New-York tribune., 1909-01-17
MAY HAVE BEEN MISLED
SOME CONGRESSMEN NOW
THINK so.
Their Anger at President CooIs
Dozen U'hen They AHalyze Mr.
Ta7Cney's Figures Carefully.
rFrorn The Trfbun. Bureau.l ]

rFror Trbun. BureauI
Washington. Jan. 16-There indications
( that some members Of Congress. after being
drawn into intense opposition TO the President
by their leaders are now pausng to ask them
selves if they have not been misled by the in
dgnatOn OF a few who singled out for con-
demnation by the Executive Mature reflection
is leading to a closer analysis. for instance. Of
the figures presented by Representative Tawney
in support of his assertion that Congress last
year appropriated So. 100000 ito prevent frauds
in and depredations upon the several branches
of the public service protect public lands from
fraudulent entry and to apprehend and punish
other violators OF the law
From Mr.. Tawneys speech in the House 70
was naturally assumed that this sum had been
furnished to the administration to conduct IN
vestigations and special prosecutions. but.
examination of the figures for themselves mem
bers are finding. for instance. such items as
S9l5.ODo for the maintenance OF the police force
of the city of Washington included in the total
which is not. of course, special appropriation
at all. but part of the fixed municipal ex-
penses of the national capital Then. there are
numerous other items Of like character For
instance Mr. Tawney includes in his figures
practically the entire cost Of the internal rev
enue service the two items being salaries and
expenses of internal revenue collectors. etc.
S2.O75.OOO.- and Salaries and expenses OF rev
enue agents gaugers. ETC. S24Oc,OO this
being d fixed and regular appropriation a.
that for the collection Of customs duties But the
chairman of the Appropriations Committee does
not fail to include part of the cost of collect
ing customs duties. for he cites an item Of
$4,000 for .the detection and prevention OF
frauds upon the customs revenue"
ERRORS IN MR. TAWNEY's TABLE
In order to make up this startling total there
are included numerous expenditures which can
not properly be classed under the head cited by
the chairman of the Appropriations COMMITTEES.
of which the following are fair examples: For
the prevention of obstructive and injurious de-
posits in New York Harbor. $4,000; for steam
boat inspection and the contingent expenses OF
the service SJIOO0O. for the incidental expenses
of the army. including such items teIegrams.
postage. the erection of barracks hire OF vet
Urinary surgeons. shoeing Of horses and mules.
etc S2.20O.00O
Mr.. Tawney also put into his table practically
the entire cost Of the forest service. including
such items the protection Of fish and game.
necessary supplies. apparatus and Office fixtures.
electric light. gas ice. washing towels and sim
liar incidentals. 3l51OaO. Another police
item which sweIis the total is S2tH.0GO. which
covers the salaries of the Indian reservation
police. their TatinHs and mounts. while the en-
tire contingent expense Of the Indian service.
amounting to SS5OO0 is included. Another
item as distinct from the detection and sup
preston Of crime as any nQted is that for ''un-
foreseen emergencies I'm the diplomatic and con-
suIar service. $4,000
of course. the entire cost Of the meat inspec-
ton which is not for the purpose Of suppress
ing crime but Of promoting health. is included.
the total being S3OGOOn0 as is also the S760-
OOo for the enforceTnent ot the pure food act.
which covers every part Of the expense. includ
ing office rent. gas electric light and apparatus
for making analyses Many more items which
have as little place in the table presented by
Mr.. Tawney as those cited might he enumer-
ated but these are. perhaps. among the most
glaring errors.
lad such mistakes been made by member
less familiar with the appropriations and the
purposes for which they are made than the,
chairman of the Appropriations COMMITTEES.
members discovering them would be less sur
prfsed. but they say. If Mr. TawHey is 50 far
misIed regarding the real purpose and use Of
these appropriations. what reliance can be
placed on any OF his figures? Has nc not per-
rnitted his indignation at the administration 10
becIoud his Judgment and has he not in turn.
seriously misled Us?''
The Tribune.s editorials asking the real rsa-
son for curtaiIing the usefulness Of the secret
Service have had an effect in the House. and
some of the members are bringing them 10 the
attention of Mr. Tawney. as well as The fact that
he cut down the total appropriation for the
Secret Service last year by 10000 They are
asking with some persistence why these things
were done but they say they have received no
satisfactory answer In fact. some of the mem
bers predict an opposite swing Of the pendulum
before adjournment. and believe that the inves-
tigation with which the OImsted committee Is
charged will end in nothing
SOME LEADERS STILL BITTER
ON the other hand some Of the leaders are az
pass the James River bin over the Presidents
veto. saying that they refuse TO be dictated 10
by the President, and declaring that terrible
fate is awaiting the occupant Of the White
House.
Senator Foraker inrimates that he has in
nicgIe a terrible rod for the administration. be-
cause he has learned that the President viii not
submit a detailed reply to his resolution calling
for an accounting of the S5.000.5G0 emergency
rund appropriated in 1S9S. Mr.. Foraker has
heard that the President has offered to permit
SOM, Senators 10 look over the accounts, but
will not extend that privilege 10 the author OF
tho resolution. and this especially angers the
Senator from Ohio Some OF the Senate leaders
are beginning however. To question their WIS
dom, in permitting the passage Of the Culberson
and Foraker resolutions and are expressing
regret that there is no longer any Senator who
i ,.iuinr to plav the important but ungrateful
mart of watchdog to detect any flaws or i'm
pressed by Senators.