The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-07
DEMOCRATS FEAR
EMPTY TREASURY
Underwood and Fitzgerald
Warn Congress That Econ
omy Is Imperative.
NEPOTISM Is CHARGED

ing was uttered in the Hous, tu-}i, ID,
Representative Underwood, the D....
cratic leader that appropriations uu.
be reduced II the D,mIsaiy rpu..,..
wants to prevent bankrurtls tn, r. Us
uty.
Mr.. Underwood warning was 800 %.
incident to the DEBATE ON he -Luu..
civil bill. lie was supported by Cu
man Fitzgerald o. tue IiUuse Cuuu..,
on Appropriations, who declared that uA
less expenditures were reduced %
Democrats would be defeated at TIA,
polls In 1915. Mi r'itZEeraid and NJ
Underwood recommended a more sys.
tematc method IN making appropria
tons.
Mr.. Fitzgerald asserted that In the
popular mind extravagances in Apr,
priations were attributed to the eNecu-
tive departments He expressed the
opinion that the evil OF extravaganza
was TO be found in Congress itself. He
thought IL would be desirable to pass
law preventing Congress from pass
ing legislation to Increase any appro.
priation beyond the estimates OF the
departmental bureaus.
Such a provision, he declared, was In
the Constitution of the Confederate
a
valuable addition to the present laws
Of the Federal Government.
Mr.. E1txgeraId's warming.
In presenting the sundry civil bill,
which carries $125,s27,53s, Mr. Fltz-
gerald declared that the appropriations
committee had annually pruned about
SIS. 600, 900 from the departmental est
mates for this bill.
He warned members Of the House that
the people will resent Increased taxation
and declared that the great increase tn
governmental expenditures In recent
years had been due to the organised
efforts OF associations and societies,
which by their different propaganda
had caused the Federal Government TO
increase greatly its functions and activi-
ties.
IF all demands for appropriations
made upon us were granted the United
States would be the leading bankrupt
nation of the world" declared Mr.. FitE-
gerald.
Mr.. Underwood, speaking in favor of
the creation of budget committee TO
handle expenditures, complimented Rep
resentative Fitzgerald upon his efforts
to keep down expenditures.
THE reckless expenditure OF public
money has always been the canker that
destroyed republics" said Mr.. Under
wood, and unless this House is willing
to take some stems to centralize these
appropriations and unless these appro-
priation bills are kept down / 10 not see
where the increased taxes on the Amrri-
can people are going to stop
In reply to statement by Rcpresen-
tative Mann, the Republican leader. rs
to why more reductions had not been
made in the governmental expenditures
Mr.. Fitzgerald said:
IF I had my way ! would make
reduction Of az least 5O.0CUOOO In GOV.
ernmental expenditures without causing
a material decrease in tho efficiency ~
pnhlic service hut tho datarr,iont!c., Of.
these questions is no, Tor me alone to
settle
I'm these days It is urged that the
Federal Government. the state Govern
ments and the municipal authorities
should do whatever they can to push
building projects 80 as to provide en-
ployment for the idle. think that
when the Federal Government il ex-
pected to provide work and entertain
mcnt for the people, We are approach
Ing the rocks on which the Government
will be wrecked
Gti!Ctt ChIde-.
Representative Gllet of Massachu-
sets. ranking Republican member Of the
Committee on Appropriations, chidcd
Representative Fitzgerald for his failure
to discuss the condition of the Federal
Treasury as he usually does when the
sundry civil bill is under consideration
He declared that a bond issue will he
necessary to maintain the credit OF the
Government and he denounced the ex-
travagance of the governmental depart
ments. Mr. Gillett said:
II still think that In the present fiscal
year we are likely to face n deficit and
that before the first of next July the
Administration will be selling bonds In
order to pay the running expenses Of the
Government and keep a balance in the
Treasury.
THAT balance has shrunk from sIi5.-
100000 on July I to s55.OoO, 900 on
February I. That is an average loss
of $4,000, 600 a month and the Treasury
balance is now reduced to as low n ig-
ure as Treasury officials have generally
thought safe, but there liz nothing to
Indicate that the trend will change at
all during the next four months. and
at that rate by the first OF June the
Treasury would be empty"
Mr. Gillott pointed out numerous
Items which he said might well he
stricken from the sundry civil bill
Among these were $4,000, 900 for pub
lie buildings which have not vet been
begun and for which no contracts are
outstanding. He also advocated defer
ring the item Of s3,0O0,0O0 for the physi-
cal valuation Of railroads.
He added that his main criticism NJ
the bill was that no systematic effort
had been made to survey the whole
field and outline a system of economy
which would relieve the Treasury
Cabinet Luxury.
Mr., Gillett recalled the fact that .
few years ago the Democrats made loud
complaints because Of the number Of
horses and carriages maintained for
| officials of the departments at Govern.
ment expense.
II observe now that for tho use ~
the Secretary of War We appropriated
for two four seated carriages, two two
seated carriages and in addition to this
there was purchased for his use out OF
the fund for the transportation OF tho
army S4,S50 automobile" he said.
Mr.. Gillett gave the following OK
ample Of nepotism In high Federal Off
| cial Circles:
I'm glancing over the list OF special
attorneys employed by the ATTORNEY
| General my eye happened upon the two
familiar names Of Bryan and McAdoo
and l found that these names were at
| tached to the persons of sons OF the two
Cabinet officers.
THE Attorney General obvious y
mating principle OF the Premier Of this
] l,,,.r gsytv Ion, Ia 10,