The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-24
Chairman of Appropriations Gives Blow to Hopes for
 New Public Buildings
GOVERN MENI MUST
 PRACTICE ECONOMY
Congressman Underwood Takes occa- sion To Discuss the Financial De- pression and Puts Blame On
 National Banking Laws.

Washington, January 2S.-The urgent deficiency appropriation bill occupied the attention of the House to the ex- elusion of all other business. sur prise was sprung when Chairman Tawney, of the appropriations commit 1 tee, warned the members that the coun- l try was confronted with the certainty of $1o0,00o.0 900 deficit unless the esti- mates for the next fiscal year should be cut down materially. discussion on l tariff revision was Injected into the proceedings in which leaders on both | sides of the House tried to commit one another 10 a definite announcement as to whether if successful at the Novem- Der elections there would be tariff leg
 islation.
 Without completing consideration of the bill the House. at 4:40 D. m., ad-
 journed.
 Tawney Explains Bill.
 In accordance with notice given yes terday Chairman Tawney of the com mittee on appropriations called up for consideration by the House the urgent i deficiency appropriation bill. An agree ment was reached to devote the entire 1 day to general debate on the measure. which carries a total appropriation of l $24.074,45O.
 In explana tion of the bill, MT, Taw- ney sounded a note of warning and said that on the face of the estimates submitted to Congress for the next fiscal year the country was confronted with certain deficit of $100 .000, ,OOo. 1 These estimates, therefore would have to be materially revised and the fig ] ures reduced.
 MT. Tawney declared that he deemed it his duty to call attention to this fact
 in order that expenditures may be kept within estimated revenues. T don't ] make this statement for the purpose of exciting alarm" he said, .or for ! the purpose of exciting any apprehen- sion in the mind of anyone regarding the ability of our government to meet all of it's obligations now existing or l that this Congress may create" i He said he appreciated the fact that his reference to possible deficit would not be received withsfavor here
 
 there is a sentiment for increased ex- penditures.' but still he felt it his duty to state the facts.
 No New Appropriations. i Continuing, MT. Tawney said he had been ultra conservative in his statement of the financial condition of the country. Replying to a question by MT. Clark, Mis- souri, MT Hawney made 1t plain that there would be no new appropriations this session for rivers and harbors or public buildings, for he said his calculations did not include them.
 MT. Mann, Illinois, referred to the promises of both parties that if successful at the next election they would revise the tariff and inquired of Mir. Tawney if 1t was not true that always immediately preceding a revision of the tariff there was a great decline in the customs re- ceipts for the government MT Tawney replied that such was the case and said there always de- crease In the internal revenues we'll
 Pursuing his inquiries. Mir Mann asked also if it was not true that the estimates of the secretary of the treasury wers based on former receipts and did not take into consideration the fact that the tariff probably would be revised and that the receipts would fall off, ''so that" he add ed, unless congress is extremely econom- ical, if our democratic friends prevail they will come into power with mighty de- 1 felt"
 Early Estimates.
 Mr Tawney responded that the esti- mates did not take into consideration the matter referred to by MT. Mann. nor tho effect upon the revenues of the govern ment resulting from the recent financial depression The estimates were made prior to the money stringency and before the revenues began to fall off.
 "Is the gentleman ready to guarantee revision of the tariff provided the repub- lcans prevail next November" asked MT. Livingston of Georgia.
 No" said MT. Tawney. And I am not willing to guarantee that there will be tariff revision if the democrats prevail in November"
 Asked by Mir Cochran if the efficiency of the government could be maintained by scaling the estimates s100 000.0O0, MT. Taw- ney emphatically replied that it could.
 Underwood Argues.
 MT. Tawney's warning was seized upon by MT. Underwood of Alabama as the text for lengthy discussion of the re- cent financial depression. Mir. Underwood maintained that there were no natural or ordinary conditions that produced that depression The country, he said, was prosperous and there were no exterior causes. It was not an act or God. It was not because of fire. pestilence or famine, crop failure. or dearth of money. but because of lsek of confidence. It therefore had been Demonstrated. he said that so far as the republican party was working for the prosperity of the coun- try, 1t had dissolved partnership with God. because all that the Almighty has produced in this country has been law ished bountfully upon it. and only the republican party has failed in its part on the partnership"
 He put the blame for the recent money stringency on the present national bank ing laws which. he said. the republicans had failed to adjust in order to avert just such condition. The method of making appropriations was criticised by MT. Keller of Ohio, who said 1t was unbusinesslike. By ap- propriatins only for the things that bring results he a,essls1sf dr.s saving Irs would Qualifications .HDn hat if for instance. Pearl Harbor- O laps Manila, were COW FACE :,