New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-12-31

49, ~ 49,
billion dollars. Now II is not simply q
billion-dollar congress, but it is much
more than "A billiOn-dollar session for
each congress-. No ones mind can con-
crive adequately just what a billion
dollars means. Ii would take much
more than n lifetime to count 1t dol
lar by dollar. However, the estimates
presented by the Treasury depart
mcnt for the next fiscal year total Inc
enormous sum of 81, 100.0O0,OOO.
May All Go to One Committee.
Last spring the house of representa-
tiyes provided a rule for the increase
In the membership OF its committee on
appropriations. The intention was 10
put all the bills requiring the actual
appropriations of great sums OF money
into the hands of this committee In
stead of sending them, as las the case
In former years, TO other committees.
There has been some difficulty In r
rying out the program, but II Is prob
able that ut the present session the
old rule of sending certain appropria-
lion bills to various committees Will
be Abandoned.
There Is rather a pretty controversy
going on In congress over NE matter
of the expenses of government. The
Republicans naturally say that the
Democrats have been woefully extrav-
agant ever since the present admins
tration came into power; and that eS-
travagance has become a fixed habit
is proved. Republicans say, by the
enormous size OF the estimates Just
sent to congress by the Treasury de-
partment.
The Democrats, of course. reply
that it cost great sums of money TO
carry on the val successfully, n
that while huge sums were spent, Inc
loss by waste, incompetence IN Ger
tain places. and other means, was
much less than naturally might be sup
posed would be the case. The Demo
Gratis also a that II the Republicans
cut the present estimates TO too great
a degree they will cripple the govern
ment activities and later ;1ill be com
PEELED to make appropriations which
they may refuse 10 make this year.
There are Is regular supply bills
upon which congress must act II the
departments OF government are to
have the money TO continue their ac-
tiyities. In addition to the sums APP
propriated in this way In order TO
keep the government running, there
must be an enormous amount appro-
priated In order to meet the interest
on the government debt. Victory loan
bonds carry Az per cent interest.
Some people say that this is not n
large rate. but when one thinks OF the
number Of bonds OF various kinds that
were issued bearing a rate as low as
4 per cent II will be see that the
yearly interest bin must be a huge
one.
Veteran Officers ~pisgruntled.
A score or two Of officers OF
the United States army, who
served in many fields and for many
years, are asking to be placed on the
retired list, although they have some
years yet to go before the age limit
would compel retirement. These Off
GERS are dissatisfied with the recently
announced promotions of Junior Off
GERS of the army to the rank of briga-
der general. These promotions would
compel many veterans of the service
to serve under the orders OF men
whom once they commanded and 10
whom MANI of them taught the art of
soldering.
Congress, II is said. will conduct an
investigation into the manner and
method of these recent promotions.
Fnvoritism Is charged and denied, and
so one may take his choice of opinions
until the investigation, If 1t shall be
made, discloses the absolute facts in
the case. The truth remains. however,
that many officers Of forty years serv-
ice suddenly found themselves ranked
by those whom the army terms young
sters.
Under the law. officers who have
for 40 years may ask for re-
tirement. This law has been taken
of by many of the officers
and the service is about TO lose sea-
soned soldiers, some of whom fought
the Apaches and the Sioux in the old
days. the Spaniards in Cuba, the in
in the Philippines and the
Germans in France.
No one has any conception Of the
heart burnings which have been caused
by recently announced advances in
grade. Men who, as major generals.
commanded divisions In France with
unquestioned credit suddenly found
tha-aselves denoted and were given
to report for duty TO men who
once had served under them. Con-
gress probably will give the whole
thing an airing, and make an attempt
10 find out whether or not injustices
have been done and If so. why. II is
probable If it is found the old SOL
diers have been badly treated that
congress will do the only thing II can
10 for them, that is, pass a resolution
commentator for their good serv-
Ices and give them an advance of one
grade on the retired list. This has
been done before In a good many in
The blossom of the waffle. n free