The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-11-08
WsshingtonsLe tter.

ing money for our army. The regular
supply bills are considered by the
Military Affairs 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 Appropriations Com
mittees of the two Houses. All OF
those committees hold hearings. OF
course there is much duplication OF
testimony, and, on the other hand, a
great deal of information, upon which
the Military Committee may have
based its recommendation for an ap-
preparation, is not at hand when the
matter is taken up by the Appropria-
tions Committee. The result is con-
fusion.
A case in point is the Sc ,000, 900 900
Army deficiency bill now in process of
enactment. 1t was in charge of the
Appropriations Committees, and in
Senate was handled by the Chairman
of that Committee. During it's con-
sideration in that body the Chairman
of the Military Committee offered a
very important amendment making
available for the expenses of social
hygiene Investigations being con-
Quoted by the War Department an ap-
preparations of 100000 carried in the
regular Army Appropriation Bill of
last summer. The amendment con-
templated no increase in expenditures
but 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 it is the almost I'M
varying policy of the Appropriations
Committee to defeat every amendment
on the floor of the Senate that has not
received their previous approval.
That was the court followed in this
case, the Appropriations Chairman
making the point of order that the
fell within the rule pro-
legislation IN appropriation
bills. The point was sustained by the
Chair and the amendment failed of
adopti9tAJn A{.Nb
Here is case where the practice Of
Congress permitted the arbitrary de-
feat of proposition, purely military
in character, by the chairman of
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
whatever was in the pos
session of the Appropriations chair
man, yet he was permitted to exercise
final judgment and prevent the in
clusion of the provision in his 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 William
S. Kenyon of Iowa gave to his col
leges the result Of an exhaustive
study of the subject that he has con-
Quoted, accompanied by specific recon-
mendations for improvements. All of
these efforts have been received with
polite interest by the party in power,
and data collected by the Republicans
nave been laid aside "for future refer
ence." But Of definite steps toward
The reform that is so urgently need
I'd there have been absolutely none,
Tor from present indications will
here be any move in that direction in
he future. 1t is certain that change
n the present wasteful system can
,nly come when the Republicans re-
urn to power at the National Capitol
md are in a position to put into prac-
,ical effect the principles of sound ma
.ional finance they have so long advo-
lated.
The Torch of Liberty, don't dim it;
'uy stamps to thousand dollar limit.
FUNNY BUSINESS
The Fort Wayne News comments on
he fact that the factories in England
re making 100000 uniforms for the
United States Army, stating, 1--WE
we're not aware, before the imparting
f this information, that the factories
f the United States were too busy to
axe on a contract of this sort. Indeed
We doubt very seriously whether the
managers Of our factories knew it."
correspondent of the New York
ournal of Commerce, imparting the
Information that Government require
nents have assumed such proportions
hat there seems little, if any, likeli-
God of the War Industries Board re-
easing wool for civilian use, says:
From present indications, when the
tocks Of wool now on hand for civil
ian manufacture are exhausted, the
nils will either have to take govern
1ent contracts to maintain operation
r close down--but it is not believed
hat Government orders can keep all
nils occupied" Meanwhile, with
his situation staring America in the
ace, our war junto goes ahead and
nloads contracts in Great Britain for