Evening star., 1922-12-20

Continued from First Page.)
it's work on sewers and police. This
afternoon ii will devote its time 10
the fire department.. the heaith de-
partment. and whatever tune is ielt
viii be given over TO cohSiuei a''oh
of charities items.
After the hearing TINS morning
Chairman Cramton explained the SIT
uation as follows:
CramtOn Explains.
eve are about three weeks late IN
starting these hearings, owing TO IN"
Illness of Chairman DAVIS ~ - d
short session Of Congress, ana u IL
necessary 10 expedite the hearings Dc
much as is consistent with careiuL eoi', :,
sideration. Representative Evans wa )
to leave the city at the end OF t~n!s ms
week, and, as he has given particular
study to much Of the matter coNtI,'
by the bill. W" are ANXIOUS 10 com com
plcte the hearings. if possible, whhe
h. is with us. Representative Johnson
is not well and 50 the hearings must
be hurried as much as possible
For these reasons the suocofn-
mittee adopted the policy, "hich Is
the general policy for all suncoin .
mittces. of hearing only officials or
the government with regard to the
appropriations. This has been ad ,
hcred TO. With regard TO the feiusai
yesterday to hear Mr. Classic, TINS
rule was beng enforced II e same as
with regard to several other organ
izations We saw no reason 10 change e
the rule. In this connection u mig I
be nteresting 10 note that man han
asked for q hearing in advance whose
views are directly opposite 10 mos
of Mr. Classic, and he was denied the
opportunity.
las soon as the chairman learned
q at Mr. Classic vas present yesttr-
dav, as he had seated himself in the
committee without being invited, ne
was assured that any statement ne
cared to present in writing would De
cor s!dercd and proba bly, would be IN .
serted in the record. AS a spec!al
courtesy, which has not been eXttn',
ed TO any one else. he was permitted
to sit In the hearings
Likely to Back Budget.
LAS the general policy involved. The
subcommittee is maintaining the
,,olicy established by the committee
figures submitted to Congress bE the
budget bureau Will not be lncrea SEQ.
Tn. chairman has not declared nm
self as TO any PARTICULAR ltefh' heii+'-
ing that matter Tor the coihihitte.
to act upon. This does not mean.
explained chairman cramtoh, INA
Congress is surrendering its fnne-
tiurs to the budget Office; hut TINS IS
a bip rob To be done. cutting dow
the government expenditures 70 nj
the government receipts. fresidrH !
Harding has emphasized mat anu
points out the necessity either lvt
new taxes or 10 cut government eN-
penditures.
congress created the budget office.
believing such an agency was needed
to accomplish that purpose. and haV-
ing created that agency and helley-
ing that the Office is doing good WORK,
il is tn. obligation of Congress to
suuuort i, rather than overrule its
decision.
Hence. generally speaking. the
committee will stand back of the
budget Office. Now, as only one mem
Der of the subcommittee, it is not
for me to say whether in any par
ticular item that rule will be varied
from.
"As TO the sort of hearings being
given officials OF the government.
while we probably will be able to
conclude our hearings in compare =
lively short time. ! am sure that
every District official coming before
the committee will bear witness that
they are having every opportunity
they desire to defend the estimates
that are before Congress. Further
than that. ! think no official appear
ing before the committee, feels that
+ IL
present his case, and they have been
allowed TO indicate If they do not feel
the estimates are sufficient. They are
satisfied with the hearings given
! them.
.On the other hand. We are trying
| to avoid holding here the most i'm
portant officials of the District whose
time Is alr.aGy overbur"-nod with ot"er
important duties, listening to useless
discussion. We are striving to save
their time as well as our own, SO far
as can be done properly.
'I would like very much to finish
hearings before the departure OF
Judge Evans if possible" said Chair
man Cramton. Because having made
special study on some of the items
! in the District bill, l believe his
counsel Is particularly valuable. This
! committee is sitting longer hours
than any other committee that l have
known since I've been in Congress"