The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-01-24
FEARS Big DEFICIT
Tawney Advises Congress to
Cut Down Estimates.
NO IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED
Chairman of House Appropriations
Committee Declares Public Works
Estimates Would Mean Deficiency
OF 500, 900, OOO-Tarif Discussed by
Committee OF the whole.

That the estimates for appropriations
must be materially reduced if the gov
! eminent is not TO face a big deficiency,
was the tenor of a speech made in the
House yesterday by Chairman Tawney,
of the Appropriations Committee This
means no river and harbor or public
buildings Improvements this session.
His statement was made when the
House had resolved into the Committee
of the Whole for consideration of the
urgency deficiency bill.
I viii say 10 the Chairmen Of other
committees having appropriation bills
said Mr.. Tawney that unless they ma
| terially revise the estimates for eXpendi-
lures for the years l90S-09 submitted by
! the several executive departments, they
will involve the government in a def
cheney of not less than $l00000,oo0.'
IN discussing the appropriation for the
naval establishment made necessary by
/ the trip Of the feet 10 the Pacific. Mr.
/ Tawney said there was nothing to say
about the appropriation.
Under statute Of 1861" he said, the
navy is specifically authorized TO create
a deficit in the matter Of transportation
and coGl."
Congress Must settle.
This will mean that there can he no
questioning Of the trip by the members
so far as the cost IS concerned. Ordered
there by the Commander-in-chicf, the
power is given 20 create deficiencies TO
any amount and Congress can only smile
and settle the bills.
During the course of his talk, Mr.
Tawnev presented a series OF tables OF
estimated receipts and expenditures, dem
.onstrating therefrom d probable deficiency
ranging from Sl00W0.oJ1 to 100000 ac-
cording 10 the manner Of treating 539,Uo-
0o0 to be spent on the Panama Canal ana
50 0O0r)0 on account OF redemption or
bank notes, really not charseabie TO cur
rent expenditures To Mr.. Mann Rep.
I'D. Mr.. Tawney admitted that his Calcu-
latlons included &5g.JooOoo on account OF
the sinking fund appropriation, on which
account no payments have been made.
and none were likely 10 be made ln the
next fiscal year
As thus amended. Nr. Tawney's esti-
mate OF the probable deficiency was re-
duced 10 100000 and this, too. he said,
admitted of no new authorization of pub
BE works, river and h8rhuT Improvements.
public buildings, and the Ike.
Many questions were put 10 Mr.. Tawncy.
To Mr Mann tRcp.. I'D, he said that
always preceding a revision OF the tariff
there was q falling of !u customs re-
ceLpts. So that If the Democrats came into
power in 1909. they would likely face an
empty Treasury
Mr. Livingston Dem. GaJ-Do you
guarantee revision of the tariff In case
the Republican party retains its power:
Mr Tawney-No, nor do / guarantee
revision if the Democratic party should
come into power daughter
Falling on in Revenues.
He said that since the financial depres-
sion of last fall set in there had been a
falling off in the receipts of the gov
eminent. so much so that whereas a year
ago there was a surplus of $2SojooJ0 in
the Treasury, to-day there is a deficiency
Of 100000 on the years business.
IN answer 10 questions. Mr.. T8wney
said that the Treasury Department had
informed the committee that there had
been a falling off in the customs revenue
Of $1,000 90 during the past two months.
The department estimated. however,
that when goods now stored in ware
houses were taken out this falling
OF would be- made up. The department.
he said, believed that the falling of was
due 20 inability Of importers to obtain
money for the purpose of making with
drawdls
speCuIates on Revision.
Mr. Davis JRep., Mimi wanted to know
if a Republican revision OF the tariff
downward would not increase the reve-
nues Mr. Tawuey replied that that would
depend upon the scientific adjustment of
all the questions involved
Mr. Davis-I mean a revision such as
a Republican Congress would be likely to
make-a scientific revision.
Mr.. Fitzgerald Dem, \. VI would
like 10 ask the chairman of the commit /
tee If he thinks that the Republican party
or any other party could so revise the
tariff as 10 produce sufficient revenue TO /
meet the eXJravagaut expenses of this ad- /
Mr.. Tawney-T leave the gentleman to /
answer that himself"
Mr.. Tawney int.mated that the reduc- /
tions in expenses should be made in the /
and naval appropriation bills /
The Navy and War departments he said /
has asked for $75.000000 in excess Of cur /
rent appropriations.
Representative Underwood. Of Ala |
bama, discussed the causes OF the re- |
cent panic. He placed the blame upon
the Republican party.
Mr., Keifer CRep., Ohio) criticised /
the method Of making appropriations /
in the House which he char /
aCterized as most unbusinesslike
He devoted the greater part of his |
speech to a description Of conditions /
on the Canal Zone lie said it had be-
come possible for the United States to
dig the canal because normal tropical
climatic conditions had been overcome
largely, and tropical fevers absolutely
wiped out
Mr.. Adair Dem.. Ind addressed the
committee advocating legislation for
the relief Of currency conditions. He
denounced the Aldrich bill as designed /
only to aid the Wall street gamblers. Il
He was called to order by the chair 4
man for making an supplementary Il
aliusion 10 a member of the Senate.
The committee here arose and at Il
$40 o'clock the House adjourned until II
to-day
0TTDAN TCTE TVnTETcTUr