Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-31
EXPENSES,
CONGRESS TOLD
North DakOtan Warns u. S. to
Avoid Big Spending.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-Despite the
fact that a presidential election is impend-
ing, and although the beneHclarles Of
pork barrel" legislation are raising a
rigorous protest against the policy of the
republican congress in cutting down ap-
preparation bills. the protagonists Of econ
omy and retrenchment are not satisfied,
and have girded themselves for a real
fight against lavish expenditures.
That the state Of the national treasury
calls for economy OF the most stringent
character was forcibly impressed on the
United States senate, when Porter j.
McCumber (R), Senator from North Da-
kOta, pointed out that there would be a
three billion-dollar deficiency this year.
The North Dakota senator urged that
expenditures be cut down to the lowest
figure compatible with the public serv-
Ice. Real economy, be urged, is not pos
slble under the present system of appro-
priating money through various commit
tees working Independently. He gave In
stances Of where committees, instead Of
cutting down appropriations, have &C
tually increased them, OF the present fl
nanclal situation he said:
I'VE will start the fiscal year beginning
July l, 1920, with a deficit of more than
$4,000, 0O0. 600 Our estimated expendi-
lures in the book Of estimates, incomplete,
but always below the actual amounts ex
pended propose for our consideration
expenditures which, with the additional
appropriations now being made, viii not
be less than $4,000 100000. The total ex-
penses to be met during the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1921, would, therefore,
In round numbers, be about So, 900 900 600.
DEFICIT SURE TO
RESULT, HE SAYS.
where win we obtain the cash to
meet this demand? Again we turn to
the book Of estimates for contemplated
revenues. Including a return of $780,
900 Of capital stock Of the grain corpora
ton, the estimated revenues in round
numbers total $6000,00O,0O0. Assuming
that we should collect all Of this sum,
and I doubt that very much, we would
still have a deficit OF about So, 900, 900 900.
THAT means one of two things: We
must either reduce these estimated ex-
penses $8,0O0,OOO,O0 900, or we must sell
bonds and increase our permanent in
debtedness under $3,0O0OO0,0O0. What
are we going to do about it? What are
several appropriations committees going
to DO about 1t? That may be answered
In part by what they are doing right
now anu Iuo answer Us ludl lubtchu VI
reducing, they are vastly increasing ap-
preparations over the estimates"
The senator recommended ways of re-
ducing the appropriations to keep them
within those required for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1920. This can not be
done by mere paring," he added. 1--WE
must apply the ak and not the draw
shave. I know of no better way clearly
to bring into view the excrescences that
have grown to enormous dimensions and
that now demand the saw and ak rather
than a manicure set, than to present, in
a table, some of the leading items of
government expenditures for the year
1915, with the estimates for the same
items for the year ending June so, 1921"
ESTIMATES SHOW
BIG INCREASES.
This table showed that the estimates
for the various departments for 1921 to-
tailed $4,S05, 410,0S1, as against $1,094, 1885,
102 for 1915.
Senator McCumber pointed out that In
computing the 1921 estimates he did not
include $600,0OOOOO due the railroads, nor
the $50 000,0 900 carried by the Sweet bin
for increased compensation to wounded
soldiers, the $25, 200, 600 in the water pow
err bill, nor the S75,OOOOOO IA the Fuller
pension bill.
Analysing the estimates from various
that with careful reduction along the
lines indicated, we could easily bring
about a total reduction Of S2,250, 0Oo, Co.,"