The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-03-17
CONGRESS SPENT OVERB BILLION


Washington, p. G. - Appropria-
tions at the last session Of Congress
aggregated s1.o25.48s, 6s2, according
to the statements issued by former
Representatives Tawney, Of Mime
sofa, and Livingston, Of Georgia, who
were respectively chairman and rank
ing Democrat of the House Appropri-
atoms Committee In the last Con-
gress Mr.. Tawney says this il less
than $1,0O0,O00. in excess Of the to-
tai estimates Of President Taft, on
which the appropriations are based,
pays high tribute to the executive for
good faith In scrutiniaing estimates
and computes that the surplus Of
revenues next year Will be not less
than sac, 642, 900, which with any
part Of the Treasury cash balance
may be applied to the sinking fund.
Against this Mr.. Livingston says
the last sessions record demonstrate
ed that until the Democratic party
comes into complete control OF the
government this billion-dollar mark
for sessions appropriations, estab-
lished four years ago at the first ses-
sion OF the Sixtieth Congress, can
mot substantially be lowered. il low
cred at all. q
Would Have One Commits.
Mr.. Tawney renews his recon-
nendation for the consolidation OF
the appropriating jurisdiction of the
House under single committee of
suficient size to be representative
of all sections Of the country and of
all branches Of the public service.
Eight committees now consider and
report appropriation bills, and Mr..
Tawney says no reform is more inn
portant The Committee on Appro-
priations, which reports more than
half OF the total appropriations Of
Congress, reported during the frst
regular session of the last Congress
$16,393,925 less than the estimates,
while the appropriations by all the
other appropriating committees, ac-
cording to Mr.. Tawney, were $27,-
931, 400 in excess of the estimates.
Mr. Tawney claims that IL this con-
solidating reform had been effected
it would have saved 100000 at
that session alone.
Mr. Tawney says one of the evils
incident to this divided appropria-
ton jurisdiction is the practice OF
making appropriations Immediately
available, large portions of many APP
preparation bills being in fact, design
ed to cover up deficiencies in the
preceding year. He points out that
the aggregate for the past session
which includes $4,0O0,O0O for the
Appalachian forest reserve, is So
100000 less than the aggregate fol-
the preceding session of Congress
and at the aggregate the entire
last Congress, which exact aggregate
is not given in his statement, Is an
increase Of 100000 over the pre-
ceding Congress
Six Billion In Six Six Years.
Mr.. Tawney says that In the six
years Of his craftsmanship OF the Ap-
preparations Committee the estimates
have amounted to $6,061, 257,132, 81
which Congress granted all but $685.
662,264.
Declaring that the Democrats want
to save the people OF the country
from the danger which threatens
them because OF the rampant .expend.
iture OF their money that has been
going on for the past ~ years, Mr.
Livingston, in his statement, CON
tends that milita4ism is menace
and that nenn0crafic. accauria,, u,;il
prevent national bankruptcy. He
says IT is q superhuman task to re-
store expenditures to normal level
because of the enormous liability fas-
tened upon the Treasury by the stat
utory Increase on the emitted strength
OF the Army and Navy fourfold since
Mr.. Roosevelt was so unhappily call
ed to the executive Office Of the Re
public.