The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-30
Chairman Towney Explains Ef-
 forts to Economize
6. 0. P. POLICY IS DEFENDED
Mr. Tawney Tells Why Radical Rules Were Adopted in the House To Shut Of Democratic Discus
 sion-Expenses Grow.

sented to the House his annual report of fiscal appropriations and expenditures The keynote of his speech was sounded 1 in the declaration that "The instant de- mands of the people and of the public ] service result in an increased aggregate when enacted into law" and the eff 1 forts of the majority to maintain policy l of greater economy were frustrated by an obstructive and recaIcitrant minority" MT. Tawney in opening said: "The annual expenditures of our gov ernment exceed those of any government in the world. The work of analyzing the estimates for them, of inquiring into their necessities, together with the needful inquiry into the methods of the departments in administering and expen6- ing previous appropritions is rapidly be- coming the most important duty and the most prodigious task to be performed in connection with the legislative depart ment of the government"
 Referring to the democratic fllibuster which has marked the last third of the present session, MT. Tawney said:
 Policy Defended.
 Tt is matter of sincere regret that to accomplish a political purpose or gain some partisan advantage the minority in this House deemed itself justified in disregarding it's responsibility by pursuing the policy it has followed for almost two months, under the leadership of the distinguished gentleman from Mississippi tMr. Williams), policy which made it necessary for the majority, in order to transact any public business to adopt rules of procedure under which non-par- tisan questions in relation to the appro- priation of public moneys could not be considered with that freedom of discus sion and action that otherwise would have enabled this House to prevent many of the increases. that were finally agreed 10. As the result of these increases the aggregate of appropriations made at this session is larger by many millions than it would otherwise have been."
 MT. Tawney said that a review of the demands made upon Congress at this session showed that the estimates for the established public service and for | previously authorized public works for the next fiscal year were more than $156- cooW0 in excess of appropriations made for the same purpose during the last session of the Fifty-ninth Congress MT. Tawney stated the total appropriations for the session to be ss51. .oSS, ,67O He said the total revenues of the government es- timated to Congress by the Secretary of the Treasury are placed at $S7S 123 ,011; that in addition to the authorized ex- pendtures of 1851 ,OSS,6 ,670 for the opera ton of the government during the next fiscal year, appropriations are also made as follows:
 Deficiency Bills.
 In deficiency acts exclusive of SIP, 466, 75O for public buildings authorized at this session, $44,5 ,22S; for requirements of the sinking fund, s5S, ,OOO 900; for redemption of national bank notes, $250O0, 900; for con struction of the Panama canal fbonds to be issued), s29 9127. 600: for miscellaneous and special objects, s1,O0O,0Oo, including $250,O0O for the relief of storm and flood sufferers in southern states and $4O3 900 for the payment of claims of the Roman Catholic church in the Philippine islands, making a grand aggregate for the next fiscal year of s10OS, ,SO4, ,S94.
 MT. Tawney said that the estimate sub mitted to Congress by the executive as a basis for the appropriation made it amount to $1 ,079. .449 2SS. or an excess of s70, 644,394 over the total of the appropria- tions of this session and an excess of $15S. .651145 over all the appropriations made at the last session. A subtraction of the totals of estimates and appropria- toins, he said, showed that the present House cut down the estimates for the or dinary operating expenses of the govern rnent $124.347172.
 The grand total of appropriations made at this session exceeded those of last session by $Ss.oo6,75O.
 Largest Appropriation.
 MT. Tawney submitted the following table of major appropriations enacted at this session:
 For agricultural, s11,6 1Os.
 Army, $95, 3S2. 247
 Diplomatic and consular, s3,577, 463
 District of Columbia (one-half payable from district taxes), $l0,117,66S.
 Fortifications, $9,317145.
 Indian, $9, ,253, ,347.
 Legislative, executive and judicial, s32,- S33, ,S21.
 Military academy, $S45 634.
 Pensions, sl63, ,053,OOO.
 Navy, $122, ,622, ,4S5.
 Postoffice, $222, ,962, ,392.
 Sundry civil, SIP, ,937, ,313.
 Deficiencies, $56995,97
 Miscellaneous, $3,0 O,000
 Permanent annual appropriations, $154,- IA, 295.
 Grand total, s1,OOs, ,SO4,s94
 In a further table of comparisons Mr. Tawney showed the difference between major appropriations of the last session and the present sesison. In conclusion MT. Tawney said
 Congress Praised. Whatever the minimizing or the super ficial critic may now say, the impartial and non-partisan historian will hereafter record and truthfully state that in the affirmative work performed and in con tending against successfully resisting unconstitutional demands upon the DOW CTS and treasury of the federal govern ment, the work of no previous session is comparable with the work of the first session of the sixtieth Congress" In census office table subjoined to Chairman Tawneys report there are given comparisons showing the relation ship of expenditures for the maintenance of the government to the aggregate wealth of the nation and proving the uniformity of that relationship for long series of years. The table shows that the census report of 1890, the first to present the aggregate payment for all expendi- lures for all classes, as distinguished from mere tax levies for states, counties, cities and minor civil divisions, including schools, amounted to $569, ,252, ,634, or a total expenditure of s. 30 for each 5000 of na- tonal wealth. In 1902, however, the year