Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-03-09
h The Halls of Congress
BY TAV.
Special Washington Correspondence.

One hundred and forty dollars for street car tickets; $237 66 for horseshoeng, $429.55 for soap and brushes!
 These are a few of the expenditures of the state department in 1909 The horseshoeing item refers to the shoeing of four horses, except dur ing a period of about three months, when the number was six
 The expenditures referred to were brought to light as result of meeting of the house committee on expenditures in the state depart ment. The meeting was the first that has been held since the republican party has been in power.
 The committee was one of several commit tees on expenditures in the various departments of the government that had never held meet ing. Yet there are no more important committees appointed by the speaker than the committee on expenditures of the state, treasury, war, navy, postoffice, interior and agriculture departments that is, if these committees do their duty. Un- der the rules they are charged with the exam ination of the accounts and expenditures of the several departments and the manner of keeping the same; the economy, justness and correct ness of such expenditures; their conformity with appropriation laws the security of the government against unjust and eXtravagant de- mands; retrenchment, the enforcement of the payment of moneys due to the United States the economy and accountability of the public officers and the abolishment of useless offices. Secretaries and janitors have been appointed for these committees, and luXuriously appointed rooms are provided. With one or two excep- tions, however these committees have held no meetings since the republican party has been in power.
 The investigation of the expenditures in the state department followed three years of the most skilful and ingenius maneuvering on the part of Representative Courtney w. Hamln of Missouri, the ranking democratic member of the committee. It so happened that three of the five members present were emocrats-Hamlin of Missouri William B. Craig of Alabama and Martin Dies of Texas. Finding themselves un- expectedy in the majority, the three democrats proceeded to get busy.
 Secretary of State Knox, and Assistant Sec retaries Huntington Wilson and Wilbur J. Carr were sent for to go over the expenditures of the state department for 1909, aggregating $428,- 557.68. The three state department officials were practically useless as witnesses, however, for they frankly admitted they were not suffi- ciently familiar with many of the items to ex- iOo'> into the various matters called to their atten- ton.
 Asked whether he thought $237 7.66 was not a somewhat large amount to expend for the shoe ing of four horses in year, Mir. Carr admitted that it seemed excessive. It developed that al though the state department has but two vehi- ces and four horses, it cost $2824.49 to main tain the stables last year. MT. Knox added that the horses are little used, as he generally rides in an automobile.
 When considered in connection with the re- cent statement of Senator Aldrich that he could run the government for $30OOOO,O00 under the present annual cost, the failure of the commit tees on expenditures to pay any attention what soever to the expenditures of the several de- partment has made improper use of its appro- pration. His position is that it is the duty of the committee of which he is member to inves- tigate the accounts and see that everything is correct, and to require economy in the expendi- lures.
 The Ladies Home Journal should call for an Of