Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1918-11-09
OUR GREAT NEED


Washington, NOV. 5. Special Cor
respondence)
The crying need Of comprehensive
budget system OF revenue and appro-
priation is strikingly shown in the
method OF appropriating money for
our army. The regular supply bills
are considered by the Military At
fairs committees OF the house and
Senate, respectively But the army
deficiency bills, of equal or greater
amount than the regular appropriation
bills, and which deal with precisely
the same subjects are handled by the
Appropriation Committees of the two
Houses. All of these committees hold
hearings OF course there is much
duplication of testimony, and, on the
other hand, great deal OF nforma-
ton, upon which the Military Commit
tee may have based its recommends
tons for an appropriation, is not at
hand when the matter is taken up by
the Appropriations Committee. The
result is confusion.
A case in point is the 000,000,00O
Army deficiency bill now in process
of enactment 1t was in charge of the
Appropriations Committees and in
the Senate was handled by the Chair
man of that committee. During its
consideration in that body the Chair
man OF the Military Committee offer
ed very importane amendment max
ing available for the expenses OF social
hygiene Investigations being conduct
ed by the War Department an appro-
priation OF 100000 carried in the
regular Army Appropriation Bill OF
last summer. The amendment con-
templat~d no increase in expenditures
bur merely an authorization for the
more efficient utilization OF money al
ready appropriated. In support OF his
proposition the Military Chairman
read extensively from hearings that
had been conducted before his COM
mittee showing the vital need OF the
legislation. But il is the almost I'M
varying policy OF the Appropriations
Committee TO defeat every amend
inent on the floor OF the Senate that
has not received their previous APP
proval. That was the course in this,
The Appropriation Chairman making
The point OF order that the amendment
Tell within the rule prohibiting legis-
lation on appropriation bills. The
point was sustained by the chair and
the amendment failed OF adoption.
Here is a case where the practice of
Congress permitted the arbitrary de-
feat of proposition. purely military
in character, by the chairman of
committee having no relation to the
subject matter. All the facts connect
ed with it had been ascertained by
hearings before the Military commit
tee. made up OF men who have given
close study to army subjects. No in
formation whatever was in the pos
session OF the Appropriations Chair
man. vet he WAS permitted 10 eNer-
else inal judgment and prevent the
inclusion OF the provision in the bill.
Time and again the Republicans OF
The Senate and House have advocated
the abandonment of our present cha
otto system OF appropriating money
Only few days ago Senator Viii
liam s Kenyon OF Iowa gave to his
colleagues the result OF an exhaustive
study Of the subject that he has con-
ducted accompanied by specific rec
concentrations for Improvements. All
of these efforts have been received
with polite interest by the party IN
power. and data collected By the Re
publicans have been laid aside for iu-
turc reference. But OF definite steps
toward the reform that is so urgently
needed there have been absolutely
none. nor from present indications
viii there be any move in that direct
ION in the future, 1t is certain that
change in the present wasteful Sys-
tenn can only come when the Repub-
licans return to power at the National
Capitol and are in a position to put
into practical effect the principles OF
sound national finance they have so
long advocated.