Evening star., 1914-01-23
SPENDING UNCLE SANS
MONEY.
IlI.-Estimating Expendi-
lures.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

of the committee on appropriations of the
House of Representatives, did much to
systematize the money supply processes
of Congress, once said that If the repub-
lie and all fits records were utterly de-
stroyed except for the book of estimates
the historian of the future could ascer-
tain therefrom all the essential facts re-
garding American civilization, the prog
ress of the arts and sciences and the
character of government. The book of
estimates is now a bulky volume of more
than 800 pages, in which the Secretary
of the Treasury submits to Congress at
'fhe beginning of each regular session es-
Inmates of the expenditures necessary
for the maintenance of the government
during the next fiscal year.
:. Before October Is the heads of other
departments submit to the Secretary OF
the Treasury a statement of the expendi-
fures which they deem Necessary for the
discharge of their obligations. end the
proper functions of the branches of pub
JIG service within their jurisdiction. In
parallel columns the estimates are COM
pared with the appropriations for the
current fiscal year. Any changes In YER
bfage of the law are indicated by italics
and omissions are bracketed. ThuS II
Il
crease of expenses is contemplated ana
1he reasons for such increases are ex-
srlained in copious notes.
= For instance, under the heading bureau
of corporations. Department of COM
4nerce, S475.J0o is asked for salaries and
expenses in 1915. as against $4,000 In
s1a14 A note says that the increase Is
due to the plan projected for additional
work in ascertaining the facts regarding
Stock and bond issues (whether they are
Watered. etc., holding companies, inter-
docking directorates, investigation of the
alleged economy and ef1ciency or trusts
and inquiry into conflicting state corpora
tion laws.
., The Secretary of the Treasury has. no
authority to revise the estimates SUBJ
nitted by his
No Authority to Revise collea cues.
:. Estimates Submitted. os,vaa sa nc tbsn az
he is required to estimate as nearly as
possible the revenues for the ensuing fis-
cal year and if their total does not equal
that of the estimated appropriations he
is obliged to submit a detailed statement
of all the estimates to the President. This
is to enable the President to recommend
10 Congress how the estimated appropria-
tions can best be reduced. or, if this Is
-Smpracticable without injury to the pub
lie service what new loans or taxes
should be imposed to cover the deficiency
The estimates are prepared by the
division of bookkeeping and warrants,
Of which DR.. Charles H. Miller Is the
chief Upon him devolves the intricate
detail of this highly important work and
his word is accepted by the Secretary of
the Treasury as to the probable stage OF
the revenues for the fiscal year OF 1919,
which will not begin until july l, l9l4.
This task is difficult enough when the
revenue laws have not been subject TO
Change for several Years. With a fixed
tariff, DIR. Miller reaches his conclusions
by observation of the probable condition
Of world trade and domestic industry.
From the internal revenue division he
sains details as to the prospective state
Of the production Of spirits, liquors and
other taxable beverages, cigars, cigarettes
and playing cards, and from all the other
departments OF the government ewnica
variety of sources he gathers vital In
formation as to the future promise OF
these receipts. 2f
But when in November last DR.. Miller
set about preparation of the estimates
ne had to consider: A new tariff that
look effect on October 3, except as TO
sugar and wool; and a new income tax
For months before Congress began, IN
April, to revise the Payne-Aiorlcn tafllI.
importers had been purchasing only small
stocks awaiting the establishment of the
lower duties Vast quantities of foreign
merchandise were shipped to the United
States, but instead of being entered were
stored in bonded warehouses to await the
proclamation of the new law, when lower
rates would be in effect all along the
line.
But since the law was slowly revised
large amounts of these goods had to be