Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-06
Chairman Fitzgerald Criticises
Administration Estimates.
SAYS IT IS MISLEADING
Declares That Democrats in Congress
Will Have to "Go It Alone
NO HELP BY ADMINISTRATION
Apparent Saving Of $21, 900 900, He
Asserts, Is Actually Increase
by Same Amount.

| Characterizing the annual book of esti-
| mates submitted to Congress Monday by
| the Taft administration as "misleatiing''
and shocking" and as indicating in
| creases i'll desired appropriations rather
than economies, Representative Fitzgerald
| of New York, chairman of the House ap-
prop riations committee, today expressed
the opinion that the democrats would
| have to go it alone this session in effect
| ing reforms and not look for help from
| the republicans.
| On the face of the estimates submit
| ted to Congress Monday there was an ap-
parent saving of about $21, 100000. But
| Mr. Fitzgerald claims that instead of
saving there Is an actual increase OF
nearly S21,OoOOOO.
Mr.. Fitzgerald takes fling at Presi-
Gent Iafts economy commission. which
has already cost $4,000, saying it had
been supposed this commission would
help to .curtail expenditures.
But 1t appears" he adds, that not
only are the estimates greater than for
the current year. but that more than
i S1,oO.O0O additional is required for in
terest on the public debt because of its
increase"
Statement in Full.
Mr. Fitzgeralds statement follows:
The apparent total estimated expend-
| lures for support of the government dur
| ing the fiscal year 1913, as submitted in
| the annual book of estimates transmit
| ted to Congress at its opening Monday, Is
stated at S745, 1874, 563.55. The statement
of the estimates at this sum is mislead-
| ing In that nothing is included therein
| for the postal service, which, it is esti-
mated by the Postmaster General, will
cost, during the next fiscal year. the very
considerable sum Of $500, 93S 463, nor does
! it include the sum of $13, 100 7O1 20 stated
| by the supervising architect to be required
| to continue the construction OF public
buildings authorized by the last and pre-
vious republican Congresses. The items
comprising this sum for public buildings
are printed in the book Of estimates, but
| are not included in the total If the
work on these buildings is not to be sus-
pended 1t will be necessary to appropriate
| in detail for these several buildings q sum
approximating this amount.
1.-The only alternative is to accede to
the request of the department that
lump sum be appropriated for public
buildings. a method of appropriation
contrary to good legislation. Similar
by republican Congresses; the repetition
at this time makes doubtful Its sim
cerity.
The three sums have mentioned
amount to 1,019,SS2.72175. and repre-
| sent the actual amount of estimated eX-
penditures submitted by the executive,
as disclosed by the details Of the book
of estimates for 1919.
1.-The total estimates similarly sub
mitted to the last Congress for 1872
amount to $999,146.805.s1.
Thus the estimates for 1913, as just
submitted to Congress. show an actual
increase of s20.733,s21.s4 over the es-
| Inmates for 1912.
Offers Suggestion.
1.-THE confusion Of the public mind as
to public expenditures recommended by
the executive would be avoided in large
| measure IL the Secretary of the Treasury
| would observe both the letter and the
spirit of the statutes enacted in 1850 and
ls9. requiring him to include the postal
| revenues and expenditures in all state
| ments Of receipts and expenditures.
1.-THE revenues from the postal service
more nearly represented universal tax
than any other moneys collected by the
federal government, and the public Is
entitled to a fair and candid statement at
least once each year from the executive
as to the expenditures of the service.
considered with reference to the sew
eral general appropriation acts. the not
able increases in the estimates for 1913
| over those for 1912 appear to be In the
case of the Army - .5el 951.2s. the Mili-
tdTy ACducHS SOsoBoo1.VoS thC HNa.S
2s4.22. the post office $102 ,5ls. and
under permanent appropriation the
amount for interest ON the public debt
is Increased by $1,175,OO0. The most not
able decrease is with reference to the
sundry civil BILL which Is apparently
SS371 1924, there having been omitted. as
l have stated, more than $l3.OO,COO re-
quired to continue construction Of public
buildings already in progress.
Estimates Somewhat Shocking"
'These estimates are somewhat shock
ing In view of the protestations of the
administration of it's determination to aid
the movement to retrench public expend-
| itures which is imperative If the people
are not to be overwhelmed with the bur-
dens of additional taxes.
Estimates in excess of a billion dol
lars, $50, 1891 in excess of those sub
mitted for the current year, are notice to
| the democratic house that SO far as the
administration is concerned no help will
be given to effect the economies admit
| ted to be essential.
ut had been supposed that the Presi-
dents economy commission, which so far
| has received $4,000 would be of some
| aid to the executive in curtailing expendi-
lures: but 1t appears that not only are
| the estimates greater than for the current
year, but that more than one million dol
| lars additional is required for interest on
| the public debt because of its increase.
Duty of the Democrats.
ut is apparent that the task of the