The Washington times., 1913-12-13
Golden Streams
OF Appropriation
Grow Larger at
Appalling Rate
By JOHN sNuRE.

SNORS.
pensions ami for river and harbor pur-
poses. In the case OF the other thir-
demanded Ger the coming fiscal year
than was appropriated for the present
fiscal year.
And this situation Is presented in the
race OF the fact that vigorous efforts
hold down the estimates. These efforts
were as promising as attempts to bold
back the tides. Democratic Cabinet
neads and q Democratic President
round the demands for money as diffi-
cult to stay as the r Republican predee-
essors had found them
Inc Two men In Congress who this
WINTER are mainly responsible for tho
appropriations are Chairman fitzgerald,
OF the House Appropriations Commit
ate Appropriations Committee. They
VIII have to fight hard to keep the ap-
preparations from mounting to figure
high beyond all reason.
Exceed the Revenues.
The best they can do, there is no az
pectation whatever today In Intelligent
quarters that they can keep the appro.
priaffons under the mark reached In
the last session Of Congress. Indeed.
there Is much reason To expect thar the
appropriations made By this session Of
Congress viii break the records OF ex-
penoitures in period Of peace.
NOT the least interesting phase Of tho
~ huauon mat the total estimates for
s sne coming nscal year are about S73000-
20 In excess OF the revenues for the
government for the same period. n
u true, 1t is possible to figure out that
tne revenues are q little ahead Of the
lowances and Panama Canal estimates.
put tnis use OF figures, though interest
ing. ID not particularly reassuring.
The truth to be extracted from these
ngures u that 1t is one thing to tax
economy In Gtvernment expenditure
ana another thing to practice It Con-
greaS does not practice economy and
executive departments do not practice
economy. regardless Of the party that
Is In power. Wise men In Government
nave made ne their minds the Federal
expenditures are not going to be re-
duced. but on the contrary are going
to grow steadily. What the limit Will
ultimately be the imagination only can
calculate.
1t Is worth while to reflect, however.
that three billion Congress Il much
closer to US today than q two billion
Congress was tc Tom Reed two decades
ago. when he made his observations
about billion dollar Congress.
Former Senator Nelson w. Aldrich
surprised the Senate one day by saying
ne could run the government for 300
OV0.O00 less than IL was costing This
was. perhaps correct as a matter OF.
theory: But none knew better than SEN
asor a Aldrci that as q practical fact the
tenth Of 1t.
The reasons Cor the growth in Govern
ment expenditures are not hidden OF
abstruse. The Government IL expanding.
us activities ale growing. It has about
completed the Panama canal, but Il Is
going to hesiL spending money for. good
roads. 1t Is threatening to take soyer
she telegraph and telephone business.
Z y going ITO spend liberal gums for
Federal aid to agricultural extension.
Il Is undertaking q physical valuation
of the railroads Almost every depart
nent or the Government Is clamorine
Lor more funds to reach out into new
activiues or enlarge old activities
omy is not On Congress. Every man in
House and Senate is eager to get some
thing for his district or his State. II
ne can get 1t. well. the cause of econ
omy can go hang.
When are we going to have econ
omy? asked Senator of one of the
best informed men in Congress on ap-
when each man In House and Sem
ate Is ready to stand up in his place
and renounce expenditures which would
benefit his district of his State" was
he answer.
Uncle Joe's Case Typical.
The situation was we'll Illustrated by
Uncle Joe" Cannon when he was
Speaker. On day. there came in by
rain from Danville a scrawny, weazen-
ID. black man who laid claim to large
political services for the czar of the
House. Uncle joe found him a place
cleaning cuspidors In one of the wash
'ooms at the Capitol. The House Ap-
Committee got a fit Of
looked about to see what
leads 1t could cut off, and kicked cut
he colored brother frcm Danville. The
after betook himself to Uncle Joa''
md the Speaker bore down on the An
Committee, smoking hard:
likewise "cussing.'
Uncle Joe' stated the facts succinct-
y, and emphatically. He concluded by
aging:
s.Now, I want that man put back.
This here economy business is all right.
IN for 1t. But don't you begin econ
,mizing on my nigger."
The co.ored parsonage from Danvi1le
rot his job back. This is the way much
Students Of the appropriation situa-
ion ascribe much of the extravagance
o indirect taxation. They saw the pub
ic pays Federal revenues indirectly and
loen't realize how heavily 1t is mulcted
With the revenues falling behind ey-
,enses IL looked as II 1t would not be
ong until the present income tax must
'e Increased. When that happens. per-
laps taxpaying folks will sit up and
init a real uproar. At present, they
lon't seem to be greatly disturbed.