New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-01
SAVING saOO,OoO,OOO A YEAR.

SAVING s3OO,OOO,OO0 A YEAR.
The chairman Of the federal Econo-
my and Efficiency Commission, DR..
Frederick A. Cleveland, after NV"
years study Of governmental eXpendi-
turc, confirms the sOundnesS Of ex-
Senator AldriCh's famous diCtnm that
II the federal establishment were
run on business basis at least
100000. 900 could be saved every year.
Mr.. Aldricb's declaration, made three
or four years ago, was received with
almost universal skeptiClsm. He was
talking 10 a generation Of politicians
who had seen federal expenditures
mount steadily from SJO0sO.O00 u
year 10 81 D0OOO.0OO a year. and who
were fortified by experience in beliey-
ing that waste and extravaganza in
appropriations were unavoidable,
The Senator from Rhode Island may
have meant 10 give a sharper point 10
his condemnation Of existing fiscal
methods by piCturesquely eyaggcraung
the annual overcharge due to m'sman'
agement. That wGs the idea even Of
those who held with him that the
government was being ViCtimiZed by
its own tnefticiency. But Or. Cleye'
lands studies have convinced him
that Mr.. Aidrich was speaking the
sober tT1lth-a truth which had been
borne I'm upon him by reason of his in
innate acquaintance with the work
iugs ~ the governmental machine and
his keen appreciation OF what could be
accomplished by the resolutc practice
OF economy.
President Taft has been the one
statesman in Washington 10 grasp the
possibilities Of the rctrenchmcnt pro
gramme hlnted at by Senator Aldrich.
The present administration will he dis
tinguished in history a. the first In
our time to check the piling up OF
national expenditures. Not only did
the President prevent further annual
increases in appropriations, but he
actually succeeded in reducing me
totals below those for preceding years.
Almost unaidcd he forced the cutting
down Of the annual outlay 10y more
than S3O,OO0COo--Onc.tenth OF the III
innate reduction which MT. AidTich
had indicated as feasible.
II Mr.. Taft Is reelected aud can OBJ
tain the active cooperation OF pubic
opinion there Is no reason why
the governments annual expenditure
should not be steadily reduced al IN"
rate OF S2OOOO.OOO or S3000O,oOo. He
has set his Cabinet 10 work 20 mod.
ernie conditions in the executive de-
partmcnts and has supplemented bis
own inquiries by the Inquiries Of the
experts on the Efficiency and Economy
Commission. But Is Governor Wilson
has frankly avowcd. the Democratic
party despiscs experts and the scien-
tiGc, orderly progress which can be
made through their aid The Demo
cratic majority In the House OF Rep
resentatives has tried 20 cripple the
Efficiency ana Economy Commission
By reducing the salaries Of its mem
beers. and has also tried 10 block the
further development Of a budget sys-
tenn by forbidding the submission Of
estimates IN an Ineligible budget
form.
Despite its pledges Of economy the
Democratic party Is unwilling 10 con
tribute 10 any scheme Of permanent
retrenchment on Il large and rational
scale. II wants TO save merely in
penny wise fashion, and for that rea-
son seeks TO continue and even to
aCgravate the existing confusion IN
the governments budget plans. It's
fiscal policy Is IS TeactiOnary as lis
tariff policy. Only ny approving the
courageous and progressive pro-
gramme Of President Taft, the most
successful administrator Of this gen
Grafton, will the country come any
nearer to the realization Of MIR Aid
rich's dlctum that with sound manage
ment the government ought 70 save at
least $3OOVO,OOO a year.