The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-17
Pruning Knife in the
Appropriation Bills
Chairman of House Committee
Declares That Extra Session
of Congress is Imperative.

of Congress is Imperative.
Washington. March l6--Representa-
tive James w. Good. OF Iowa. the new
chairman of the house appropriations
committee, is whetting his pruning
knife in response to the country's de-
mand for economy in postwar govern
mental expenditures. With the heavy
tax burdens now resting upon the peo-
pie as result of the war. waste and
extravaganza everywhere must be
eliminated. he declared today in an ex-
elusive interview to the Universal
Service.
The closest possible scrutiny Of all
estimates and recomme ndations for
appr OPERATIONS will be made by the ap-
preparations committee the new chair
man said. No partment head will be
given funds unless ne can show To the
complete satisfaction of the committee
that there Is pressing need for the
money.
1t will not be the policy of the Re-
puhficans. in control of the next con-
gress to stint any Legitimate and
necessary governmental activity Mr..
Good explained. but any plan formu-
lated must be authorized by law and
give promise of full return In benefit
to the public for the sum invested
Mr.. Good reiterated that an extra
session of congress should be called
immediately Tho presidents failure
to issue the call amounts to an execu-
tire aiibuster ih. his oninion- !.
Under the law" said Mr.. Good.
There cannot be any new departures
In the handling Of appropriation bills.
The next congress however. win not
make any lump sum appropriations
which In many cases were necessarily
made In the congress Just ended The
war Is over and the people want con-
gress to appropriate all the money
necessary to continue the government
activities provided for by law and for
which there Is public need. But there
Ia no disposition on the part of any
member of the appropriations commit
tee to give money for anything not au-
thorized by law. however worthy II
may seem.
There certainly will be a strong in
clination. to eliminate waste and ex-
travagance wherever found On the
other hand. I am inclined to think all
members OF the committee want to
give the executive departments all the
money they may need to carry on ali
the authorized and necessary work for
which there Is the usual and suhstan-
tial demand"
The aggregate carried In the appro-
prtation bills which failed OF passage
~ inv AdSl NOUETNSA. MT. tr6pu SIaI@0
IL $500. 600. 600. This amount was
needed for the fiscal year beginning
July l. and in ordereto permit the de-
partment asking the appropriations
properly to function after that date
those bills must be passed. Several of
the department heads, Mr.. Good said
had recently informed him that In
preparations for the remainder of the
current year,
The next congress viii have at least
seventy-hve new members" the chair
man continued Those members are
entitled to know the reason for ap-
propriatinK every dollar OF that vast
sum- Unless congress Is convened very
shortly there IL no way In which they
can be informed on these intricate
matters
Tho day Of the short session IL past.
We win never have another one ak
cept that II be followed by an extra
ssssisn. The work OF appropriatfng
money alone 10 such . tremendous task
that II cannot be wisely ana carefully
done in three month"; time.
could be benefited politically BY an
early Extra sessfon. The people Of
the country certainly would be how
ever.
There was never in the minds Of
the democratic leaders 4 thought that
they could put through all Of the APP
preparation bills by March T. Repre-
sentative Sherley. chairman Of the app
proprtations committees. NJ one time
thought It would not be wise To even
report out the sundry civil BILL He
knew the house could mot give II
proper consideration and the senate
could not pass It.
Il have no sympathy with hlihusters.
either legislative or executive. Both
branches Of the government ought to
be functioning all thu time. But Ii we
had a nlibuster Just before congress
adjourned we now have one OF another
kind In the presidents refusal 10 cali
an extra session"
Mr.. Good favors budget system for
financing governmental activities He
is not no certain however that there
yet has been proposed concrete plan.
saRef4er 70 the existing methods uf
making appropriations On this point
he said: II hope congress- will pass
the resolution contained In the third
deficiency blu for commission to study
budget system. 1t In interesting
while talking of the adoption or 4
budget system and many people are
comparing our present system with
that OF the British parliament TO know
that members OF parliament ara COM
planning Of their system ana pointing
70 ours - : moro desirable system
that their own"
49, -- -. 1s e.