Evening star., 1921-11-20
New Policy Requires Ex-
penses Be Kept Within Linn
its of Appropriations.
C00NTZ AND FORBES ARE
TARGETS FOR CRITICISM
Chairman Madden Scores Indis.
criminate Spending Along Lines
Not Authorized by Congress.

The House appropriations commit
tee has laid down the fiat to all gov
ernment departments and establish
ments that they are to live within the
law with regard to expenditures and
henceforth are not to continue in
or extravagant expendi-
lures which have not been authorized
and then come to Congress with def
cheney estimates. In pursuance of
this new policy. enunciated by Chair
man Madden during hearings on the
first deficiency bill for 1922, the Navy
Department has been forced to with
draw estimates for s27.ooo,o0o, which
could not be justified to the satisfac-
ton of the committee.
Throughout the entire government
service there is CONSERVATION because
OF this sharp check that has been
given. but members of the appropria-
tions committee say that they are
receiving hearty commendation from
administration leaders because Of
their new policy.
CO0ntz and Forbes Bear Brunt.
Admiral Robert E. Coontz, chief of
naval operations, and Col. C. r. Forbes,
director of the United States Veterans
Bureau, had to bear the brunt Of the
criticism of the appropriations com
mittee in promulgating the pro-
nunciamento that the federal agencies
must allocate the money appropriated
by Congress for the specific work for
which it was appropriated. and not
for carrying out their own program
without regard for or in disregard
of the directions of Congress. The
principal criticism of the Veterans
Bureau administration was that ad-
ninistration expenses are excessive
and that It costs approximafeiJs III >
per cent for administration.
The appropriations committee let
.. he known in a blunt statement to
Col. Forbes that 1t was ready to
support any proper expenditure real
ly needed to carry on the rei'ef ana
rehabilitation work for the FORMER
service men, but 1t has no inten-
ton of allowing fat salaries for 9TH
ers to enrich themselves under the
cloak of humanitarian work for the
war heroes.
Madden Leads Attack.
Chairman Madden took the lead in
laying down the law to these gov
ernment officials, and he intends to
do some plain talking in the House
about what the committee drew forth
in its hearings. when the deficiency
bill comes up in the House on Tues
day.
.You took an oath to uphold the
laws of this country, did you notT
Chairman Madden said in substance
to Admiral Coontz. Il do not see
that you are doing SO. You have not
been allocating the moneys Congress
gave you for the purposes Congress
designated. You have been following
YOUR own program regardless and
then coming to us with deficiency
estimates which you again use to
carry out your own program. This
must not continue. You ana all
other government officials must live
within the appropriations and Ase
them for the specific purpose Con-
gress designated. If this is not done,
l myself will employ a lawyer and
take action against you" These are
not the exact words used. but this
is the meat of what Chairman Mad
den said, according to his own testi-
mony and that of other members of
the committee.
Probe Coal Expenditures.
The deficiency appropriation asked
by the Navy Department-$27.0o0 ,000
was for many purposes-construc-
ton work, for coal. repair Of docks.
etc. Representative Patrick H. Kelley
of Michigan, republican, who had
charge of the regular appropriation
bill for the Navy Department for the
current fiscal year, had studied up
particularly with reference to coal
expenditure and he examined Ad-
miral Coontz sharply on this phase of
naval expenditure.
Chairman Madden made the position
of the committee clear as regards its
determination to protect the fund ap-
proprlated 10 the veterans BUREAU
for the bbna-fide care of the veterans
and not for administrative salaries.
when he sharply criticised Col Forbes
for some high salaries. particularly to
the regional manager at Philadelphia
He said:
"I am talking about the salaries OF
the district managers and Of the men
employed in those administrative po-
sitions. I am not talking about the
expenses of the soldiers or the ex-
pense of their care and rehabilita-
ton; but in the administration OF
this fund, which Is sacred fund ap-
propriateI for a sacred purpose.
would like to impress upon you the
thought, and when say that am sure
1t is the thought of every member OF
this committee, and the thought Of
every member of Congress, that we do
not want any part Of the money that
we intend for the rehabilitation of
these men to be paid to some man for
the management OF the fund"
Chairman Madden. supported BY
Representatives Kelley and Wood. In
sisted that there was limitation By
Continued on Pa1e e. Column Ga .