New-York tribune., 1920-01-18
CONGRESS Must Cut
Budget by Billion
Mondell Declares
Republican Leader Issues a
Warning That Estimates
Must Be Reduced to Keep
From a Record Deficiency

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17.-Represen-
tative Frank w. Mondell, Of Wyoming,
majority leader Of the House, said to-
day that Congress must lop off billion
or billion and quarter from the
estimates of expenditures for the COM
ing fiscal year, in order to avoid
deficit of $3,OO0,0OO00O in the Federal
Treasury on June 30, 1921.
"If Congress is ever to operate under
the restraints of budget system" the
House leader said, Grow is the time to
begin"
Estimates now being considered by
the House preparatory to the passage
Of the first appropriation measures for
the next fiscal year show obligations
100000, whereas the estimated income
for the year is but $4,000 900, 900.
AS general of the Republican forces in
the lower chamber of Congress, Mr..
Mondell is devoting most of his time
and efforts these days in launching
broadsides against possibility Of the
House making lavish grants of the
public moneys. He anticipates the
adoption of a budget system by Con-
gress and believes that it will here
after serve as check on Federal ex-
travagance. -
The Republican leader of the House
does not look to the budget system to
reform the present situation entirely.
"No budget of and by itself assures
any reduction in estimates or economy
in appropriations" he said "For un-
der any system that can be devised
estimates may be recklessly and i'm
providently made and attempt to bind
legislative bodies as we may, their
necessary and inherent authority is
such that they may be wasteful and
extravagant without regard to budget.
"There has been, and is, very gen.
the adoption Ay Congress of budget
system. Responding to that demand
the House has passed comprehensive
bill providing for such system, and
anticipate the adoption of budget
system by Congress at a reasonably
early date.
ut is true that any good budget sys-
tenn tends to economy, is persuasive,
and under certain conditions compels
economy. In other words, it provides
a plan under which the practice of
economy becomes the natural and nor
NAL rule and guide and under which
extravaganza is at least discouraged
and, if it is practiced, becomes en-
phasizcd- because a departure from the
budget.
"Under my responsibilities in the
House l have been compelled to en-
phasize the necessity of economy of
the most rigid sort and in a recent
speech | called attention to the fact
that while we did not have budget
system, although the House passed a
bill, we have all the factors of a budget
before us in the estimates for the next
fiscal year.
wherefore we do not have to wait
for the adoption of a budget system to
practice the economies which such a
system is intended TO promote What
we have before US is not in budgetary
form, but 1T is here nevertheless. 1t is
represented by enormous and rather
appalling figures, nine billions of esti-
mated obligations and expenditures, six
billlons of estimated income, three
billions of estimated expenditures in
excess of lncome-three billions of
4 estimated deficit at the end of the
fiscal year.
quarter. In the nine billions and more
estimates by billion or billion and
a quarter. In the nine billion and more
OF estimated obligations and expendi-
lures for the next fiscal year not a
penny was estimated for increased com
pensation for the employees in the civil
establishments of the government above
what they are now receiving. In the
enormous estimate Of more than 6
billion dollars for the military estab-
lishment, more than the total cost of
the government at the outbreak Of the
World War, not penny is estimate
Tor increased pay to the officers and
men Of the military establishment
not a penny is estimated for any kind
OF general military training, and in the
naval estimates not dollar is provided
Tor increased pay or allowance for men
or officers.
THE sum Of the estimates before us
stupendous as they are, contain no
provisions for a variety of purposes
and enterprises, more or less meritori-
Gus, winch are being urged and pressed
upon the attention of Congress"