The Washington herald., 1908-05-26
BURTON HITS SENATE
OhiOan Half AbsOlVeS House
for Heavy Budgets.
SEES EVIL IN OUR SYSTEM
For Second Time This Week Senate
Ia Scored for Increases I'm Appro-
DrintiOn BiIIS-FitzgeraId Says Re-
publican Party Il Responsible,
BurIesOn Would Hold out.

Once more was the Senate arraigned
before the bar Of public opinion yester-
day by Representative Burton, Of Ohio.
for reckless extravaganza in swelling
totals Of appropriation bills sent 10 IL by
the House. Mr.. Burton contrasted the
authority and practice Of the upper body
In this respect with that Of the British
House Of Lords. which is obliged to go
to the Commons for appropriations for It's
own clerical force. and evoked great ap-
plauso by declaring that the House.
being charged with the duty OF providing
for the revenue OF the country, should
have control Of the countrys expen-
ditures
This is the evil in the system" Mr..
. Burton continued, that another House,
with different ideas. and more readily
reached by those who represent local or
special interests. has unlimited right to
add to all appropriation bills, and any
amounts It's members choose.
Lords Only Reject Bills.
Under the English system. the upper
House can only reject bills. The same
relation is maintained as between the
Chamber Of Deputies and the Senate in
France. 1t is true, there is no active
sentiment In the country for economy,
and there are powerful forces behind
these numerous demands upon the Treas
ury, demands for extensions Of the ac-
tivities OF the government for divers un-
dertakings which heretofore have been
prosecuted by municipalities.
ut Is not to be wondered at that with
these defects In our system, with the
growing wealth Of the country, with the
demands for these extravagant expen-
ditures everywhere. that appropriations
Tor the coming year should amount up
TO more than a billion dollars, but Il Is
an impressive lesson 10 this House that
we should call for halt. The first place
for action. as I maintain. is In not YIELD
ing the prerogatlve Of the House 10 the
Senate"
Only Representative Fitzgerald, OF New
York. had anything 10 say in response 10
Mr. Burton He made party capital out
Of IT,
The character Of this government Is
not likely 70 be changed over night" he
said, "and the Republican party will
hardly be able in this campaign 10 escape
responsibility by complaining Of the Con-
stitution. The Senate is complaining that
the House does not treat Il with respect:
that Il sends legislation here from year to
year which receives no consideration.
Before Congress adjOurns statement
viii be made showing just what this Con-
gress has done In the way Of appropria-
tions. and then gentlemen will be calling
to the mountains and rocks 20 fall on
them and hide them from the wrath of
their constituents
Bowers with Burton.
Later. when the conference report on
the general pension bin was up Repre-
sentative Bowers. OF Mississippi. gave the
Senate another jolt. The Senate had re-
jected the proposition Of the House TO
abolish the eighteen pension agencies. and
the Republican House conferees had con-
sented 10 that action.
win you." Mr.. Bowers asked. permit
yourselves to be run over roughshod by
the Senator
Representative Gardner. Of Michigan.
one Of the conferees. said the agreement
was the best that could be secured al this
time. This. Representative Burleson took
leave 10 doubt, expressing the opinion
mat II the House maintained its self-re-
spect and rejected the report. he had no
doubt the Senate would recede"
1T is up 10 the individual Representa-
uves. he said. TO save 100000 of the
peoples money. II you fail TO do so. Won
cannot go 10 your constituents and Justify
your claim that you tried 10 prevent use
less ana eXtravagant appropriations"