Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1920-01-15
ECONOMY Is wATCHwORD
SAYS LEADER MONDELL

Appeal for the strictest economy
in public expenditures in ordes to
carry the country through the period
of reconstruction is demanded Of
congress by Representative Frank
W. Mondells of Wyoming, majority
leader in the house. He says:
s'There has been, and is, very
general and widespread public de-
mand for the adoption by congress
of budget system. Responding to
that demand the house has passed a
comprehensive bill providing for
such a system! and we anticipate the
adoption of budget system by the
congress at reasonably early date.
But we do not have to wait for the
adoption of a budget system to
practice the economies which such a
system is intended to promote. We
have now before us the facts and
factors Of budget. 1t is true it
has not been presented in a budget
airy form, but II is here neverthe-
less. 1t is represented by three
enormous and rather appalling fig
ures, nine billions of estimated obli-
cations and expenditures, six billions
Of estimated income, three billions
of estimated expenditures in excess
of income-three billions of estimat-
ed deficit at the end of the fiscal
year.
s'What are we going to do about
it? Cut the estimates-trim them;
lop them off, reduce them by bill
lion or billion and a quarter Yes;
this we must do; but what profit
shall IL be II we do this and then
proceed to meet every demand for
new projects and enterprises; for
extensions and engagements of fed
eral activities; for the continuation
of unnecessary activities now being
carried on; for increase in salary,
pay, and compensation to those In
the military and civil establishments
of the government.
LET us not forget that in the nine
billion and more of estimated obli-
cations and expenditures for the
next fiscal year not penny was es-
timated for increased compensation
for the employees in the civil estab-
lishments of the government above
what they are now receiving. Let
us remember that in the enormous
estimate Of more than billion dol
lars for the military establishment,
more than the total cost OF the gov
eminent at the outbreak OF the
world war, not penny Is estimated
for increased pay to the officers and
men OF the military establishment,
not a penny is estimated for any
kind OF general military training,
and that in the naval estimates not
a dollar is provided for increased
pay or allowance for men or officers.
We can not afford to forget that the
sum of these estimates, stupendous
as they are. contain no provision for
a variety of purposes and enterprises
more or less meritorious, which are
being urged and pressed upon the
attention of congress.
"And having kept all these things
in mind, let me appeal to those who
voted for the budget to live. up to
their budget record, to prove true to
the principles that they approved in
their vote for the budget. A budg-
ct system carries no compulsion to
vote the full sum of the estimates,
but any budget system worth while
Is either persuasive or prohibitory
against great increases and appro-
priations in excess of, beyond. and
outside of the estimates, and IL
congress Is ever to operate under the
restraints of budget system this is
the time to begin.
81 shall enter into no controversy
with those who insist that proposals
OF increased expenditures which they
advocate have merit; they must
prove that they are imperative.
shall not quarrel with gentlemen
who insist that certain river and
harbor improvements are wise, use
full, and of character that will
eventually be essential If we are to
care for our growing and expanding
commerce. The conclusive answer
Is that unless the matter is absolute-
ly imperative II can not be under
taken, because we have not the
funds -