Evening star., 1919-09-21
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

ITHE spending habit, developed
to such colossal proportions
during the war. still clings to
the people of the United States
and to the government. The
cost of living in this country since the
signing of the armistice ten months
ago has increased instead of de-
creased. The cost of government. not
withstanding the valiant efforts of
some of the members of Congress, has
not been reduced anything like the
extent to which it must be reduced IL
the government is to pay its debts and
permit the reduction of taxes.
It is a sad commentary on the po-
sition taken by the average member
of Congress that scarcely fifty mem
bers of the House were in their seats
when Representative Good OF Iowa,
chairman Of the appropriations COM
mfttee, last week, presented and ex-
planned in detail statement which
showed that the total requirements of
the government for the fiscal year
ending June 80. 1920, would be $10,-
631. .201, ,5s5.26. and that the total rev.
enues of the government in the same
period would be only $7.23s.s2s.240-a
probable deficit of $3,59I,273,345.26.
Yet, had the actual appropriation of
money been before the House for con-
sideration, it is safe bet that the
great majority of the members would
!, 80 =.
would have been prepared with
amendments to increase the items of
appropriation.
Fight a Ceaseless One.
Mr.. Good is one of the leaders at
the Capitol in the fight for economy
on the part of the government. He
has supporters on both sides of the
chamber and in both houses of Con-
gress. But the fight must be waged
at hand it does not appear that the
/ executive branch Of the government
| IS giving Congress all the co-opera-
| tion 1t should in the matter of econ
| omy. The various bureaus and de-
partments do not hesitate to ask for
millions of dollars. here and millions
Of dollars there, when in many cases
the money is to be expended In ex-
perimental work. or for purposes,
| however meritorious. that might be
sidetracked without great loss to the,
country at this time.
| In this connection it is of con-
siderable interest that tomorrow the
House appropriations committee be-
gins it's hearings on the subject Of
establishing budget system, its sup
porters all say. is to bring about econ
omy and efficiency in the expenditure
Of government money. And one Of the
results of the establishment of such
a. system will be placing more re-
sponsibility upon the executive branch
of the government for the appropria-
| budget which is extravagant then
it will have to bear the blame.
The House appropriations commit
tee will have before it a number of
| bills and resolutions relating to the
establishment of budget system,
but the hearings will be upon the
| entire subject. rather than upon the
provisions of any one of the pending
| bills. It is Chairman Goods belief.
| however. that bill providing for a
budget system will be drafted and re-
ported to the House within the next
| few months. In fact. the House has
instructed the committee to prepare
| and bring in such q measure by next
March.
Cut In Deficiency Bill.
Take for example the deficiency bill
! just passed by the House. The esti-
mates submitted by the executive de-
| partments for this bill amounted to
$47,752,4S1.94. The bill as reported by
| the House committee carried $14.1s4,-
| 7o4.67, a reduction Of $ss.567.777.27.
And the committee had to fight stead
| lily to prevent increases in the appro-
| priations from the time the bill was
taken up until It was passed.
! There is a national political cam
paign in the of11ng. Both parties real
ILL.,