Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-10-26
SHORT SESSION OF CONGRESS TO
sE DEVOTED LARGELY TO
APPROPRIATIONS.
DEMANDS WILL De HEAVY
FROM MANY SOURCES
Wise Ones Declare War Revenue Law
Will Have Tendency to Only Whst
Appetites Of Democrats For More
Money-euildins Bills to Call For
Huge Sums.
Especial Correspondence

/ Washington. Oct. 26.-Appropriations
coming short session Of congress. The
short session is usually given over
largely to appropriations but in some
cases their consideration becomes
largely routine. 1t will not be so this
winter.
The democrats have been SO severely
| criticised for extravaganza In this ses-
/, sion and so sharply taken to task by
republicans and bull moose because
they have allowed the appropriations
to pile up to record breaking figure,
that they are going to make more Of an
effort the coming session to practice
economy. In order to bring this about.
attempts are being made to pare down
the estimates Of the departments. How
/ far these will succeed remains to be
seen because as a rule attempts to pare
down estimates do not get far. More
over, no matter how much estimates
are cut, the needs of the departments
are pretty sure to accumulate as the
time draws near to make appropria-
tons.
Between Two Demands.
The democratic leaders in congress
this winter will be in difficult posi-
ton. In the first place, with war
tax imposed on the country, they will
be expected to make a showing of
economy. If the European war goes
on and the people of the country are
obliged tc economic for that reason,
, the pressure on Washington to econ
omize will be felt. But the demands
for appropriations, on the other hand,
are constantly growing. The new leg
islation of this session of congress has
added heavily to the expenses of the
government. The new banking and cur
rency system, for instance. is one re-
qUirins an expensive organization
which will tend constantly to grow
more expensive. The new federal trade
! commission Is another expensive body.
The advocates of liberal river and
! harbor appropriations are making pre-
parations for n general assault on con-
gress. Another pork barrel bill is
likely to be presented, unless the COM
mittees in charge of the pil are more
careful in the preparation of 1t than
| they were III preparing the one present.
ed at the long session and which was
beaten.
Public Building Demands.
Then, there are the public buildings,
Members Of congress are getting inn
patien; 10 have Il public building bill
, put thru The clamor from some OF
i the boys" at home for public buildings
will be strong after election time. The
reasEry is holding back various public
building projects just now in spite Of
the fact they are authorized and APP
! proprinted for. But it cannot we'll do
this long without exciting much pro-
test
O,d hands at the business of appro-
priations make the prediction that the
war tax measure is not going to make
/ for economy. They admit that i; viii
cause a demand on congress and the
administration to go slow IN eSpendi-
lures. But on the other hand, they
point out that plenty of revenue is all
ways great temptation to large eX
penditures. Should the European war
close in a few months more or should
; il cause by its demand for American
/; products d big revival OF business. the
| treasury would have plenty of funds.
| 1t is the history of congress that pub
/! lie officials and members OF congress
| have great weakness for surplus.
! If there is anything that bears remote
| resemblance to a surplus every man in
| house and senate has an eye out to
| gsah a part Of it for his particular To-
caiity or his particular legislative pro-
! ject. So. If some of the wise ones fig
! ure it right, the war tax will make the
! existence Of the appropriations COM
| nittees even more troubled than it has
| been and that is saying good deal