The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-16
ECON0MIzE
T0CUTODWN
TAX BURDEN
Congressman Mondeu Pro.
poses Big Cut in Hous-
toms Estimate.

Washington, Dec. 16.-Urging
rigid economy" in appropriations
for government expenses during the
next fiscal year in order to tighten
the tax burden Representative Mon
dell of Wyoming, Republican leader.
declared in the house today, that
the total estimate Of $4,653,000 sub
mitted by the secretary of the
treasury, should be reduced by ap-
proximately $1,4O0, 100000. This re-
duction, he said, must be effected
chiefly by a drastic scaling down in
estimates for the army and navy
and also for sundry civil expenses,
the total of which, he pointed out,
exceeded current appropriations by
more than $914,00O,000
Criticizing the administration for
the "unfathomable Inconsistency" in
the estimates submitted to congress
and the pleas for economy made
by the president and the secretary
Of the treasury" Mr.. Mondell de-
c!ared he would leave it to others
to properly characterize these. esti-
mates"
1.-TWO years after the war;" he
added, when the world outside our
borders is largely bankrupt and
everybody is praying for reduction
of ornaments, the administration
asks for an appropriation Of more
than $1,414, ,000,0 for the army,
navy and fortifications, or five and
half times the highest peace time
appropriation Of 1916"
Pointing out that current deficien-
cies were not included in this total
Mr.. Mondell declared these may be
swollen indefinitely" II the war de-
partmeut continued its policy of re-
cruiting the army up to full
strength, contrary to the under
standing. he said, that it should not
be increased above the total of
17S,000 men contemplated by the
appropriations" Declaring this ac-
tion was ''in entire harmony"
with the attitude which the war
and some other departments had as
sumed toward congress in this ad-
ministration," Mr.. Mondell said it
has become the duty of congress
to take action that would prevent
such squandering of the peoples
money by creating deficiencies in
violation of law"
Tighten Tax Burden.
Asserting that If the economy in
appropriations advanced by him
was carried out the tax burden for
the calendar year 1921 might be
Substantially lightened," Mr.. Mon
dell said he believed continuation
Of tax program designde to raise
a minimum revenue of 81, ,000, 900 900
for two years, as recommended by
the secretary of the treasury, was
''unjustified." 1t is not justified, he
added, "even for one year."
The Republican leader said he
was opposed to Secretary Houston's
plan for retiring with current reve-
nues more than $500, 100000 Of
the country's floating and bonded
war debt, including a half billion of
Victory notes by Jan. 80, 1923, as
placing an unnecessary burden
upon the people and business. Z"
With A per cent of the net cost of
the war. excluding foreign loans,
already paid, he said, it was unnec-
essary to keep up war rates of
taxation for the purpose Of reduc-
ing the public debt at rate greatly
in excess Of the sinking fund rate
to the entire debt"
by the end of the fiscal year"
Mr.. Mondell added, I'VE shall have
reached a ponit in the reduction of
our war debt where further reduc-
tions, except through the sinking
fund operations, should not con-
tinue to impose war time bur-
den."
While he favored repeal of the
excess profits tax and reduction of
the higher income surtaxes, Mr..
Mondell said. he thought it unnec-
essary at this time to consider al
Tentative revenue provisions, be-
cause mo one can tell what in
creased revenues may result from
the passage Of a tariff bill along
protective lines"