cost of maintenance, is very much in excess of the amount required to provide suitable rented quarters properly equipped for postoffice purposes in the smaller cities and towns, and from the standpoint of economy, therefore, there are no arguments worthy of consideration in favor of public buildings in these towns. On the other hand, the federal building represents the government, and if it stimulates national and civic pride, and if love of country and patriotism are thus instilled in the minds of the people, the money is no doubt well expended." APPENDIX D EXECUTIVE ESTIMATES AND CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS As a result of the lack of budget system in the United States, there is always room for dispute as to the amount of the expenditure authorized by the appropriation bills. Various partisan statements are made at the close of every congressional session, differing as to amounts. For the purposes of this work, it has been thought sufficient to give the statements of the chairmen of the Appropriations committees of the House and the Senate, along with the estimates transmitted by the Secretary of the Treasury. For additional details the reader may consult the Congressional Record, vol. 45, 61st Congress, 2d session, Nos. 163, 164. The arrangement by fiscal years is such that the duty imposed upon the President by the Act of March 4, 1909, could not be discharged with any marked effect prior to the preparation of the estimates for the fiscal year of 1911. These, as transmitted by the Secretary of the Treasury (report for 1909, page 26), were as follows: Permanent annual appropriations Interest on the public debt. . 22,195,000.00 Refunds customs, internal Add estimated naval appropriations for new ships for expenditure the first year, received from the Secretary of the Navy after completion of the Book of Estimates and to be separately transmitted to Congress Total estimated ordinary appropriations, excluding postal service payable from the postal revenues, but including the postal deficiency. 69,999,595.12 623,224,550.51 12,844,122.00 636,068,672.51 The Panama Canal appropriations to be met by sales of bonds are estimated at 48,063,524.70 Total estimated appropriations for 1911 684,132,197.21 |