The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-09-26
MARTIN WARNS
SENATE OF j. s.
EXTRAVAGANCE
Nations Finance Imperilled
by Reckless Expendi-
ture, He Says.
DEFICIENCY BILL PASSES
Employment Bureau Gets
$5OO,OOO in $8,OOO,OOO,-
900 Measure.
DEFICIENCY BILL PASSES

Special Dsspafch to TIE Sun
WASHINGTON. Sept. Ex-senator Mar
tin. chairman Of the Appropriations Com
mittee and Democratic floor leader in
the upper house. warned the Senate to-
day against the reckless extravagance in
departmental estimates and urged the
closest scrutiny Of the demands for vast
funds which have been pouring in upon
Congress and to which THE SUN called
attention last Monday. Senator Martins
warning came as part OF a speech in
opposition to an amendment to the pend
ing $4,000. 100000 urgency deficiency bill
appropriatins 100000 for the creation
of Federal bureau Of employment in
the Department Of Labor.s
Senator Martin said that appropria-
tions during the five months Of the war
would reach about $4,000. 100000 and
expressed concern lest next years total
mands expressed in the estimate fur
nished the Congress by the executive de-
partments are extravasant to the last
degree. They are, I might say, reck-
lessly extravagant.' he asserted.
Finances in Peril.
I'VE are compelled to shut our eyes
and appropriate . great deal rather than
hamper our men on the battlefield. but
our duty to scrutinixe these estimates
grows every hour. We must give every
dollar necessary to prosecute the war.
but our duty Is to trim down extrava-
giant and useless appropriations. The
Governments finances are In a perilous
situation.
Are we going to impoverish the coun-
try? Yes. II necessary to win this war.
but in Gods name don't let's spend
money unless absolutely necessary"
The remarks Of Senator Martin caused
a shiver TO run through tho Senate. Ten
minutes later. however. the Senate voted
to accept the proposal for the $500,000
appropriation over his protest.
Senator Martin had asserted that even
up to the moment when the urgent
deficiency bill was introduced in the
House, from the time its consideration
had begun up to the moment OF its In
PRODUCTION in the Senate. there had been
a continuous parade Of departmental
messengers bearing requests for more
money, larger estimates for existing ap-
preparation laws. new laws and new
authorizations.
Republicans Rejoice.
Coming as 1t did from the Democratic
leader who only ten weeks ago brought
all tho influence of the party organization
in the Senate to the aid Of the Admin
lstration to squelch the movement for q
special committee on expenditure incident
TO the war. this frank admission OF the
recklessness Of Administration officials
in their demands for appropriations was
accepted by the Republicans with glee.
The urgent deficiency bill was passed
by the Senate without a roll call and
without discussion by the handful Of
Senators present. The bill passed the
House unanimously a week ago and II
will now go to conference The bill
totals 37.se1. 400. 900, including sass. 900
of contract authorizations and Senate
committee amendments totalling S779,-
600. 900. Its principal items include:
Shipping Board. $685.. 100000 cash
ICED OF Sl.74s. 900 900: army and navy
emergency funds of 500. .oOo. 900 each :
construction Of torpedo boat destroyers.
s226. .o0o. 900 to start a $3.50. 200, 900 pro-
gramme army transportation. $4lS.O00,-
900; fortincations. 31.4s5,000. 900 appro-
priated and 1915. 1000, 900 more author
ized: army subsistence. $32o. 900. 900 ;
clothing and camp equipment, $357. 7.o0O.-
900; engineer operations. Sl91. 900. 900 :
medical department. $l2s.o00.o00 pay
increases for foraign service. $31 1.ooo,-
900: horses. $4,000. 900; /; barracks. $4s,-
100000: ordnance stores and ammuni-
ton. $732.270.00o; small arms target
practice. Ss9.S76.00o: ordnance stores
and supplies. &lla.520. 900: manufacture
Of arms, $32. 100000: automatic ma
chine guns, $ll3.620, 900. with S220.277
additional authorized: armored motor
cars. SS6,75o.00o, with S75.550, 900 ad-
ditional authorized naval aviation, 345,-
900. 900; naval ammunition. $4O.l46, 900.
with $lb.000.000 more authorized naval
batteries, $4,000. 900. and $4,000, 900
more authorized: naval reserve ord
nance. S+7.500,o00. and 3l7,b0o, 900
more authorized naval training camps.
$l2.600,o0o.
Few Items struck Out.
With the understanding that II would
be perfected and reinserted in confer
ence the Senate struck out an appro-
priation Of &1.24o.000 for civilian train
ing camps. 1t also rejected amendments
Of Senator Frelinghuysen OF New Jersey
for a $5.000.000 cantonment road in
New Jersey and Of Senator Fletcher for
3350.000 for Key West naval station i'm
provemenH. After tart debate on the
controversy between Secretary Daniels
and the Navy League officers, Senator
Curtis's amendment authorizing the navy
head to accept contributions from the
leagues women's auxiliary was defeated.
The Senate yielded to the deman of
tho Administration for alterations In
their work. In the section of the bill
making appropriations for the army of
the United States there had been drafted
a section whereunder the Secretary of
War was directed to stop further calls
to the colors under the terms of the
selective draft law Of more than 900.
900 men in excess Of the number now
enrolled for service. The Secretary of
War wanted authorization to draft as
many men as the army could clothe
equip and train, Therefore the Senate
adopted the following amendment TO the
committees bill:
provided, that the appropriations
herein and heretofore made for the pur.
poses herein named shall not be avail.
able for the examination or selection OF
men as provided in the act entitled .An
act to authorixe the President to increass
temporarily the military establishment
Of the United States approved May ls