The Washington times., 1909-12-06
Taft's Instructions to De-
partment Heads Bring
$1OO,OO0,O0O Cut.
QUARTER OF BILLION
LESS THAN BEFORE
Number Of Important New Items
Appear-S5O,OOO to Probe
Frauds.

Estimates for expenditures BY the
Government for the fiscal wear ISL. the
first to be submitted duriag President
Tafts administration. snow a reduction
Of more than S1oO.Ooo.oO0. This is the re-
suit Of the Presidents instruction to
every department of he Government
to keep their estimates down q the
lowest possible limit.
The book OF estimates submitted to
Congress today calls for appropriations
aggregating S745.O67.1s2. about quarter
of a billion dollars less than the billion
dollar Congresses which came into
vogue during the administration Of
President Roosevelt.
The largest decreases shown are those
OF the War and Navy Departments, the
War Department asking for 500. .46t .tii5.
which is about 534. .O00.0 900 less than the
estimates submitted for r1c, and $, 10000
less than was appropriated. The Navy
Department asks for Sl29, ,s74 os6 for 1911.
Of which amount nearly s15,00O,0o0 is in
tended for the construction Of new ships
The department asked for S137 510.3S7 for
the current fiscal year and was given
S6.O0O00O more than that amount.
New Estimates.
A number OF new estimates OF con-
siderable Importance appear In the
recommendations submitted TO Congress.
Among these is a request from the De-
partment OF Justice for $4,000. TO be
used IN the investiga ton and prosecu-
tion OF frauds in the revenue service.
This, presumably. Is a fund to be used
In investigating the scandals which re-
Gently came % light Ia me New YORK
customs service The department asks
for an appropriation of tl4.ls7.s1s. Last
year its appropriation was S22,26l,4S2
Another new item Of considerable IN
portance is submitted by the Conlnis-
sioner OF Internal Revenue, who asks
for 100000. to be used In collecting
the new corporation tax, provided for
IN the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill.
The legislative department of the
Government IS asking for about Sl30o0,-
co. which Is practically the same as
The estimates Of year ago.
Although President Taft urged upon
the members OF his Cabinet the neces-
sity Of economizing all along the line,
he evidently proceeded On the theory
that economy does not begin al home,
for his estimates for the expenses of
running The White House are St72, 40
practically the same amount as that aP-
propriated by Congress for the current
fiscal year.
Potomac Park.
Mrs. TaftS interest N Potomac Park
which became the Hyde Park OF the
American Capital soon after the Taft
Administration began. is evident in the
estimates submitted for the improy e.
mant Of the park. A considerable sum
OF money has already been expended tC
make this park orc Of the nest Leauti-
ful in the country, and $50 900 more Il
asked 10 continue the work.
Salary increases are asked for by the
Clvil Service Commissioners and the
Commissioners Of the District OF Colum-
bia- The last named now receive 500
year. and wish 20 be paid $3.50 a
year, the same galary as that received
by members Of Congress. The president
OF the Civil Service Commission asks
that his salary be increased from S4,JlC
a year tc. 5000 a year. and that his
TWO associate commissioners also De
given a salary OF $500 which viii be
/ an Increase oc 5000 over their present
compensation.
Estimates for continuing tho work OF
digging the Panama Canal aggregate
/ a little moro than SlS.00o,0OO. which Is
an increase Of S15.0Oo,J0O over the esti
mates for the current fiscal wear.
An appropriation Of $4,000 is asked fol
/ river and harbor surveys. The total ap,
/ prOpriatiUus asked for by the various
Continued on Sixth Page.)