The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-03-15
ASSAILS DEMOCRATS
FOR EXTRAVAGANZA
: Treasury Has Not Been So Empty
Since the Cleveland Administra-
tion,' Gillett Says.

WASHINGTON, March 10. - State |
ments issued by Chairman Fitzgerald |
of the house appropriation committee
and Representative Gillett, the rank
ing Republican member, agree that the
appropriations of the last session of
congress totaled $1,11j,1 21 400; that
contracts involving additional appro-
priations of $37 100000 were author
IZed and that a treasury deficit is prob
able.
Chairman Fitzgerald S statement did
not give the total OF appropriations
for the 63d congress. MI. GilIett put
total at 1921 100000, which, he said,
was $ll3,000,000 greater than that of
the 62d congress, and 100000
more than the last Republican congress,
appropriated.
Nh. Fitzgerald estimated that should
the condition of the treasury continue
rs ut present until June SO, the total
| deficit sYould be $l33, 000, 900, offset,
however, by the income tax collections,
which are estimated at about $4,000,
! 600
| Mr.. Gillett asserted in his statement
/ that the treasury has not been so
| empty since the Cleveland administra-
! ton.
Chairman Fitzgerald declared the
tariff was in NO way responsible, and
| that until the outbreak of the Euro
pean war the new law had proved ar
effective revenue producer Mr.. GilIett
! did not agree with that.
Mr.. Fitzgerald said the effect Of the
war was worldwide and that as it
went ON, reduction Of customs imports
and their revenue viii continue. At
some length he discussed the need of
economy.
"The finances of the federal govern
menr must be readiusted, said he.
NO more important problem will con
front congress when it reassembles.
Under our system of government
the chief hope OF the people in the pre-
veutiou OF eXtreva giant and unjustita-
bic expenditures is in the house of rep
resentutives. The executive depart
mCEt Of the government may cooper
ate, but as the success OF an admins
tratiOn is frequently believed to be
measured by the expenditures 10 carry
ont the determined policy, the volume
OF expenditure must necessarily be OF
secondary Importance. The temptation
is ever present to mollfv some class
or to attack another, or TO attract
those indifferent or III opposition Dy
some policy not within the true func
tiuuS of the governments and which in
: NblEtS expenditures mat a8d greatly
to the burdens Of the people. The Iii
. rect representatives Of the people
. clothed under the constitution, Will
control of the public purse-if proper
. ~ organized, can and must curtail fed
eral expenditures.
Ito make the work of the house O
E representatives really effective. Their
must be radical chance in its methods
: cf handling appropriations Man,
2 times the present system has been con
! demned as illogical and unscientifc
Real reform Is impossible with eigh
!, committees of the house framing ap
o preparation bills while seven of tn
committees have legislative iurisdic
i. ten OF the matters for which they rec
= ommend appropriations. Further con
4 sideration deepens my conviction tina
= our committee should be given contro
: OF all appropriations and that no leg
>. islation should be contained in the al,
5. preparation bills
K Mr.. Gillett assaiIed the Democrat
70 leaders for what he characterized a
a extravaganza.