Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-03-23
SO in excess Of the estimates for the

N'lt was u uOlOTIOus IuCt luul tHe
enactment OF the modified Sherwood
pension law subsequent to the pass.
age of the pension appropriation act
in the last session would necessltate
very substantial additional appropria.
tons at this session. With the mis-.
celaneous obligations authorized at
every session Of Congress, and the
amounts required for legalized de.
iciencies the deficit predicted by the
Treasury Department Of $22,556,G2a.
O3 more accurately should have been
placed at least at $50. 900, 900.
The indifference of the administra.
ton to this situation readily misled
Congress as to the country's finan.
cial condition.
when the present system OF
preparing and handling appropriations
bills in Congress is considered. it is
a matter of surprise that the Apron
rlations are not much in excess of
their present totals. There is no sys.
tematic consideration Of estimates
under the present methods Of the
House as is essential.
"The practice of divided RESPONSE
bility in the preparation Of the annual
appropriation bills has been ever since
it's adoption, subjected to the sever.
est adverse criticism by the press
and by public men who have discuss.
ed it.
in my opinion all OF the appro?ria-
ton bills should be prepared in II
committee. 1t is the only logical meth.
cd. Considering our system of gov
eminent, other schemes designed to
accomplish the desired end will not
succeed. 1t would be just IS sensible
to distribute control Of tariff rates on
articles in the various schedules to
different committees 49, to continue
the present control Of appropriations.
unfortunately, whenever 1t Is pro-
nosed to consolidate the appropriation
bills in one committee the suggestion
is construed as a reflection or a criti-
cism on the p%er.onnel of some of the
committees of the House.
DE-, Cannon Notes Excess.
Mr.. Cannon, in his statement, said
in part:
"All performances Of republican
houses pale into utter insignificancc
when placed in contrast with what the
democratic House of Representatives
of the SiXty-second congress has ac-
| complished in emptying the treasury
and piling up obligations against rev.
enues to be derived by direct taxation
from revenues of free-trade tariff laws
for which the new administration
| stands committed and solemnly pledS-
ed.
1.-The present congl ISIS with its large
democratic majority in the house, has
increased direct appropriations over
those made by the previous congress,
controlled by a republican majority
in both branches, by the immense sum
Of $63, 476,l 0O.L2 and the contract la
bilities and obligations in the nature
Of authorized public works additional
20 specific appropriations, for the SEES
sion now closing exceed those of the
last session of the last republican con.
gress by more than $2S,3S3,S89 or a
total excess of combined direct appro-
priations and authorized expenditures
by this congress over its republican
predecessor of $S6,S60. 04922.
"Nor should 1t be overlooked that of
the $43,454,145 of contracts authorized
at the last session of the last repub-
lican house s3O,352,500 was for the
b%attleshins and other vessels for the
American navy. in which all patriotic
citizens are equally interested and
nothing was authorized for public
buildings in local communities. or
the contracts and Obligations author
lied thsi session and to be appropriate
ed for hereafter the sum Of more than
$45, 600, 900 is for public buildings. the
greater number of which are purely
OF local interest not necessary to pub
lie service. and when finished their an
nual upkeep and operation will impose
a fixed charge against the treasury
four times greater than ample and
suitable quarters for the public bust
ness would cost each year in nearly
every locality thus provided with Il
ublic building.
Comparison With Receipts.
"The total revenues of the govern
ment according to the estimates for
the next fiscal year, under existing
federal tax laws will amount to only
1891, 791, sos; $1O6, S56,452.21 less than
the direct appropriations made this
season and If we add to the latter
sum of contracts and obligations au-
thorized in addition that will have to
be appropriated for the deficit will
reach 83,S12,G2 ''F
"And so we have this situation:
"The democratic party solemnly
promised, if intrusteu with the reins
of government, to reduce eXpendl-
lures. With its customary failure to
perform according to its pledges, it
has enormousl" increased %expendi-
lures.
ut has promised With even great
err solemnity, to reduce the burdens
Of taxation. 1t has, by legislation for
which it is responsible, made it prac-
tically impossible to avoid an increase
in taxation. "''
"The democracy have heretofore
stood for economy in public %expendi.
lures but Judging by the record that
party has made during the sixty-sec-
ond congress-, with sixty four major
ity in this house and the republicans
in a minority in the senate. its zeal