Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-16
ASKS s1,4DQ,0DQ,0)D
CUT IN j. S. BUDGET
DondelI Arraigns> Admins
tration for ''Unfathom-
: able inconsistency"

urging rigid economy" in appro-
pfiations for government expenses
daring the next fiscal year in order
ID tighten the tax burden. Represen-
t3tive Mondeli- of Wyoming. repub-
itan leader, declared in the House
to,iay that the total estimate of S4.-
SsS, soc, 900 submitted by the Secretary
II the Treasury should be reduced
~ approximately S1,40o.0o0.0o0. This
rsduction, he said. must be effected
chiefly by drastic scaling down in
climates for the Army and Navy. and
Also for Sundry civil expenses, the
tdtal of which. he pointed out, ex-
-setled current appropriations by more
Than s91+,0Oo, GOO,
tbe -unfathomable inconsistency in
the estimates submitted to Congress
nd the pleas for economy made
by the President and the Secre,
,ary of the Treasury, Mr. Mondell
declared he would leave it to others
I'd properly characterize these esti-
mates. -e
Deficiencies Not Included.
Two years after the war" the
republican leader added. when the
world outside our borders is largely
bankrupt and everybody is praying
for reduction of ornaments, the ad-
mjnistration asks for an appropria-
ZION of more than $1.414.000.000 for
,he Army, Navy and Notifications. or
ave and a half times the highest
oeace-time appropriation of 1915.
Pointing out that current def1cien-
cies were not included in this total.
Mr.. Mondell declared these may be
swollen indefinitely" ii the War De-
partment continued its policy OF re-
cruiting the Army up to full strength,
contrary to the understanding, he
said. that it should not be increased
above the total of 17S.000 men con-
templated by the appropriations. De-
claring this action was in entire
harmony" with the attitude which Inc
War and some other departments
had assumed toward Congress in this
had become the duty of Congress- to
take action that would prevent such
sauandering of the peoples money by
creating deficiencies in violation OF
law - -. -. -,
Asserting THAI if the ecopomy in
appropriations advocated ny nina was
carried out the tax burden Tor the
calendar year 1921 might be sub
stantiaIly hghtened," Mr.. Mondell
said he believed continuation OF a
tax program designed to raise a mimi
mum revenue of $4,000 100000 fol-, TWO
years. as recommended. by the Secre-
tsry Of the Treasury. was "unjusti-
fed" It is not justified, he added,
even for-one year. -
>. OPPOSES Retirement Plans.
The republican leader said he was
opposed to Secretary Houston's plan
for retiring with current revenues
more than $4,000, oeo,oUo Of the coun-
try's floating and bonded war debt. in
a half billion Of victory notes,
by January 30, 1898. as placing an
Unnecessary burden upon the people
and business" With ~ per cent Of
foreign loans. already paid, he said, Il
vas unnecessary to "keep -uu war
--.vs of taxation for the purpose Of
reducing the public de.4- rate
greatly in excess OF the! sinking fnnd
rate applied 70 the entire debt"
by the lend Of the fiscal year." Mr..
Mondef added. -we shall have reach
ed APPOINT in the reduction Of our war
debt where further reductions. except
through the sinking fund operations.
should mot c:ss,age to impose war
While he favore6Srepeal Of the az.
cess profits tax and reduction Of the
higher income. suEtaxes,- Mr.. 1pndeIl
said, he thought It unnecesaae1EzAl Hin
time to- consider ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
provisional because mo one can tell
what decreased revenues may. result
from the passage Of a tariff bin along
protective lines.