The Washington herald., 1908-03-01
House Gets Active Over De-
partment Expenditures.
IT Has BEEN URGED BEFORE
Sentiment 10 CIothe Committees
with Real Powers Not Nevy-RepOrt
Adopted ny House Is Warm one.
work TO BE Done Is ResI-EeOn-
Omy I'm Many Ways Possible.

Committee on Accounts. in reference 10
the duties Of the Committees on Expen-
ditures in the Departments. was read.
had sWged about that same House be-
I fore
Although the surging OF yesterday was
higher and wet a few more people than
had previously been so affected, the same
Old sea ragged a little bit last year. as IN
1905, when the Committee on Expenditures
in the Department Of Agriculture sought
\ to really do something.
I At the time the resolution, introduced
I BY Representative CasseIi. was brought
I before the House. Representative VIII
iams- who at various times had seemed
! opposed 10 such legislation. had the fol-
! lowing TO say in regard 10 its adoption:
( L want TO say, merely. that 1 think this
I (the adoption of a resolution permitting
/ the committee 10 really investigated Is a
/ proper step 10 take and the right course
I to pursue for this Committee on Ex-
/ penditures in the Department Of Agri-
culture. and 70 express my hope that the
/ other committees on expenditures In the
/ several departments viii wake up 10 the
fact that they have a very important
work to do.
Are Most Important.
THE most important committees Of this
House. if they do their duty. for the pur-
/ pose Of economy and honesty Of admin
! istrauon, are the committees on expendi-
lures IN the several departments am
glad that this particular Committee on
/ Expenditures is taking the step. and I
hope II viii be initiated by the other
committees on expenditures IN the other
I departments"
While, cf course. the words OF the
minority leader. uttered almost two years
ago. were not exactly prophetic. the fact
that these committees have al last been
awakened or have awakened into some
semblance Of action, is taken 10 mean
I that the House has at last realized that
they are, as Mr. Williams said, important
committees so far as th@ economy and
honest administration Of the departments
are concerned.
The action Of the House ye-orday in
adopting the report Of the CoImittee
I on Accounts. presented by Representative
I Hughes. OF West Virginia, is indicative
I of the sentiment that these committees
should be more than mere dumping places
for men whom the Speaker cannot other
wise dispose OF well
This report Of the Committee cn Ac-
counts is composed of particles which
possess sensible degree OF warmth. and
4 il was over this warm part. no doubt. that
the House objected at al, when the report
was considered.
By the report. clerks VIII be allowed 10
each Of ten committees. having to do
with The expenditures in all the depart
meuts OF TIE government
What Report Says.
K says. IN part:
The several committees in the execu-
tive departments have been Of no practi-
cal value for a long time. They have
been looked upon as commissions with
nothing 10 do Dormant. innocuous. Il
has been generally accepted that they
were shOrn OF their powers and functions.
But II is proposed 10 change such con
ditions and 10 galvanize these committees
and make them d living. working force,
instead O. mere meaningless fixtures; in
stead of furnishing a dumping ground
50 10 speak, for members Of the House
who could not be taken care OF other
wise I'm committee assignments, the
Speaker. in MS appointments 10 these
committees. has made their personnel
such IS 10 be a. guarantee that they VIII
perform the duties with which they are
charged.
The Committee on Accounts believes
that. provided with clerical aid the COM
mittees on expenditures VIII render the
House and the country service which VIII
result in economy and the better admin
( istration Of the executive departments.
We verify believe that with these com
mittecs fully equipped for work. and
4 ar
they would render unnecessary. not to
say impossible. the creation by executive
order OF commissions, such as the Keep
commission and the waterways commis-
sion. and the PRONUNCIATION OF depart
mental regulations without authority OF
Congress.
Present Time Selected.
The present time has been selected
foT the resuscitation Of the expenditures
committees when no charges are pend
ing to invite public attention or excite
the public mind and 20 arouse partisan
ship.
There is no particular head which the
Investigation is aimed 10 hit. But IL is
proposed that these committees shall
steadily and diligently, without clamor or
partisanship, carefully look into the mat
ALA III MAl4N-A Ai4E NeAr- 1lA4tAl-L OA 4AD4LtN
appropriated is expended. IL VIII not Do
the work OF session, but constant and
unremitting vigilance. economies and re-
forms viii be expected 20 result and wiu
result: useless Offices be abolished. law
respected. public money properly applied
the government secured against unjust
and eXtravasant demands; retrenchment.
claims Of the United States satisfied,
stricter accountability Of officers, and sal
aries reduced or increased on just and
equitable principles.
These are the duties OF the committees
on expenditures as defined by the rule.
Furthermore. and what is OF paramount
Importance 70 the House Itself tie dig
nifty OF the House and its rights under lis
own rules can be preserved by restoring
to the committees on expenditures their
proper functions. II is within the ex-
perience Of the younger members OF the
House in point OF service that the House
has been forced into the acceptance OF
provisions placed upon an appropriation
btu elsewhere or accept the consequence
OF the failure Of such bill 10 pass IN q
short session of Congress OF the prelonga-
ton OF long session indefinitely
Restore 10 the committees on eOperdi-
lures IN the various departments their
function. properly equip them. let them
go 70 work methodicaIly and systemati-
cally within the very wide scope of their
jurisdiction; refer 20 them estimates and
recommendations for appropriations rot
previously authorized by law or which
change existing law. then see 20 Il that
Their functions a:e not usurped by other
c@pmittees and are guarded against en-
croacissrent.
VIII Be Busy Then.
This done. II IS our Judgment that the
rr-iIl