing o. newly authorized, was about
reached, despite every EFFORT of the
leaders TO hold down the figures in the
face Of an approaching campaign,
TwO-BilIOn Congress.
indication are that when the Fifty
ninth Congress winds up its career on
March 4. it viii have fairly earned the
designation Of the "'twO-biIlion-dollar
Congress-
Economy is an excellent thing TO talk
about to the voters. no doubt, but the
average member OF Congress when ne
gets TO Washington measures his sue
cess by the extent TO which lac gets his
hand into Uncle Sans Golfers. Unfortu-
uately for the cause Of economy, the
constituents OF the average membef
send hi-- 10 Washington for the purpose
OF getting things Tor MS ulsJlcl, ana
they measure mis- success by his proves
in drawing down appropriations thaJ
are TO be expended at home.
Last session there was a large public
building bill to be passed TINS session
it is eXnected there viii be q rivers and
haTbOrs B-ll. Nh. TaWney says the de-
felt does not look much like rivers
and harbOrs bill 70 him. but the pres
sure VIII be Intense ana most or the
members are looking for It, Always The
departments are on hanG with luCrUaS-
ing demands tEar seemingly have to be
met, ar least in part
The friends OF a big navy are nOL pre-
pared 10 abate any in their demands.
They want as many great leViathans as
they can get and viii try TO get at
least two. some Of them are anxious
regiments being authorized. The Inter
state Commerce Commission needs more
money 10 carry on its work.
Census Looming Up.
The next decennial census. a huge
task, is looming up and Wiz have to be
appropriated for. ana there is always
the movement for waterway improve
ment on a great scale, for the extension /
of the forest reserves and generally FOR I
CUnSeTN alton of resources. These are a. {
few Of the channels along which efforts 4
viii be made TO have large expenditures |
No matter how the watchdogs of the /
Treasury on the Appropriations Com /
nIittee may bark and bite, they VIII 4
have a hard time of 1t Tending on those /
who would add 10 the expenditures, /
Besides, the bark Of most of the watch 4
dCgs is much worse than their bite.
The consequence of il all Is that " bile /
one VIII hear great deal OF the need /
for economy for some weeks now IL I
Only one consideration may serve TO J.
bring iJ about this session. This is the 4
one of revenue as Il relates TO the mat 1
ter Of devising new sources for it, such /
sharp check in the enlargement of ap- /
preparations.