New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-06
Congress and the Budget


ment is now doing many admirable things
under the compulsion Of war needs which
It would never have done had we kept out
Of the war. There is even hope that we
may establish something like real Fed
eral budget system before the war ends.
The country is now spending about $751;
O0OOO0,000 a year-including advances
made on collateral to our allies. few
wears ago we used to think we were reck-
less when we spent S1,0OO000,0OO a year.
Less than thirty years ago, because 1t
spent S1,OOO,OOO,OOO in two years, the 51st
Congress was labelled opprobriously Scar
Reeds Billion Dollar Congress" In the
old days many Representatives and Sena-
tors made habit Of mastering the de-
tails of appropriations. They knew pretty
accurately where every dollar went and
for what reason it was appropriated.
There we're professional "Watch Dogs of
the Treasury" in each house who made
great regulations because of their critical
knowledge Of the ms and outs Of estimates
and their bulldog stand against what they
considered extravaganza. Randall and
Holman were conspicuous in that class.
Unfortunately, as appropriations grew
in volume control of them in Congress was
decentralized. Before Reeds period of
czarship a personal feud in the Demo
cratic ranks led to q successful revolt
against the domination Of the old Appro-
priations Committee. Control of various
money bills was taken from that commit
tee and dispersed among other committees.
That dispersal was highly demoralizing.
The estimates of appropriations come to
Congress in a chaotic shape. Each depart
ment Of the government exaggerates Its
own needs, and these inflated estimates
were now to 20, in part, to separate com
mittees, each intent on giving as great an
importance as possible TO the government
work done under its jurisdiction. The es-
sential factor Of coordination in eXpendi-
lures was eliminated. Divided control was
now added to all the other faults of
budgetless appropriation system.
A personal feud started Congress on the
downhill path toward extravaganza. Since
then all efforts to bring order out Of dis
order have been frustrated by personal
ambitions and iealousies. The committees
which had usurped part of the power OF
the Appropriations Committee were keen
about holding on to their acquired author
ity. They have stood together and had
their way. in spite of an increasing clamor
for a return 10 the system of centralized
control.
Senator Aldrch, speaking one day in
candid mood, told his colleagues that $780,
600. 900 could be saved year on an annual
appropriation Of about $l,000,00000 600 if
correct business methods were followed In
apportioning expenditure. His words i'm
pressed the country and he was encouraged
TO propose the creation Of a super-commit-
tee of the Senate, which was TO unity the
work of the other committees, and especial
ly of those handling appropriations The
committee was created with shrill blow
ing of trumpets. But it never exercised
any functions. 1t was born dead, because
the heads Of the various appropriations
committees refused from the start 10 take
orders from it. Again the public interest
was subordinated TO personal ambitions
and jealousies.
War has done much to smother petty
pretensions. IL ought now TO sweep aside
the personal aspirations of those who con-
tinue to divide power OF the purse in the
two houses for their individual convenience
and glory, and by so doing cause an enor-
nous wastage in the operations Of govern
ment. President Wilson has recommended
the constitution Of single, central Appro-
priations Committee in the House. Secre-
tary McAdoo has also recommended it.
The common sense Of the situation has
long demanded il. VIII Congress have the
courage 20 dispoSsess the various commit
! tees which have been trenching for years
i on the work of the Appropriations com
mittees proper Of the House and Senate?
Here is an immediate test Of the capacity
Of CONGRESS 20 heed lesson driven home
by the urgencies Of the war.
John J. Fitzgerald, who is about TO re-
tire as chairman Of the House Committee
on Appropriations, has been dining in
THIS lCSoDh VII NliO Ndio Vi MS NOlltdSucS
ever since the war began. To carry on
war effectively the highest degree Of or
ganization is required. But in the vital
matter of framing a Federal budget and
In converting Federal estimates Of expen-
diture into appropriation acts there is to-
day no organization TO speak Of. There is
only chaos. Many cooks spoil the broth.
--......,.;.t;ouo IN, poregc for wars