New-York tribune., 1908-01-24
lFACING BIG DEFICIT.
Chairman Td1eney Shoes the Need
of Strict Economy.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau ]

Washington. Jan. 23-Representative Tawney.
OF Minnesota. chairman of the Appropriations
Committee. introduced the urgent deficiency bill
in the House to-day with the admonition that
strict economy must be observed in the dis
bursement of the national funds If a large def
cit is to be avoided. Mr. Tawney predicted
that the deficit will be S1OOOOO0O0. in round
numbers. unless many of fhe estimates are
greatly reduced He showed that even if the
revenues of all departments of the government
reached the unparalleled total OF the last fiscal
year, SS7S 100000 there would stiiI be short
age of funds in the Treasury of nearly $4,000
600, provided all the appropriations asked are
granted
Mr.. Tawney was not at all sure that the rev.
enues will be so large next year as they were
last year. In fact, he said. that with both par
ties limiting at tariff revision, with d coming
Presidential election and the recent financial
depression, there was every reason to believe
that there would be no proportionate increase
in revenues, but probably falling off. He also
doubted whether there will be an increase in
postal revenues and in proof Of this he showed
that the period succeeding financial depressions
at all times has been of decreased reve-
nues.
If" Mr. Tawney said. "the books of the
Treasury are not going to show the greatest
deficit since the Civil War and since the Demo-
cratic party was in charge of the executive and
legislative branches of the government the
strictest economy must be exercised.
In speaking OF the unusual size of the es1-
mates Mr. Ta%ney particularly mentioned those
of the military branch of the government, which
aggregate S416.OOO,OOO, and which, he said. are
larger than was required to conduct the whole
government prior to 1897. This sum he showed
to be more than 80 per cent of the revenues OF
the entire government and exclusive OF all
new authorizations, including the plans for the
enlargement Of army posts and the four S1o,-
100000 battIeshps.
The Democratic members made several IN
effectuaI attempts to force tariff discussion
on Mr.. Tawney. but his answers were so much
to the point that they soon subsided. 1t was
made clear, however by the replies that Mr..
Tawney and other leading Republicans look
confidently for tariff revision after the Presi-
Dental election.
In the three hours debate following Mr.. Taw-
ney's speech Representative Fulton. of Okla
homa, IN asking for unanimous consent to con-
tnue for some minutes more a eulogy OF his
native state, was recognized by the chairman
as "the gentleman from Arkansas" Smilingly
he answered that the insnuation that he was
from Arkansas was "one Of the worst things
that had ever been said about him"
Representative Robinson. Of Arkansas. rose
Immediately and angrily declared that no one
could cast aspersions on his state while he
was around He said this in many different
ways and ended by declaring that the worst
thing that had been said about Arkansas
that the gentleman from Oklahoma came from
there" in some parts his reply became almost
personal. but Representative Fulton apologized
to the trate Arkansan and Iarnented the fact that
his joke was such a poor one. He was loudly
applauded by both sides on taking his seat.