The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-06
REVENUES MUST
EQUAL EXPENSES
Congress Will Try to Keep
Government Out Of Debt
ESTIMATES ARE WATCHED
Committee on Public Expenditures
Will Look Carefully Into Appro-
priatjons and See That They Do
Not Exceed Revenues.
ESTIMATES ARE WATCHED

Washington, December 5-(Special lit
makes for modicum of difference, this
Senate minority leadership to succeed
Texas will lead whether az chairman OF
the democratic caucus or senator from
Texas. This has been an establishment
of the Senate since Arthur Pue German of
Maryland passed Off the scene.
Under the provisions of the last sundry
civil appropriation act 1t is the duty OF
the Secretary of the Treasury to send to
Congress, in connection with the esti-
mates of appropriations for the various
branches OF the government, an estimate
of the revenues for the ensuing fiscal
year. This provision was inserted In the
law for the express purpose of pre-
venting raids on the treasury The lead
ers are determined that appropriations
be kept within the governments income.
and that If reductions in estimated ap-
preparations cannot be made without un-
due injury to the public service loans or
new taxes must be provided to cover
the deficiency.
With a view of devising a more sci
entific method of distributing the aggre-
gate appropriations between the several
branches OF the government, the Senate
created in March committee on public
expenditures. For many years there has
been dissatisfaction with the methods
of appropriating public funds, RESPONSE
biity for appropriations being divided
emong half a dozen committees. This
division of responsibility led to waste
and extravaganza, as there was no d.
rect relation between those senators who.
by reason of their committee service, are
primarily responsible for keeping the
treasury supplied with funds and those
who apportion these funds for the run
ming expenses Of the government
The public expenditures committee is
composed Of the ohairl5ien of the con,
naiitees on apa-, -riati FMS, fnance milf
tary affairs, naval affairs, postoffices and
postroads. agriculture ana forestry and
Indian affairs and Is other senators OF
prominence. This COMMITTEES engaged the
services OF ex-senator Hemenway. for
merly chairman of the House commit
tee on appropriations, as an expert, to
devise plan for apportioning expendi-
lures within the estimated revenues. A
subcommittee consisting of Senators,
Bourne, Aldrich. Root, Carter, Hughes
and McLaurin, has taken UP the question
of appropriations and on Wednesday will
submit report to the full committee.
The public expenditures committee will
take up the estimates of the treasury
department and will review the entire field
of national finance. decision will be
reached as to the amount OF money that
can be spent In tho ensuing fiscal year and
aach nnnittQ& chairman will he inform aS{
of the maximum amount at his disposal.
1t Is expected that the public cxpendi-
lures committee will be a sort of budget
committee with plenary power of put
ting on the brakes, when the other
standing committees show disposition
to be reckless in the expenditure of pub
lie funds.
The Senate is poor place to make
money. according to the coast senators.
Senator Piles Of Washington and Senator
Flint of Colorado announce that they will
not be candidates for reelection.