New-York tribune., 1908-01-28
ZIP TAWkFY'S WARNING.

Mr. TawDev the chairman of the Appropria-
tions Committee of the House of Representa-
tives spoke in his natural role of tNatch Dog
of the Treasury" when he warned the House
the other day that unless the estimates for
I90S-'O9 submitted by the various departments
were cut from 10 TO Is per cent there would be
a deficit IN l90S-'09 of about s100.0oo,0o0. I'm
doubtedlv the estimates will be reduced: for II
would show a reversal of sl historic prece-
dents if the House Appropriations Committee
did not use the knife on the department re-
quisltions which, as matter OF fact, are
usually stretched so as 10 leave generous mar
gin for the rimmers and cutters in Congress
10 work on. Last year the estimates exceeded
the appropriations finally voted by SG3OOoo
Yet at that time liberal surpluSes were Indicated
both for 19o6'O7 and 19O7-'0S To-day Congress
faces the prospect of moderate denclt Tor
I9O7-OS and q big deficit for 190S-'09 unless
the proposed expenditures of the government
are sharplv inspected and reduced. The chair
man OF the Appropriations Committee reports
that If all the recommendations of the depart
ment heads are approved the outlay for 1908 W
will exceed the estimated income for 1913 W
by S34 100000.
The Secretary of the Treasury has calculated
that the revenues of 19oS-'O9 will reach total
of sS7s oo00 900 But as Mr.. Tawney shows. that
estimate assumes an increase over the revenues
Treasury-of So 100000 1t is not at all clear
that the record OF 1ao6-01 will be broken either
this wear or next year. In the seven months OF
the current fiscal year there has been a loss
in receipts outside the postal service, OF nearly
S16.OoOOO0. The falling off for the year may
amount TO $50 900 or 10000. since i'm
portations have been seriously checked and the
Slackening Of business since October has caused
a marked decline in internal revenue collections.
Mr. Tawney feels certa in that the government
income for 190S-'09 will not rise TO the level Of
19o6-'O7 if. indeed. it rises above the level Of
l9O7-'OS According TO his calculations, there
fore cut of more than S60O0OO00 will have TO
he made in the estimates. excluding provision
for the sinking fund if the Treasury is not 70
be called on to meet another deficit out OF its
1906-'07 savings
1t is rather astonishing 10 learn that nearly
one-half of the appropriations asked for next
wear is TO go to what Mr.. Tawney somewhat
vaguely denominated as 'the military side or
the government" He put the estimates charge
able 10 the military account at $4O6.o0O,O00.
Many newspapers have commented with amaze
ment on the apparent doubling in one year Of
the demands Of the military services, since in
l9-D6-'OI the army and navy together received
only s199 100000 and in 190I-0S only SllI,-
900. But the Minnesota member meant 70
include pensions in the military account and
the estimate for pensions for 190S-'09 is $50
100000 The actual increase in the amounts
asked for the military services proper is about
S73 5o0ooO as compared with the current year.
or sol 100000 as compared with 1906'01. The
army and navy should both be strengthened.
and many important betterments. including new
fortifications the enlargement of the artillery
corps of the army and an increase Of pay for
both army and navy have been postponed too
long II is unfortunate that Congress should be
asked to make good for past delays in year
when an unforeseen financial panic has unset
tied business and reduced the public revenues.
Mr. Tawney says that cut in military expen-
ditrrp should be made. and ii is evidently his
plan 10 combat q disproportionate Increase in
rhe army and navy allotments. Economy there
will clash with national needs. Yet economy
anpears TO be unavoidable and the task of the
Appropriations Committee of the House and
senate should he to adjust the necessary
retrenchment as TO interfere least with national
protection and national progress.