The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-12-16
c. 0. P. LEADER
URGES ECONOMY
Congressman MondelI Would
Cut Over Billion From
Treasury Estimate.
CHARGES INCONSISTENCY
On Part Of Administration.
Favors Drastic Reduction in
Navy, Army, Funds.

Washington, Dec. 16.--Urging "rigid
| economy" in all appropriations for gov.
! ernment expenses during the next fis.
| cal year in order to tighten the tax bur.
den. Representative Mondell OF Wyon,.
Ing. republican leader, declared in the
house today that the total estimate OF
S465S 100000 submitted by the secre.
tary of the treasury should be reduced
by approximately $1,4o0. .000. 900. This
REDUCTION, he said, must be effected
chiefly by drastic scaling down In
estimates for the army and navy and
also for sundry civil expenses, the totaI
OF which, he pointed out, exceed ed
current appropriations by more than
1914, 600 900
Critcising 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.. Mondel declared he
would leave 1t to others to properly
characterize these estimates "
Two years after the war;" the re.
publican leader added. "when the world
outside our borders Is largely bankrupt
and everybody is praying for reduce
tion OF armaments, the administration
asks for an appropriation OF more than
1.414 900, 900 for the army, navy and
Notifications, or five and half times
the highest peace time appropriation
of 1916"
Swollen indefinitely.
Pointing out that current deficiencies
We're not included In this total Mr..
Mondell declared these "may be swol-
len indefinitely" II the war department.
continued its policy of recruiting the
army up to fun strength, contrary to
the Understanding, he said, that 1t
would not be increased above the
total of l7S,O00 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" Mr..
Monde!l snid it had become the duty OF
congress. to take action that would pre-
vent such squanderinE OF the peoples
money by crenting deficiencies in vio-
lation OF law"
Asserting that II the economy In ap-
propriations advocated by him was car
ried out the tax burden for the caien-
dar year OF 1921 might be "substan-
tally lightened." Mr.. Mcndell said ne
believed continuation of a tax program
designed to raise a minimum revenue OF
$4, 900 900 900 for two years, as recon-
mended by the secretary OF the treas
,,ry. was ''unjustifted." 1t is not JUS
tilted, he added "even for one year"
The republican leader said he was
opposed to secretary HOUSTON paH
for retiring with current revenues more
than $4,000, 100000 Of the country,s
foating and bonded war debt, includ-
ing a half billion Of victory notes. by
January 80, 1923, as placing an 'unnec.
essary burden upon the people ana
business" With 4 per cent. OF the net
cost of the war, including foreign loans,
already paid, he said 1t was unneces'
sary to keep up war rates OF taxa
tion for the purpose OF reducing the
public debt at a rate greatly In ex.
cess Of the sinking fund rate applied
to the entire debt"
Year Would Bring Relief.
BY the end of the fiscal year." Mr.:
added I'VE 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 wartime
burdens"
While he favored repeal Of the excess
profits tax and reduction OF the higher
income surtaxes. Mr.. Mondell said, he
hought it unnecessary at this time TO
consider alternative revenue provisions
because no one can tell what increased
revenues may result from the passage
IF a tariff bill along protective lines"