The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-28
REPUBLICAN BOAST
 EASILY EXPLODED

Washington. August e7--(Special)-A study of the appropriations authorized by recent Congress renders absurd the re- publican boast of today that they reduce l expenditures by the last Congress s, ,50o : GOO below the estimates of department chiefs
 i ln the first place. it Is common knowt. | edge that department chiefs generally pul a healthy estimate on the amount they think they will require This is done in knowledge that the estimates will be reduced for every Congress wishes to make a financial showing.
 But if the republicans were actually to De credited for having found that the de 'partments wapted more than they really needed that by econ omy they could func- tion satisfactorily for $2,500OO00o0 less than they thought their boast will appear democratic Congress are given wide publicity.
 An investigation into the record of re- 1 cent appropriations brings to light tho | fact that even when the recent war was at it's height democrats cut more than $i4, 5oo, ,0o0,000 out of departmental esti- mates, or nearly six times the boasted saving of republicans This feat was ac- | complshed in preparing the supply bills for running the war in. the fiscal year July 1, 1918, to June 30, 1919. The esti. natea amounted to S41,6734 4476S1 Con gross appropriated $27, ,092, ,6e4,72O It is | true that the democrats so closely pared the estimates that it was necessary to au- thorize the executive branches 10 enter | into contracts calling for an additional expenditure of 5000. GOO. But when this | authorization is added to the appropria- tons. the total represents an estimate cut or s, 300 GOO, ,0c0, or moro than twice the roasted saving or the republicans in times Of peace.
 Just once during recent democratic Con- gresses did the appropriations exceec the estlmates- For the year beginning July IT, lslb, and ending June g. 19i7 the esti-, mates were s1,473,957 sos. The appropria- tons were u,625, .9o5, an increase oe Siol,6zi,lH over the estimates The in- creases were made in favor of the army ana navy. For the army, Congress ap- lropriated s267.5ss.5so 10, as compared with estimates, or $50 eSl .4S3; and for the navy congress appropriated sS13, 800, ,555 as com pared with estimates of sc17, s5e17s.
 With the exception of that on Congress the democrats always reduced the esti- mates. When they came into full charge March 4 1913. the supply bills had been prepared for the fiscal year ending June 5o- 1914 Thereafter the following figures obtained:
 Fiscal year ending June %. 1sl5:, fN'mates .,.-..-r.....-..,.-..$11 152. .ss1 .772 e Appropriations ........... 11t61lS1ss55
  E Cut below estimates ....s ss.5ss, ,sss. .47
 Fiscal year ending June 90 p1s: EstimAteSt .si, 135, ,1S7 ,9s4 .3I .Appr oprlEt ons ................ 1.1l4s37 0lz.o2
 Cut below estimates .......s o.a5o. .s72 g
 Fiscal year ending June 9. :ol7: Estimates ,473S57, ,sos % Appropriations .--.....-..-... 1.e25. .4S4. .s95 .53 Increase above estimates ..Si5l,s 71s7.5s
 Fiscal year ending June sO 1918: Estimates g. .os7, ,3i9 65s. .0e APPROPRIATIONS .s62 21o, 200. 6
 Gut under estimates ......s .as. ios. A5a ss Flncal year ending June 90. 1919. Gstiniafes .s41. ca, AT. .6s1 os Appropriations ....-......... E,os2. .oe1 no 7S Cut below estimates ......s14ssl. .ss2. .sso. .a