Evening journal., 1921-05-18
WEDNESDAY, MAY ls, 1921
A DEMOCRATIC HERITAGE.

I'd ECENT communications passing between Senator
IA Warren chairman Of the Senate Appropriations
mittee and President Harding concerning deficiencies.
should not leave the impression that deficiency appropra-
ons asked for due to Republican eXtravagance
The deficiencies asked for for the year i92o2i
ending June 30 1921.
The Wilson administration had entire control of eS-
pendures up to March and had practically made CON
tracts and commitments the year up 10 June 10
The Harding administration came into office March s. with
four months left or the fiscal year some ~ the bureaus
deficits were already accrlng and in others the funds
were depleted so that deficits Inevitable
The Wilson administration had not cut down forces Of
employees much could have done and the general
policy Of extravaganza continuing
Trc Harding cabinet could not Of course begin imme-
disely curtameni or forces FOR dsorsan1ason
and confusion would have resulted The President and
his cabinet members have been cautious in making
chsnses but have been curiang expenditures at every
opportunity.
This is not saying that deficits have not been incurred
under Republican administration the past The fact
that every administration regardless OF party incurred
dcnots, and some deficits arc unavoidable
Quite likely Republican administrations have sometimes
incurred deficits without reasonable Justification and were
properly subject 10 criticism. However that may be
President Harding has determined during his admlnstN-
ton 30 reduce the deficits the minimum and II funds
are inadequate for the proper maintenance OF the public
service the responsibility will rest upon Congress- which
s vested by the Constitution with tho power 70 raise
revenue and make appropriations
Il has proposed 10 create an Emergency comms
sion TO pass upon the question whether circumstances
justify the expenditure OF money after an appropriation
has been exhausted but IL is likely that much OF
check upon expenditures would result from such an
agency
Any department bureau that wants TO spend money
in excess Of the appropriation good reasons why
the money should be made available
II the purpose is necessary one, and lxed sum OF
money has been appropriated for the fiscal year an ex
cessNe amount can be spent in the FIRST nine months
with the result that deficit be incurred in the
last three months essential work be curailed or sus-
pended. BY such policy, emergency committee could
be practically forced 10 give its approval TO the mourning
OF a deficit
Indications that the very pointed letter President
Harding wrote 10 the members OF his cabinet impress
ing upon them the importance Of economy viii he al
that is necessary to insure that considerable amount
dedcits will confront Congress in 1922
For most OF the present deficits the Republicans ar
not in any way responsible.
For deficits that may be incurred after June 30 the
viii be wholly responsible unless it can be shown rha
the preceding administration made contracts whic
imposed upon this administration Unforeseen liabilities.
There is pending before Congress measure intro
duced by Congressman Macarthur OF oregon to change h
time Of Inauguration that the new administration
would take Office in January following election with
Of the Congress that time instead OF II
December following.
- That plan would enable administration TO curiai
expenses il desired Under the present plan, it pract
cay Impossible for administration to change poll
cies expenditures until the ensuing fiscal year.
beginning July g.