The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-12-04
Estimate of Governments Run
ming Expenses Submitted Today
AT OPENING OF CONGRESS
Greatest Economy Shown in Estimates
for Public Works, But Estimate
Does Not Include Appropria-
tion for Present Work.

Washington, d. c., Dec. 4.-Estimates
of the treasury department for running
the government during the next fiscal
year, submitted to Congress to-day, con-
template a saving of S2l ,2S3,02l 43, as
compared with the amount appropriated
for the fiscal year bile The total
amount estimated for all expenses OF
government is $745,s34, 1868. This amount
does not include the appropriation for
the postoilice department, which is ex-
pected to be self-sustaining. The APP
propriations made by Congress for the
present fiscal year aggregated $7672ls,.
ass.
Economy of government expense pro-
posed is shown TO be greatest in the
estimates for public works, which are
from sl22,040,060 TO Sl0O7l67O2. a de-
crease of S2I, ,23,35s More than half
of this decrease is accounted for in a
plan of the treasury department for
handling appropriations for public build
ings and grounds throughout the country
by means of lump appropriation, a
departure from the old custom, which
may not be adopted by Congress The
new secretary of the treasury has asked
for this purpose S3,O00,000 to be ex-
pended at his discretion.
Accompanying the estimate for pub
lie buildings and grounds is note ex-
planning that 10 care properly for public
buildings already authorized by specific
appropriations, further appropriations Of
$l3000000 would be necessary. The
secretary of the treasury does not in
clude this sum in his estimate. As
members of Congress usually are careful
to secure definite assurance that build
ings in their respective districts are TO
be provided the probability is that the
$l3,000,000 win be included in the appro-
priation bill finally passed, which would
cut down the apparent saving consider
ably.
Decreases are shown in the estimates
submitted for the pension fund, conduct
of the executive establishment and for
the department of agriculture. Sub
stnntial Increases. however in estimates
asked for the military and naval estab-
lishments almost Offset the other saw
ings.
For work on the Panama canal, s45.-
100000 is estimated, an increase of near
ly S4,000.000 over the appropriation for
the present year. This does not include
expenditures for Notifications of the
canal zone, the estimates asking an ap-
preparation Of S5,G40.950 to be expended
for army Notifications and nine sta.
tions in the zone. For this purpose last
year s3,000.000 was appropriated.
Under the military establishment head
an increased appropriation of sl,500,000
is asked for sea coast artillery. The to-
tai estimate for Notifications and other
works Of defense is S7,2lS,S99, nearly
S2,0O0,000 more than was spent this
year.
Secretary Of the Navy Meyers esti-
mates propose continuance of the two
battleship naval program, although the
estimates are Sl,000.000 less than this
years appropriations so far as increase
of the navy is concerned. To continued
work on the ships now under construc-
'tion and to begin construction of two
battleships and two coliers, with pro-
visions for equipment, S24323,4T3 is
asked
The estimates recommend the appro
priation of $29, ,460.43s for the improve
ment of rivers and harbors, practically
all of il to be responded on projects al
ready begun, or authorized This is
about 100000 less than the appropria-
tion for the present year
Postmaster General Hitchcock esti.
mates that it will cost him $3.50 93s. .463
to run the postal service next year. This
is about $2,500,000 more than the de-
partment expended this year. An ex.
perimental parcels post scheme to be
placed in operation on postal routes is
proposed in the estimates and $4,000 is
asked for this purpose. A proviso gives
the postmaster-gen authority to lin
it to eleven pounds the weight of par
cells carried during the experiment and
to fix rates Experimental aerial postal
service "by aeroplane or other devices"
is also recommended by the postmaster
general, and he wants $4,000 to spend
in trying out the scheme.
In other departments of the govern
ment, the running expenses estimated
show little change in totals.