Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-14
short SESSION OF coNoREsa
WILL succEEp IN LIVING UP
TO REPUTATION.
FIGURES OF PRESIDENT TAFT
AND Committees DISAGREE
Executives Message TO Congress Led 20
Belief That Billion Mark Would Not
10 Reached But Appropriations Com.
r,ittsss Prsssnt Q Different Basis Of
Estim atss.
Especial correspondence

Washington, Dec. 14.-Members of
congress who were interested in that
portion Of President Taft's message
dealing with the governmental esti-
mates for the fiscal year 1912. and who
believed that at last congress would
get away from its billion dollar session
reputation. have had something Of a
shock in looking over the financial
statement issued by the house and
senate appropriations committee.
Instead Of getting away from bill
lion dollar session congress will come
within 100000 OF that mark before
the adjournment on March 4 II 1t does
nothing but enact into law the esti-
mates sent to it by the various branch
es of the government
In his message to congress on Dec. 6
the president said:
The hna1 estimates for the year
ending June 80. 1912. as they have been
sent to the treasury. on Nov. %. Of this
year. for the ordinary expenses OF the
government, including those for public
buildings rivers and harbors, and the
navy building program. amount to
$3.50, 4?4.ol3.lo. This is $50: 964.SS7.36
less than the appropriations Of the AS
cal year ending June 80, 1911. It is
$16.ss3,153.44 less than the total esti-
mates. including supplemental esti-
mates. submitted to congress by the
treasury for the year 1911 and Is S.
574659.39 less than the original esti-
mates submitted by the treasury for
1911"
Whore tho Difference Lies.
President Taft's statement OF the fl
nances OF the government differs from
that Of the appropriations committees
OF congress in that he does not treat
with the government expenditures as a
whole. The statement prepared by
these committees. dealing with these
government expenditures as a whole.
and based on the book Of estimates sent
to congress by Secretary MacVeagh.
show that the aggregate appropriations
called for aggregate $s9914s.s05.S1. a
net increase over the appropriations for
1911 Exclusive Of deficiency and mis-
cellaneous) Of 37.251.520.17. A COMPARE
son Of the estimates sent to congress
this year with those submitted year
ago shows that this years estimates
call for 321.o23.O3s more than the eeti-
mates for the fiscal year 1911. The
discrepancy between President Taft's
figures and those OF the appropriations
committee is to be found in the fact
that President Taft deals only with the
ordinary expenses Of the government.
Thus he eliminates about $4,000. 900
called for in the sundry civil appropria-
ton bill for the Panama canal: ap-
prcx,mately $4,000, 900 for the sinking
fund account. and about s250.000 900
which will be carried in the postofYice
appropriation bill
Excludes Panama Canal.
Members OF congress agree with
President Taft that the Panama canal
Is an extraordinary expenditure and so
long as ne deals only with ordinary ex-
penditures he may safely exclude about
$4,000 900 The postofYIce expendi-
lures are treated as a balanced account.
Notwithstanding the fact that congress
must first appropriate about $3.50, 000,-
900. and money collected by the depart
ment being turned back into the treas
ury later on. The S61,000.000 for the
sinking fund, however. members OF
congress assert should be included in
the ordinary expenditures OF the gov
eminent. 90 that this more than wipes
out the SIS. 00N, 900 reduction in the es-
Inmates mentioned by President Taft in
his message.
From the standpoint OF members Of
economy who are anxious TO have a
session Of real economy the most sig
nificant fact in connection with the
paasage Of appropriation bills is that
the estimates call for appropriations of
s6s.4O3.s50.s1 in excess Of the estimat-
ed revenues.