The Washington times., 1911-03-31
CAUCUSES ON ALL
: IMPORTANT BILLS
DEMOCRATIC PLAN
This Caution and Desire to
Work In Harmony Looks
to 1912.
LEADERS HOPE TO
ELECT PRESIDENT
One of Principal Reforms to Be
Urged Is Creation of Budget
Committee.

Democratic leaders who have re-
nnained in Washington between ses-
sions of Congress for the purpose of
shaping a party policy have decloeo
that the caucus will be the instru-
ment by which the party will be
guided during the next two years.
VI has already been decided that
series of caucuses will be held before
the House organization, rules, etc.
are formally agreed upon. At these
caucuses the preliminary work will
be mapped out, but before the session
is far advanced the caucus will be
quite an ordinary affair.
II a member of the majority intro
duces a bill or resolution of more
than ordinary Importance and insists
upon its consideration he will be asked
to circulate a petition for caucus in
order that the sentiment OF ma
jority of the members of the majority
may be ascertained, instead of de-
pending on the judgement of com
mittee of thirteen members.
This unlocked for caution on the
part Of the Democrats, by whose
Erievous mistakes the Republicans
expected to profit, is the result OF the
confidence, born of the elections Of
last November, that the turning point
In the political fortunes of the Demo
cratic party has been reached and
that with less than an even break in
luck the party will be successful in
the Presidential election in 1912.
Conferences Held Daily.
All of the party leaders are proceed
ing with the greatest possible care:
IL a, HfNr %
opinion among them, and every evil
dence of a desire to work in harmony.
Conferences are being held daily, for
instance, between members OF the
Ways and Means Committee and the
Committee on Rules, in order that
Tariff legislation may be expedited.
Prominent members of the House, who
are counted upon to work out re-
forms within the House itself, have
been consulted as to the best method
to approach the various subjects, and,
generally speaking, the Democrats
give the appearance OF having per-
fected harmonious organization.
One Of the greatest reforms to be
placed before one of the Democratic
caucuses, and one of immense i'm
portance to the country generally. is
the scheme of Representative SwagaI
Sherley. of Kentucky, falling for the
creation of a Budget Committee
which shall have jurisdiction over APP
propriations for all departments OF
the Government. Under the present
rules Of the House the Committee on
Appropriations makes annual appro'
priations for about half a billion oi
dollars, while similar amount OF
money is appropriated by number
of other committees.
Decide on Appropriations.
The Sherley plan calls for Budget
Committee composed of the chairmer
of the various committees which han
die appropriations. This committee
will decide what shall be the aggre'
gate appropriations for each session
of Congress, and also the amount eacf
committee shall be authorized to in
corporate in bills making apprOpria.
tions for the army, navy. and other
departments of the Government.
Such a method would not only put {
Limitation on each of the appropriat'
ing committees, but it would also
eliminate the existing system where
by each department Of the Govern
ment tells Congress how much money
II wants The ShcrieV scheme WOulC
result in telling each deUartrI mt o
the Government how much money l.
could have each year and the depart
ment officials would make their plan!
accordingly.
Mr. Sherley and the Democratic lead
SIS WHO nave Sltiltu ms pldll Ire con
WINGED that this method would result
in making an annual saving of mil
lions Of dollars. 1t has already bee
agreed to submit the proposition TO
special meeting OF the Democrats
caucus early IN NAV. by which time 1
is expected that the wheels Of legis
lation will he grinding sufficiently
we'll 10 permit tho consideration o
other important problems.
Another Important Reform.
Another important reform decide
upon b. the Rules Committee is tina
the appropriating committees shal
be deprived of the power of increas
ing appropriation bills over the esti
mates submitted by the various de
partments. Under the existing system
no limitation is placed on the com
mittees and many of the big suppl,
bills are reported 10 the House car
rying many millions in excess Of tn
amounts called for by the depart
ments. making IL compulsory on tn
departments to spend more none,
than they need. in order that Govern
ment funds NAV be expended in tn
districts of members Of Congress VIII
have sufficient influence to set asid
the recommendations of. the Cahine
officers who make up the estimates.