Evening star., 1908-01-23
SOUNDS NOTE OF WARNING
CHAIRMAN TAWNEY POINTS TO
A POSSIBLE DEFICIT.
Estimates Submitted to Congress
Would Exceed the Revenues
Certainly by 500, 900.

In accordance with notice given yeSter
day Chairman Tawney OF the committee
on appropriations today called up for con-
sideration by the House the urgent de-
f1ciency appropriation bill. An agreement
was reached to devote the entire day to
general debate on the measure. which
carries a total appropriation of S24.O4. 40.
In explanation of the bill, Mr.. Tawney y
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 def
lei: OF 800, 100000. These estimates. there
fore. would have to be materially revised
and the figures reduced.
Mr.. Tawney declared that he deemed it
his duty to call attention to this fact in
order that expenditures may be kept
within estimated revenues. Il do not
make this statement for the purpose of
exciting alarm" he said. 'or for the
purpose OF exciting any apprehension in
the mind of any one regarding the ability
Of our government to meet all of Its obli-
cations now existing or that this Congress
may create
He said he appreciated the fact that
his reference to possible deficit would
not 'tbe received with favor here or any
where else, especially where there is a
sentiment for increased expenditures.
but still he felt it his duty to state the
facts.
Continuing. Mr. Tawney said he had been
ultra conservative in his statement of the
financial condition of the country.
An Important Announcement.
Replying to question by Mr.. Clark
(Mo), Mr.. Tawney made it 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.
Mr.. Mann Gll) referred TO the prom
ises of both parties that if successful at
the next election they would revise the
tariff. and inquired of Mr.. Tawney If 1t
was not true that always Immediately pre-
ceding a revision of the tariff there was
great decline in the customs receipts OF
the government.
Mr. Tawney replied that such was the
case and said there was always a decrease
in the internal revenues as well.
Pursuing his inquiries. Mr.. Mann asked
il 1t also was not true that the estimates
of the Secretary of the Treasury were
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
added, unless Congress is extremely eco
romical If our democratic friends prevail.
they will come into power with a mighty
deficit
Mr.. Tawney responded that the esti-
mates did not take into consideration the
matters referred to by Mr.. Mann nor the
effect of the revenues Of the government
resulting from the recent financial depres-
sion. The estimates We're made prior to
the money stringency and before the reve-
nues began to fall off.
is the gentleman ready to guarantee re-
vision Of the tariff provided the repub-
licans prevail next November" asked Mr..
/ Livingston (Ga).
No" said Mr.. Tawney. land 1 am not
willing to guarantee that there will he
tariff revision if the democrats prevail III
November