The sun., 1919-09-21
ss2,Sis,OOO CUT OUT
OF DEFICIENCY BILL
House Shows Strict Economy
by Giving Departments
Third of Estimates.
TOTAL VOTED S14,187,OOO
Palmer Gets So, 100000 to Put
Pinch Into His Drive on
High Living Costs.
Special Despatch TO TEE srr

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20.--Expressing
Congressional approval OF the strictest
economy in Governmental expenditures
the House to-day unanimously passed
the frst deficiency appropriation bill Of
the present fiscal year, which breaks all
records in recent years for reducing the
amounts asked by Government Depart
ments.
The bill carried a total of S14,1S7,o00.
or less than one-third of the SAT ,oo0,o
asked by the Administration, and II
went through the House without an
amendment that materially changed the
totals. The real punch" for the Gov
ernment drive against high prices is
carried In the bill, as 1t allows about
S2,400.000 for the Department of Justice,
most of which Attorney-General Palmer
has stated will be used to check profit
eering. The Federal Trade Commission
is allowed $3.50, 900 for the investigation
Of basic commodities
Republicans who are advocating the
cutting of all department estimates to
the lowest possible minimum were sur
prised at the practically negligible op-
position to the low amounts carried in
the appropriation measure. Representa-
tive Good (1a), Chairman of the APP
propriations Committee. expected strong
efforts on the part of some Democrats
to increase the amounts but these failed
TO materialize. Mr.. Good stated to-day
that the same policy would be pursued
In other appropriation measures be-
cause of the large deficit in the Treasury
at the end of the present fiscal year,
which he predicts will be more than
So, 600, ,06o.
No efforts were made by Democrats
10 include in the bill the estimates sub
mitted by several departments for the
Inauguration of extensive publicity
schemes and systems of reports ostensi-
bly, for the purpose of bringing down
the cost Of living which were submitted
with the approval OF the President. Nor
did any one. take up the Presidents S
cause and demand that an appropriation
Of $S25, 900, which he asked to pay up
the bills of the American peace mis-
sion in Paris. be included in the de-
ficiency measure.
The House debated for two hours
proposal to eliminate an appropriation
of $26S,000 for the Bureau OF Immigra-
ton which was necessary because de-
partment clerk made an error Of this
amount in previous appropriations. Be
cause of this salaries Of employees Of
the bureau at Ellis Island and other
stations have been held up since June,
Mr. Good stated.
Amendments to the food control act
which Attorney General Palmer asked to
stop profiteering were again delayed in
the House to-day because of objections
to the rider attached by the Senate
establishing a rent commission In the
District of Columbia. Both Houses have
passed the amendments. but House MEM
bers have been objecting to sending the
bill to conference unless the House con-
ferees are instructed to eliminate the
rent clause. Republican Leader Mondell
stated to-day that a special rule would
be presented Monday in order to delay
the amendments further. Assistant At
| torney-General Ames wrote to Represen-
| tative Haugen Ga.), chairman of the
House Agricultural Committee, urging
speedy action.