The Washington times., 1913-02-13
UNDERWOOD TELLS
COMMIT TTEEMIN TO
CUT ALL BUDGETS
Battle Between Democratic
Factions Over Economy
Reaches Acute Stage.

While $3.50 600 900 naval appropriation
bill and a $4,000 900 pork barrel'-pub-
lie buildingsThung tantalizingly over
~e hopper today, the economy row
among the House Democrats reached
An acute stage.
So serious has become the contro-
versy over economy. and the retrench-
ment plank In the Baltimore platform.
that Congressman Underwood, the ma
Jority leader. has forsaken the task Of
tariff making long enough TO tell the
chairmen of the Committees on Naval
Affairs and Public Buildings that they
must mercilessly slash theiB bills.
The suggestion was not received with
wild acclaim in either committee, and
numerous Democrats are today talking
of the recall for the majority MEM
bers of the Naval Affairs Committee
unless the naval bill is reduced to
$50 0O0, 900.
Threaten Filibuster.
There are also threats of filibuster
against the naval budget by the
economy Democrats. the plan being
to throw the measure over into the
extra session in the attempt to force a
tee and to put on the committee men
who will promise to, cut expenses. AT
least, that is the drastic action pro-
posed in q resolution now pending be-
fore sixty Democrats. who will meet in
conference tonight.
The conference adjourned Wednesday
night without action, in order to give
the Naval Committee a chance to re
deem" itself. The committee will meet
this afternoon to determine whether II
win slice its bill.
Congressman Burnett. acting chair
man Of the Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds, is understood to have
given the majority leader no positive as
suranees that the pork barrel would
be reduced In size. The bill has been
scientifically worked out, and practically
every member ''gets his" Mr.. Burnett
emitted loud cries of distress at the
very suggestion that the public build
ings bill should be a modest measure.
Economy, he argues, may be accom-
plished in other ways.
Try To Agree.
The Democrats Of the Naval Affairs
{ Committee attempted to reach yesterday
Afternoon an agreement on the ultima
tum that their $3.50, ,oo0, ,0Oo-which wa.
ready for the printer-must be pruned
down about seo,oO9ooo. Congressman
Trbble, a member of the committee
and a leader in the economy confer.
ence, 10 afraid the committee will stand
pat.
Mr.. Fitzgerald. of the Appropriations
! ConInittee, says a $15o. 600 900 naval bill
. ID preposterous, and he will fight it
He VIII also oppose the pork barrel
which 10 said to have been scientifically
drawn. with the pie carefully appor.
goned.
Indiatink the dissatisfaction exi.tins
among the economy Democrats Con
sressusan Tribble. OF the NayaI gCom
mittee. said today. ~
! "A number Of Democrats are threat
ening an attempt to throw the >nava
bill over Into the extra session. unlesl
the committee agrees to keep the
amount within $l3o. 900 600 and to reduc.
BY approximately Se0.oO0.oOo the bill Il
has decided upon. Appropriations ar,
running RIOT in this House
Opposed to Increases.
'I voted against two battleships, bu
] am notSopposed to battleships 8,
much az I am to increases all alon,
the line. The naval bill for 1911. unde
q Republican regime. carried abou
$1N.0oa69 and stiH It provided for tw,
new shipA Our bill provides for tw,
ships and carries around s15Gooo, ON
Why this, tremendous increase? wha
has been done can be done. and It wa
the sense Of the conference last nigh
that the Naval Committee must be re
constructed If We are to have econ
omy. Egs
II the present committee will no
cut expenditures, II is proper that W
should defeat the bill at this session
and in the extra session We may pu
men on the committee who will oh
serve the economy plank in the BaItl
more platform. This is now the plar
unless the commiNee slices the bill q
morrow. and my impression is some O
tne Democrats on the committee vii