Evening star., 1920-03-07
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

'NHE late Senator Nelson w.
Aldrich 'started some-
thing" when he said the
executive departments Of
the federal government could be
run for 100000. 900 less annually.
He made the remark ten years
ago. Ever since. when a member
of Congress desired to lay empha-
sis on the need for economy and
more businesslike management of
the government, he has referred
to this historic remark of the
Rhode Island senator. But no one
has ever finished what Mr.. Aldrich
started. In fact. the high cost of
government has increased by leaps
and bounds in the last decade.
Now comes Illinois, claiming to
have Moses to lead the govern
ment to this promised land of
economy-Gov. Frank Orren Low
den. The Illinois republicans in
large numbers are bent on put
ting him in the White House. They
say that the governor, although
the war was on and war prices
prevailed. cut the cost Of govern
ment in Illinois to such an extent
the first year he was chief execu-
tive of the state that $1,71O.175
Of unexpended appropriations re-
mained at the close Of the year.
Under his administration, also. the
tax rate was reduced from 30 to
IS cents on the 500 taxable valua-
tion. 1t Is estimated that this has
meant a saving to the taxpayers
of approximately $7.000.00o.
'1f Gov. Lowden can do this for
one Of the greatest states in tho
Union." said Representative Nc
Kenzie. who halls from the gov
ernor's own district. "why can't he
do it for the United States?"
This question was something of
a poser to me, so I did not answer
it. 1 only know that no President
we have had in recent years has
been able to reduce the govern
ment's expenses. To Judge from
the estimates submitted by the
heads of the executive departments
this year. aggregating some $5,-
100000. they at least show that
economy Is not on their program.
How they must shudder when the
Lowden shadow hangs over them.
The story they tell Of Gov. Low
den's efforts at economy in state
government is interesting. When
he went into office January 8. 1917,
he found 125 commissions. boards
and bureaus in full operation. He
got a law through the legislature
authorizing the consolidation of
these government agencies, and
they were consolidated so that
there are now, nine major depart
ments. A great amount OF dupli-
cation OF work was eliminated by
the consultations. The new law
also provided for the establishment
of budget system. and the pres
ernor to the legislature. Through
the operation of this budget system
and the elimination of useless cogs
in the governmental machinery 1t
has been possible to reduce ex-
penses and in turn to reduce the
tax burden in Illinois.
X Il X
But to return to presidential
possibility No. 5-F. o. Lowden
He was born fifty-nine years ago in
Sunrise, MINI. This is a great year
for the blacksmiths. It appears
that at least two of the men men
toned for President are the sons
of village Discrimination
Hoover and Gov. Lowden. The lat
ter's father was Lorenzo Lowden.
Three years p-ior to the birth Of
Frank Lowden his parents had mi
grated from Pennsylvania to Min
nesota.
The Lowden family's travels did
not stop there. however. and when
Frank was seven years old he
trudged behind his fathers prairie
schooner from Sunrise. Mimi, to
Hardin county. Iowa. where a new
cabin was erected. Lorenzo Low
den went to farming and his son
helped him. Working on a frontier
much time to study and attend
school. but he had improved his
opportunities SO well that when
he was fifteen years old he OBJ
tanned appointment as teacher in a
country school and held the job
for five years.
When he was twenty he had
managed to save enough money to
enter the University Of Iowa. His
money ran out. He was forced to
get another school. While he was
teaching he was studying so that
he was able to keep up in his
courses at the university, and
eventually he graduated at the
head of his class. Leading his
class seems to have become a