The Washington herald., 1913-10-17

mics. Under this rule many of the meri-
torious items in the annual estimates
prepared by the new Board OF Commis-
sioners could be thrown out
But ii has been 80 arranged that none
of these items will constitute new legis-
Iation by the time the District bill reaches
the House For they will first have been
considered by the House in the shape OF
separate bills reported out from the Dis
trict committee, and passed by the House.
Chairman johnson agrees to urge the
consideration Of measures authorizing ap-
propriations desired by the Commission
ers in the shape of new legislation. and
Chairman Page, of the Subcommittee on
District Appropriations. agrees TO include
in the District appropriation bill. only
such projects as already have been au-
thorized by existing law. Thus, Dis
trict Budget Committee Is created, COM
prising the Board Of District Commits
sioners, Chairman Johnson. and Chair
man Page.
Only by such an agreement could the
program of social and civic betterment
outlined by the Commissioners be effect
ed. This Is much the same plan as has
been advocated for national appropria-
tions by students of civic economy, and
which President Taft sought to pave the
way for. President Wilson is strongly
committed to such a plan. 1t was to work
out the details Of a budget plan that
President Taft secured the creation OF
an expensive economy commission.
Less ExtravREance.
OF course, the application OF such a
plan to the District is far simpler than
to national appropriations, in which poll
tics plays SO important part. At the
same time an informal budget committee.
comprising the chairmen of the House
and Senate Appropriation Committees,
the leaders OF the two Houses, and the
President, would, II complete harmony
could be accomplished, do away with
much extravaganza which attaches to the
haphazard system of appropriations now
employed.
Perhaps no government in the world.
and certainly no successful business
house. employs the disconnected system
followed by our government in making
appropriations. Any business house VIII
upon an estimate of receipts for similar
period of time. But this government.
with its triumvirate form OF government.
has no efficient means OF conforming the
expenditures to the receipts, one branch
Of the government collecting the receipts
and another branch authorizing the ex-
penditures.
PRESIDENT wilson. ludn WnOIn 10 one
more fully appreciates the inef1ciency OF
our way of transacting business. is more
than desirous Of arriving at some plan
for conforming expenditures to receipts
without, treadins upon the constitutional
toes of coordinate branch OF the gov
ernment. Although the estimates. for Dis
trict appropriations and the contingent
budget plan were evolved without con-
sultation with the President, they are
sure to meet with his hearty approba-
ton.
No Holman Rule I'm senate.
OF course, the House is only one of
two branches of the appropriating body.
and the other branch--the Senate--is not
bound by Holman rule. Indeed. the
practice has been to look to the Senate
10 slap on appropriation bills any new
LEGISLATION desired, and which has been
knocked out by the House on point Of
order. Once written into the bill by the
Senate, II Is not subject to q point of
order when the bill comes back to the
House to be sent to conference. This
means was employed last session in OBJ
tanning the enactment of public utilities
and liquor legislation.
The Senate is not expected to rear
any obstacles in the way OF this agree
ment. however. The Upper House al
ways mas been more generous and dis
terminating in It's District program than
the lower, and while Il may enlarge upon
any program decided upon by the House,
the sepate Committee probably win not
contract 1t.