The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-03-04
CANNOT SAVE MUCH.
CONGRESS IS NOT LIKELY TO
KEEP EXPENDITURES BELOW
BILLION MARK.
PLENTY OF ADVICE AT HAND
Work of the Economy and Efficiency
Commission Has Sympathy of
Democratic Leaders But Its Sus.
qestlons Are Not Followed.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington - Cutting here and
cutting there, and in between here
and there. probably will not avail to
prevent the session Of congress now
drawing to a close from joining the
billion-dollar class of its predecessors
The Democrats preached economy.
and it is only due them to say that
If they keep the expenditures down
to the figures of the last two or three
sessions, they will have done some
thing in the way OF saving, but MOTH
ing like so much as was hoped by the
leaders who expected to set an ex-
ample for sessions of the future.
The expenses of the government
grow year by year because the num-
bers and the needs of the governed
grow, and so long as the old system
of making appropriations continues TO
exist, the certainty seems to be. con-
gressmen say, that the expenses must
continue to pile up The Democrats
have shown some sympathy with the
work of the economy and efficiency
commission and granted money SO
that the commissioners could con-
uhue their labor.
Congress has been given informa-
ton about how to save money. 1t mas
been transmitted direct from the
computation tables OF the economy
commissioners. 1t Is true that II the
plans of the commission are followed
there will be no more billion-dollar
sessions for a long time to come
Whether governmental activities Will
be crippled remains for the future TO
prove.
Fear They VIII Lose Jobs.
Already congress has enough ad-
vice in its possession to make the saw
ing attempt. but thus far it has not
acted upon it. Possibly 1t Is waiting
until all the advice comes in. Not
long ago the law makers were told
how much money could be saved In
the office of the adiutant general OF
the war department. Instantly the
officers who would be directly or in
directly effected protested and SAID
that the commission had. made
mistake. 1t was agreed that the sys-
| tenn in the adjutant generals once
might be changed TO advantage. out
there was opposition, with arguments
to back it. that 1t would be unwise to
| cut dt,wn the clerical force.
The great fear of the employees OF
the government is that if the economy
program of the administrations COM
mission be adopted. thousand OF
| workers will lose their Jobs. 1t does
| not seem to have been the intention
of the commission TO recommend that
the unnecessary employees in the ad-
jutant generals Office should be dis
| missed from the service. The plan
was to keep them all at work and to
! have the decrease in the force come
naturally. that is. through resigna'
tons or deaths. places thus made va.
cant to remain vacant.
Can't Resist Temptation.
Speaker Clark. Majority Leader I'm.
| derwood and Representative Fitzger-
aid. chairman of the appropriation
committee. have urged that economy
be served, but their following has run
away. from them. There are river and
harbor Improvements and other
| things of advantage locally winch
| appealed to the Democratic members
| who have found themselves in the
majority for the first time in years,
| and the temptation not only TO ask
but to take, has been too great TO De
resisted. If the Democratic leaders,
after the full reports have been re-
| ceived from the economy and efi-
| cheney commission, intend to force a
record for saving. they must induce
their followers to adopt the commits
| sion's recommendations. and at least
| to try them out.
From the beginning of the work OF
the economy commissioners IT mas
been urged that while billion-dollar
sessions may continue to be the rule
the government can get much great
or return for its money If the plans
suggested are adopted. 1t is said
that two or three hundred million
i dollars can be saved yearly by judi
/ cious re-adjustment of the machinery
/ of the government. The plan which
has been suggested is to take the
! money which is saved and to put II
to other uses for the benefit of the
people, such as the extending OF the
work of the good roads office, the es
| adjustment of department of health
and the founding of bureau which
| viii care for certain things which will
benefit the business interests of the
| country.
TAFT Goods Go March 8.
On the afternoon Of March
an ordinary May-day moving van
win appear under the pertico Of
the White House where ordinarily nc
vehicle is seen excepting the limousine
or the carriage drawn by blooded
! horses. President Taft and his fam
lily are packing up their things. and
30 are President-elect Wilson and his
family, the ones to go and the others
to come. President Taft's White
House belongings will be sent away
March and the family will follow on
the next morning
| There will be several moving flays