The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-16
JUSTIFTES IT'S EXISTENCE
DO 1T NOW

The Democratic house OF representatives again
justified the action Of President Wilson in call
Ing congress into special session when It made
provisions for the creation of budget commit
tee and TO substitute systematic for haphazard
methods of making appropriations This work,
not yet completed. furnishes another iustra
ton of the superiority of leadership in the house
over that in the senate and It's greater capacity
for intelligent, efficient work.
The house managed to devise and adopt
tariff bill which, II passed by the senate without
material changes, Will redeem Democratic
pledges. In spite OF the opposition of some
ohstreperous members the house. IT now appears.
certain. viii enact currency legislation at this
session Now II has planned and is about to
adopt a system OF making appropriations which
will make For economy and for better distributed
and better arranged and better apportioned ap-
preparations The senate has yet to pass the
tariff bill, but reasonable time has not elapsed
and this step will probable be taken II 1t is
done at an early date. the mistake OF wasted
time and energy that should have been given to
something else in making Investigations that
could wait and which were not imperatvely de-
manded at all, Will be overlooked. It may yet
take up the question of banking and currency
legislation. hut there does not exist any real
indication that 1t will.
The dangers that confront the Democrats when
congress convened was twofold. In the house
IT, was to be found In a too large majority, which.
1t WAS feared, would prove unwiedy; in the SEN
ate II was in the too narrow margin. which, 1t was
feared would prevent Democratic legislation.
BY mastery leadership and by devotion to
country and TO party pledges the house passed
through the danger confronting It with safety;
the senate has yet TO prove its mettle.
But not only did the house succeed in adopt
Ina an acceptable tariff measure. 1t has also
taken other action OF importance not the least
o. which Is the appointment OF committee to
devise a system Of appropriation by budget
plan has been formulated and soon will be in.
troduced into the house. where. all indications
are 1t will he adopted and shortly put into
operation Ply 80 doing the house will send to
the senate a measure which will reform our
present system Of making appropriations In
much needed manner. At the present time each
appropriation committee makes its own budget,
presents it to congress and has it adopted prac-
teally without change. No attention is paid
by any committee TO the state Of the government
finances. No attention is paid By any commit
tee TO the appropriations of the other. Neither
cares how much money Is at their disposal
Neither cares. nor knows. what other committees
planning to appropriate Their bills are
presented separately and adopted separately and
II the total exceeds the revenue in hand or to be
IN hand when the time for paying out comes,
the treasury has to do the best It can. The
money has been appropriated and must be secured
In some way. II nothing better offers there are
always means OF getting money from the tax
payers, Under budget system special COM
naittee will consider the amount OF revenue in
hands. ascertain the comparative needs of each
appropriation committee and apportion GER
<kDtn-sGuount to each. The appropriation COM
Ynitt1ss can then distribute that sum as II sees,
Mt hut cannot go beyond the bounds Of expendi
tnrs set by the budget committee When all the
appropriation bills have been passed they may
IL faulty in detail, but they will not total more
than there is in the treasury.
Much OF the credit for this reform. so long
needed, Ia due to ex-President Taft While in
once he urged upon congress the adoption of the
system. almost his last message, dealing with the
question. Congress did not see fit to accept his
I characterization In this particular at that time.
4 hut bas now done 50,
q rhus again the house, overwhelmingly Demo
ffasts. shows ~ visden. n the senate the De