The Washington herald., 1909-03-20

What is regarded as & most important
step in the direction Of curtailing ap-
propriations for the expenses Of the gov
eminent so as TO prevent a defcit in the
Treasury has been taken by the Republic
can leaders OF the Senate. in the forma-
ton Of a rev committee chargeable with
the function Of supervising all appropria-
ton bills and estimates and placing a
strict check upon 81 expenditures.
Some inkling OF the plans OF the Senate
leaders has already been given. and it is
now possible to make a fuller explanation
which will indicate the great responsible
ties with which the committee viii be
Entrusted.
While II has been referred 20 by those
acquainted with the matter as the Com
mittee on Expenditures in the Executive
Departments, the name Of this new su-
pervisory body has not been determined.
Practically II will be a committee Of
comptrollers. who will be expected 70 ex-
anime into the merits Of every proposed
appropriation and avoid all duplication
in items of expenditure authorized by
Congress.
VIII Be Powerful.
The membership is being selected with
great care and It is expected that the
committee will be the most powerful in
the Senate with the possible exception
Of the Committee on Finance.
Senator Hale, Of Maine. chairman of the
Committee on Appropriations. will be ex
oficio chairman Of this committee Of
controllers.
Other ex offcio members VIII be the
Senators who are chairmen OF committees
having 10 do with the preparation OF an
nual supply bills. These are Senators
Aldrich, OF Rhode Island: Deliver, Of
Iowa; GaHinSer, OF New Hampshire;
Cullom. Of Illinois; Clapp, Of Minnesota.
Committee on Indian Affairs; Warren, Of
Wyoming Committee on Military Affairs;
Perkins. of California, Committee on Ma
val Affairs; McCumber. Of North Dakota.
Committee on Pensions; Penrose. Of
Pennsylvania. Post-ofice Committee;
Frye. of Maine. Committee on Commerce.
and Scott. OF West Virginia. Committee
on Public Buildings and Grounds.
other Members.
In addition to the above-named. the
committee viii be augmented by several
regular members, including Senators
Bourne Of Oregon, Kean Of New Jersey,
and Crane OF Massachusetts.
Senator Bourne will be chairman OF
subcommittee which will have charge Of
the committees detail work and its gen
eraI business. It is expected that some
Of -he more prominent Democratic Sena-
tors VIII be given places on the com
mittee.
This new board of comptrollers viii cor
respond in large measure to the general
budget committee of European parlia-
mentary bodies. II is customary in Eng
land. as in Continental countries. for the
ministry 10 submit a budget of desired
appropriations for the support Of the
government. this budget being examined
and increased or decreased by a COM
mittee for that purpose. which reports
back to the parliamentary body.
In the case Of the new Senate COM
mittee practically the same course viii
be pursued. Estimates Of appropriations
submitted by the Secretary Of the Treas
ury on the first day Of each Congress
session for his own department and the
other departments Of the government will
be referred TO the new committee for
examination.
In the same way all general appropria-
ton bills. which, under the present prac-
tice, emanate in the House Of Representa-
tives. will, after their passage by the
House. be taken up by the new general
committee before being referred to the
several Senate committees which Will be
charged with their examination and
emendation in detail
Taking the case Of the annual bill for
the support Of the military establishment
as an example. the course that will be
pursued in the Senate hereafter with re-
gard 20 this bill Will be about as follows:
The bin upon being reported 10 the Sen
ate after its passage by the House. will
be referred TO the committee of comp
trollers, which will examine Il carefully
with regard particularly as TO whether
the condition Of the Treasury viii permit
appropriations as large as those carried
by the bill. and with regard also 20 the
prospective receipts and expenditures Of
the government.
This done. the committee will decide
what reduction there shall be in the az