The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-13
LITTLE LEGISLATION
AT COMING SESSION
Democrats Are Expected to
Take Things Easy
BIG APPROPRIATIONS
And Yet Figures for 1912 Were Seven
Millions Less Than Previous
Year House Committee
Goes to Panama
BIG APPROPRIATIONS
BY c. e. STEWART

BY C. e. STEWART
Washington November 12-(Special.)-
Speaker Clark is expected to reach Wash
ington within the next 10 days or two
weeks, in time TO take up the details OF
legislation In the short session OF Con-
gress which will begin two weeks from
next Monday. It is understood that
Chairman Underwood of the House COM
mittee OF the ways and means will come
toward the end of the month.
Comparatively little legislation beyond
the passage of the usual appropriation
bills is expected to be enacted during the
short session. The majority of the mem
bers of the House committee on appro-
priations are now on their way to Pan
anna under the leadership of Chairman
Fitzgerald, with the view of making spe-
cial investigation as to the needs of the
work on the canal, and the clerks of the
committee are busily engaged upon the
work of the various appropriation meas
ures.
Cannon Makes Last Trip
Uncle Joe Cannon is with the crowd on
their way to Panama, and this will prob
ably be Uncle Joes last trip as a repre-
sentative in Congress. He was defeated,
and It can be truthfully said that in
Washington at least there is great deal
of regret that this powerful and pic
turesque figure in American politics will
pass out with the closing of the present
had the respect and admiration of al
most all of his colleagues In Congress,
though many of them differed materially
with his style of administration while he
occupied the speakers chair.
1t is believed that the appropriation for
the isthmian canal, which will be made
by the next session, will be the last to
be required for the construction of that
great task Up to date the appropriations
have aggregated 1921 541, 46S, and as the
limit was fixed at $780, 200 800, about So, 600,
900 still will be required to complete the
work, providing the full amount of the
estimates becomes necessary. In addi-
ton, further appropriations must be made
for the continuation of the work on the
canal Notifications, for which less than
$6000,0o0, out of the requisite $4,000, 600,
has been provided
The calendar of the two houses contain
a nun,her of general measures left over
from last session, but as rule demo-
cratic senators and members show dis
inclination TO enter upon much general
legislation in view of the early prospects
of their complete control of both houses
of Congress, as well as the presidency.
Appropriation of Last Congress
Congress during the last session appro-
priated exactly s1,01s Az, 10, as shown by
the official statement of James G. Courts,
clerk of the House committee on appro-
priations, and Wenedy +. Rea. assistant
clerk of the Senate committee on appro-
prIations. AS compared with the appro-
rfiations of 1911, there was a decrease
of $7,270,170.
or the Is appropriation bills, the meas
ure providing for the postoffice depart
ment headed the list with $271, AZ, 500. The
pension bill, much augmented because
of the service pension increase, came sec
ond with $l65 1915. The navy bill called
for an expenditure of 1923, DE, 007, and the
sundry civil, over which there was so
much wrangling, and which was the
cause of the delay In adjournlng Congress,
1908, 1s4
The principal reductions we're in the
army, navy and Notifications bills, and
he largest increase in the postal service,
river and harbor and pension bills.
There has been a number of new jobs
created, and the clerks statement sup
piled the facts concerning them. OF
THESE there were Zv,Jot, involving All HI
nual compensation of SO, $50. AS an
offset 1895 places, with an annual COM
pensation of S14. .919, We're abolished.
The Increase included ~ additional mem
bers of the House of Representatives as
required by the new apportionment. In
point of increased numbers the navy took
The lead with 1000 enlisted men, and the
postal service came second with an al
lowance of 2616 new employees of the lower
grade.
Wrangling Between House and Senate
There was much wrangling over APP
preparations between the House and the
Senate. Chairman Fitzgerald did his
level best to follow out the policy of the
democrats in retrenchment in expendi-
lures consistent with the proper needs of
the government service. The republican
Senate did not agree fully with this pro-
gramme, and there was continual warfare
and necessarily compromises over the APP
preparation bills The Senate offered
amendment after amendment to the big
appropriation bills, as originally passed
by the House, and all of them were fought
bitterly by the democratic leaders. Some
of them, however, In order to- pass any
bills at ALL were agreed to.
The rapid growth of the country and
the business interests and conditions
make it imperative in the minds of many
that Congress devote more than the usual
time to legislation. The board OF d.
rectors of great business like the United
States government has become, necessari-
ly must consult more than that of a
small concern. The first billion dollar Con-
gress the country had caused great and
widespread comment The appropriations
for the government service are growing,
and IL should not be considered strange
that il has grown In proportion to the
growth in population and business of
the country. Longer sessions and greater
appropriations therefore are to be ex-