Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-16
BILLION DOLLAR
CONGRESS STILL
Watch Dog of Treasury Calls At
tention to Omissions in NC
Weighs Estimates.

Washington, Dec. 10.-Despite the ap-
parent cut OF more than $110.O0o.0O0 in
the estimates for 1911 as compared with
those for 1910, this is going to be a billion
dollar Congress after all. Figures some
times lie. presumably and this Is one
of the times. At least that il the view
taken by Representative James A. Taw
ney OF Minnesota, chairman of the House
appropriations committee who thinks
he ought to know. Mr.. Tawney says:
THE exhibit of the secretary OF the
treasury shows a reduction in the esti
mated expenditures Of the government
for the fiscal year 1911 of SIS, $50 091. ~
under the appropriations made for 1910
and a reduction of $4,000, 1922 under
the estimate submitted TO Congress for
that year. This result will tend to relieve
the Congress- in large measure OF the
burden.ome DUTY that has occupied
much of the time heretofore. through
committees and otherwise, in adjusting
expenditures to the sum of national
revenues. During the last eisht fiscal
years the sum total Of estimates sub
mitted by the executive have exceeded
expenditures authorized in appropria-
tons made by Congress by s274.94S e57.95.
SINKING FUND FORGETTEN
1T will be observed that the secretary
of the treasury in his report states the
total estimates for 1911 as amounting
to $67l 2ts.N521: in this sum he does not
include $0.93s000 that will be required
under the statute to meet the require
ments of the sinking fund during the next
fiscal year. nor Is there included in the
secretary's figures the amount estmat cd
| at 1929, o5S 572.37 that will be paid out Of
| the postal revenues for conducting the
| postal service. The first sum is an exact
one under the provisions Of law and while
| it may not be applied In its entirety
| during the year to the retirement OF
the national debt. It should for purposes
| Of comparis be considered. The amount
to be paid from the postal revenues will
have to be met by appropriations and
| will probably not be materially reduced.
| adding both sums to the ss71, 81, o75 q
stated by the secretary of the treasury to
be the aggregate estimated expenditures
for 1911. we have in fact the sum OF $685.
2s, G47.Os to he considered as total esti-
mates for 19l1.' N"
| Mr.. Tawney gives out this statement at
this time to prevent the public from get
ting the impression. when the last tally Is
made, that Congress-. of it's own motion,
boosted the appropria tons to the billion
mark over the recommendations Of the
secretary Of the treasury and In SPITE Of
the economical attitude of the President.
INCREASES AND DECREASES.
According to comparative statement
issued by the appropriations committee
of the Senate and House the following
increases and reductions We're made in
the estimates Of appropriations necessary
for the next fiscal year, compared with
these of the year before:
Diplomatic and consular
sais 1885, legislative, sl,15ooS9: postoffce
SEA-. las.
Decreases-Agricultur 81, go 400: army
s9.o14,0Sb; District of Columbia - sa5, 7o7,
Notifications. Sl0,536,62S; Indian. 81 4s3,
313: military academy. $722, 800; navy, ST..
4S5. oil: pensions s5,16o,o0O; rivers and har.
bors 81 42s, 1o4; sundry civil, sls5s3 80 The
total decrease estimated for 1871 unde,
same for 1910 Is $50. 26l. 1888.