The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1956-05-24
AnnropriatiOnS A

Last week the House of Pep
resentativeS passed a record $,'4
billion defense appropriation
bill, forcibly reminding us again
of the astronomical cost of ma
tional defense. The defense
measure is the largest single item
in our Federal budget and great
care is exercised in studying the
component parts of each budget
ary request. Since our Constitu.
ton gives control of the Nation 5
purse strings to the Congress,
this power is exercised through
a searching analysis which con-
tinues through the Spring
months.
An appropriation bill, of
course, is spending bill. No Fed
eral funds can be expended, even
though basic legislation has been
enacted, until an appropriation
bill is passed authorizing the eX.
penditure itself. A good example
of the need for two separate
legislative acts could be found
in the case of our soil conserva
ton program. Soil conservation
was provided for many years age
by substantive legislation, but
each year it is necessary that
funds be appropriated to finance
the program. The extent of the
program itself depends upon the
amount Of money appropriated.
Each department of Govern
ment is financed by separate
appropriation bills. This week,
the House of Representatives
debated and passed the Agricul-
ture Appropriation bill. In sub
sequent weeks, other spending
bills, such as the Mutual Aid APP
preparations bill and the Public
Works Appropriation bill, will be
considered. Usually, the compile
ton of all appropriation bills is
the signal to begin winding up
the legislative session. 1t would
be unthinkable for Congress to
adjourn until all money matters
had been provided for, but once
that hurdle is passed, very few
substantive matters stand in the
way of adjournment.
Occasionally the Appropria-
tions Committees of the House
and Senate take it upon them
selves to appropriate funds for
matters never before authorized.
In some cases a diligent and
Watchful Congress has raised a
point of order and the matter
was eliminated from considera-
ton. The objector is usually the
Chairman or ranking member
of a legislative Committee, who
feels that his authority is being
challenged.
When such debates occur, the
question of the improperly of
legislating through appropria-
tions invariably occurs. There
are serious doubts that the best
legislation can be obtained
through the process Of exercis-
ing appropriations powers, no
matter how carefully this power
is used. Nevertheless, the con-
troll Of all Federal funds is the
most important Congressional
power and it is a natural eVOlu-
tionary process that Congress-
ional will should be worked
through the appropriations pro
cess on occasion.
Aircraft Sabotage
Recently, the House Of Rep
resentatiVes accepted a bill
which had earlier passed the
Senate providing for a Federal
penalty for the sabotage Of air
craft. House consideration came
just a few days after the conVic-
ton of the young man in Denver
who had destroyed plane carry
ing A passengers. This legisla-
ton was in line with q bill which
| had introduced on January
Of this year.
AS | pointed out in the debate
on the bill, | hesitate to see the
Federal Government extend it
powers into any new fields il
State laws are adequate to taxi
| care of the situation. But in the
case Of the airplane sabotage, i
is often difficult to ascertain in
which State the crime was com
mittcd. The difficulty Of aScer,
tanning the proper State whose
jurisdiction should prevail NIGH
have arisen in the Denver case
had circumstances varied only
slightly. The question of ap
propriate Federal penalties alsC
arises should planes be destroy
ed on flights outside the contin
entail limits Of the United States