The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-21
BASED on Ertimnte..

/ Congress appropr!ates out or the Treas
ury all money 20 run the government.
Z These appropriations are based upon 60
I Inmates Of annual expenses for the next
! fiscal year. The various committees OF
/ House and Senate which handle apprO-
priations study the estimates. which are
submitted by all the departments through
/ the Secretary Of the Treasury. and pre-
pare the various appropriation bills that
provide for money 10 run the government
} the ensuing year.
/ Up 20 the present time there has been
no Limitation upon thu estimates that the
head % each department could submit 20
/ Congress: neither has there been any
person or committee with authority TO
revise or to reconsider these estimates
before they were submitted 10 Congress.
IL was probably the intention Of the
statesmen On the early DAYS OF the re-
public 10 give some supervisory power OF
this kind TO the Secretary OF the Treasury
when II was provided by law that the
estimates for the next fiscal year should
be sent 10 the Secretary or the Treasury,
and he IN turn should make up a book OF
estimates for the whole government and
submit the same to Congress. II was
probably thought that the Secretary OF
the Treasury. having charge Of the gov
eruments money. and being fully in
formed as 20 the receipts from all sources
and the condition Of the Treasury, would
exert some sort Of influence TO keep the
estimates within the bounds of the gov
ernmcnts income. But. whatever the
intentions OF the early fathers were. no
such power is to-day exercised by the
Secretary or the Treasury. he Is simply
A coordinate member Of the Cabinet and
4 l. I'll. ff--
row II he were TO send back the estimate
made by some department with instrUc-
lions 10 cut il down 10 make il compatible
: with the condition or the Treasury.
Prefer Lump sums.
Congress. of course authorizes certain
work by the departments. but the depart
ments can estimate for as much clerical
I assistance or for as many supplies as. In
: the judgment Of the Secretary OF each
department. they win need. The depart
! mcnts have been especially anxious "a
have their appropriations made IN lump
= sums rather than have them made foI
specific purposes. A lump-sum appro-
! priation gives the head Of department
/ much more latitude in his expenditures
than Is given him by specific appropri-
atious. Congress has gradually. however
been limiting more and more these lump
sum appropriations. end has been de-
? handing of the departments specific es-
, Inmates
When these estimates are I'm the hand.
OF the various committees and the com
mittees get TO work. they call before
them the heads o. the various depart
lments and have hearings on all items To-
which estimates are made. To eact
Cabinet officer his department probably
l seems the most important OF all IN,
departments. He OF course, gets wrapped
9 up I'm his particular work. and become.
. enthused over certain results which h,
- thinks can be accomplished by his depart
q ment. and naturally brings every ppessur'
n to bear that he can TO get the none!
necessary to carry on his work
n With nine departments, each containing
. many bureaus. il is easy 10 see what
: tremendous pressure IS brought upor
:, Congress for moDey; and during tn,
u sessions OF Congress. when appropriation
I, bills are being considered by the various
appropriation committees, the duties o
: members Of these committees are no
) altogether pleasant. Congress IS some
times uniustly blamed for not takinl
J. up various reforms. II Is an easy matte
p to suggest many great and good thing
: that could be accomplished by the gov
c eminent. and this Is done by many people
:, sometimes backed up by the press. whel
n the little detail Of how to get the none.
Y 70 pay for these things is entirely over
t looked Therefore. when the Treasur,
statistics began 10 indicate, year or 8
& ago. that the expenses OF the govern
4, ment were exceeding the income. and tina
e very soon the Treasury would be depleted
L II became necessary for Congress TO de
II termine some method OF solving tn
g. problem.
IF Want Expenses Reduced,
: The Sixty-hrst Congress inserted a pro
. vision in one Of the appreciation bill
: recurring that when estimates OF expen
: ditures for the fiscal year are submitte
TO Congress. II these estimates exceed tn
estimated receipts for the same period
then It shall he the duty Of the Presiden
TO recommend 20 Congress some mean
n of reducing the expenditures withou
undue injury 10 the public service. or
this be not practicable. then OF increasing
. imposition Of new taxes or by negotiation
Of loans.
This provision Of law was thought b
many be 10 a wise one, as the executiv
departments spend the money. and the
IS are under the direct control OF the PresI
Y dent in carrying out the provisions O
l. law enacted by Congress. This view. O
5. course has some merit In It, but is no
d entirely a correct one. as the department
Y are bound TO carry out the rrovisions n