Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-15
BILLION DOLLAR
MARK IS PASSED
Appropriations Made During
Last Session Of Congress To-
tai $l,l15,121 ,4O9.
TREASURY DEFICIT PROBABLE
Fitzgerald and Gillett, of House
Committee. Issue Statements
on Condition.

WASHINGTON. March u-state-
incnts issued to-day 10y Chairman
Fitzgerald. OF the House Appropria
tons Committee. and Representative
Giilet. ranking Republican member
agree that appropriations OF the last
session of Congress ,o,al.d sI1I,1D,
4os; that contracts Involving additional
appropriations or s37.ioO.Ooo were au-
'h"rized. and that Treasury deficit is
probable
Chairman Fitzgeralds statement did
h"' give The total Of appropriations for
TIE entire Sixty-third Con ,ress. Mr..
Gillett placed 1t at S23l 600, 900, which.
he said, was $Il3.Ooc0oO greater than
that of the Sixty-sccond Congress. and
si1'.ooo."o0 more than the last Republi-
can Congress appropriated
Mr.. Fitzgerald estimated that should
the condition of the Treasu.- continue
as at present until June 80. tho total
deficit would be 5000. 600. offset.
however. by income tax collections
estimated at sSo.O00OOO
Mr. Gillett asserted that the TSeas-
ury has not been 80 empty since the
Cleveland administra ton"
TARIFF IN NO WAYI
RESPONSIBLE: FOR DEFICIT
Chairman Fitzgerald declared the
tariff in no way was responsible. and
'hat until the outbreak OF war the
new law had proved an effective rcye-
hue-produccr Mr.. Gillett did no, agree
with that
Mr.. Fitzgerald said the effect Of the
war was world wide. and that as IL
goes on reduction Of customs imports
and their revenue will con;inIe. AT
some length he discussed the need OF
economy.
Ihe finances OF the Federal govern
ment must be readjusted," said he. NO
more important problem will confront
Congress when II reassembles
Under our system Of government. tho
chief hope Of the people in the pre-
vention OF cxiravagant and uuius,ifia-
BILE expenditures is In the House of Rem
resentatives. To make the work of the
House OF Representatives really cffcc-
tive, there must be a radical change
In its methods OF handling appropria-
siSht fa} q ti's Mssss r.
appropriation bills, while seven of the
committees have legislative Jurisdiction
OF the matters for which they recon-
mend appropriations. Further consid- :
Grafton dcepcns my convictions that one
committee should be given control of
all appropriations, and that no legisla-
lion should be contained in the appro-
priation. bills"
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS
ASSAILED BY GILLE:T1'
Mr.. Gille,t assa!led Democratic leaders
IN -la Il.
gance.
The appropriations OF this session
have shamefully dsrcgarde the prin-
clpies OF sound business and true
economy he said. With revenues fall
ing ana precarious. with business and
commercial conditions fevcrish :nd IN.
certain. with a steady monthly deficit
and no assured prospect of it's relief
and with n cash fund reduced TO a point
that has generali, been deemed unsafe.
the administration has recommended.
and the Congress has authorized. ex
before. and no step has been taken to
meet the prospective deficit
That is not the way the finances
of government should be adminis-
tered.
The executive has been more reck-
less and mprovident than Congress
and with less excuse. 1t ouEh. to be
vastly easier for the President and
Cabinet. n small executive body exemnt
from the dangers of log-rolling, TO
survey the whole field, calculate the
revenues and cut the estimates to cor
respond. But they have been wholly
recreant to that duty. They have not
hesitated to demand increa sed cxpendi-
lures, and, instead of obeying the law
and guiding Congress TO obvious and
Imperative economies Congress has
been obliged to restrain their reckless
expenditures.
SYMPATHY OF PURPOSE
IS UTTERLY LACKING
"As long as the executive shows no
appreciation Of his responsibility in
advising how to make the two ends
meet. Congress. with its large member
ship and diversity of interests. can
hardly be expected to assume the en-
tire responsibility and practice self
denial. To accomplish wise results
there must be n sympathy Of purpose
and unity Of effort, and recognition
of mutual responsibility. This has all
been lacking in this Congress-"