Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-27


Democratic leaders in the house of
/ representatives are planning 10 give
the major part Of tagiz attention dur
! ing the coming session OF congress to
the appropriation bills. 1t is by dem
onsirating their ability TO spend Uncle
Sans money wisely that the demo
Gratis hope to establish their claim for
greater recognition next year, and If
here is one thing upon which there is
no division Of opinion among the house
majority leaders, il is the determine
tiuu 70 make the corning session mem
OTaole for its business-like administra-
ton Of the vast gov eminent machin-
cry.
That the republican cabinet mem
brrs realize that there will be no
chance for unmeritcd expenditures is
inuIcated by the fact that the greatest
care is being given tC the preparation
CT estimates. Just row the various
@ tluet heads are a. work on these es-
tIaIates. and all along the line the word
hes gone forth that n money must be
ca"ed for withou the authority of
Iessity. II is also known that many
OF The republican "elato-s Of the ola
school. who for years have been acCus-
tpuiCd to drawing on the public treas
U-y for money with which 10 build
improvements" in their home states,
regardless of whetL"r these improve
ments were necessary, are greatly per
turDed over the ou,.Cok.
Chairman Fitzgerald and his col
leagues on the appropriations commit
tee nave announced that they propose
To- discontinue the practice of allowing
the victors TO have the spoils. Mr..
Fitzgerald has served notice on the
house that the lid is TO be nailed down
on the pork bar l. and that for every
CO lar of government money appropria-
ted there must be a satisfactory eX-
Case.
on the work of the appropriations
cCInmittee a great deal depends" said
Mr.. Fitzgerald. AS long as there is
al enormous government expenditure
there will exist in tho minds of some
the belief that a high tariff is neces-
say in order to meet the expenditures.
High tariff advocates IN the past have
pointed to the biliIon-collar congresses
as one reason for supporting a tariff
program which woCid bring in sufn-
Cert revenue 10 meet the inflated gov
eminent expenses. Even if there were
no other necessity fer economical ex-
pendftures. that one would be suffi-
Client
But there are other reasons. Dem
ocrats III congress are pledged to an
economical administered ton, and this We
propose TO give. We hold that the
country is dIsgusted with the wasteful
and extravagant expenditure Of govern
ment money. and We are determined
II spend the money jest as cOnserva-
live. careful busi:ess man would
srend it"
The estimates to- such of the gov
e. nment departments that are already
completed show liberal use of the
pr.ning knife The interior depart
melt will ask for a million and a half
less than was called for last year The
navy department. IT IS announced, will
speud two millions Less. and a similar
50 ing will be effected in the other de-
par rments. This sewing is in the esti-
mates alone. and by the time the ap
preparations committee gets through
with its pruning work the probabilities
are that the saving will be greatly IN
creased, while tho efficiency OF the
government business will not be de
@ eased in the slightest degree.
The democrats. in short. are out to
make j record as business men.