The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-12-16
CAN CUT DOWN
J.. S. EXPENSES
Reduction of 81, 400, ,000,0 900
Next Fiscal Year Posi-
BILE, Says Mondell
RIGID ECONOMY
is NECESSARY
CriticiZes Wilson Admins
tration for "Unfathom-
able Inconsistency"

Washington, ID. c., Dec. l6.-Urging
rigid economy in appropriations for
government expenses during the next
fiscal year, in order to tighten the tax
burden, Representative Mondell of
Wyoming, Republican leader, declared
in the House to-day that the total es-
innate of $4,653, 5000 submitted by
the secretary of the treasury should be
reduced by approximately 81 100000
600. This reduction, he said, must be
affected chiefly by drastic scaling
down in estimates for the army and
navy and also for sundry civil expenses,
the total of which exceeded current ap-
preparations by more than $9l4,000,
900.
Criticizing the administration for the
'unfathomable inconsistency" in the
estimates submitted to Congress and
the pleas of economy" made by the
president and the secretary of the
treasury, Mr.. Mondell declared he
would 'leavetit TO others to properly
characterize these estimates"
Two years after the war" he added,
"phen the world outside our borders
is largely bankrupt and everybody is
praying for reduction of ornaments,
the administration asks for an ap
preparation of more than Sl,4l4,O00,-
900 for the army, navy and fortifica-
tions, or five and half times the high
est peace time appropriation of 1919"
Pointing out that current deficiencies
were not included in this total, Mr.
Mondell declared these might 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 would not be increased above
the total of l7sOO0 men contemplated
by the appropriations. Declaring this
action was "in entire harmony" with
the attitude which the war and some
other departments had assumed toward
Congress in this administration, he
said it had become he duty of Con-
gress ts take action that would pre-
vent such squanderiTlg of the peoples
money by creating deficiencies in vio-
lation Of law"
Asserting that if th,s economy in ap.
preparations advocated by him was
carried out the tax burden for the cal
endar year, 1921. might be substantial
ly lightened, he said he believed con-
of tax progrem designed TO
raise minimum revenue of $1,000,
100000 for two years, as recommend
ed by the secretary of treasury was
II was not justified, be
added, even for one yea.
He opposed Secretary Houston's plan
for retiring with current revenues more
than $3,600,O00,000 of the country's
floating and bonded war debt, includ
ing half billion of Victory notes, by
Jan. 80, 1923, as placing an 'unneces-
sary burden upon the people and bust
ness" With "A per cent Of the net cost
Of the war, excluding foreign loans. al
ready paid. he said, II was necessary
to keep up war rates of taxation for
the purpose of reducing the. public
debt at rate greatly in excess of the
sinking fund rate applied to the entire
debt. ="
by the end of the fiscal year" he
added. /" we shall have reached a point
IN the reduction of our war debt.
where further reductions, except
through the sinking fund operations,
should not continue TO impose war; time
burdens"
While he favored repeal of the eX-
cess profits tax and reduction of the
higher income surtaxes, Mr. Mondell
thought it unnecessary at this time to
alternative revenue provisions
because mo one can tell what increased
revenues may result from the passage
Of tariff bill along protective lines