New-York tribune., 1920-12-24
Frelinghuysen
Demands i. S.
Cut Expenses
Would Reduce Number of
Government Employees;
Turn War Insurance Work
Over to Pension Office
For Naval Disarmament
Favors an Agreement With
Britain and Japan; Tax Re.
form Proposal Outlined

WASHINGTON. Dec. 23.-A sweep
ing reconstructive program for the
next Administration, to effect a return
to constitutional government and to
place tie public administration on
businesslile and efficient basis. was ad-
vocated in an address in the Senate
to-day by Senator Frelinghuysen, Re-
publican, Of New Jersey. II the Re
publican administration fails TO do the
things the people expect of it, the
Senator said, "they will turn on US as
they have on the Democratic party"
AS immediate steps in the direction
OF cutting down government expendi
lures, Senator Frelinghuysen advo-
Gated reduction TO pre-war basis Of
the number Of government EMPLOYEES:
abolition of the Bureau Of War Risk
Insurance and transference Of its func-
tions TO the Pension Office and estab-
lishment OF public works and public
welfare departments to eliminate dupli-
cation Of work in governmental bu-
reaus and to increase efficiency.
Asserting that 80 per cent Of the ex-
service men who took out insurance
policies with the government had
dropped them, the Senator said the
government could not conduct an in
surance business at loss and that it
vas a fair conclusion that the War
RlSk insurance Bureau was fa;Inra
Opposes Unwise Tariff Laws
Pointlng to the nations progress in
World trade and commerce as a result
OF the opportunities presented by the
war, Senator Frelinghuysen declared
Cnese economic advantages. could not
be held unless we repeal unwise tariff
laws and rescind unwholesome fiscal
practices. American industry must be
projected and fostered by scientific
tarln law, he said, along with sci
trade.
The Senator said he was in hearty
sympathy with pending tariff legisla-
ton to protect the farmer from falling
crop prices, but said that other pro-
ducers also were suffering from price
declines, and that the farmer must not
ask that his prices be kept up and the
price of articles he has to buv he
brought down. He was opposed gem
orally, he said, to keeping up fictitious
prices created during a saturnalia of
imitation.
Discussing the question of main
tenance Of naval forces as affecting the
tax burden of all nations, the New Jer-
sey Senator said it was impossible for
this country to act alone IN the matter
OF disarmament, and that he was in
favor of proposals to Great Britain and
Japan that their naval forces and ours
be disarmed pro rata.
Would Extend Sinking Fund
Turning to government finances
Senator Frelinghuysen advocated ex.
tension of the present sinking fund
operations to cover the nations floating
Indebtedness as we'll as its bonded war
debt
eve should remedy our entire pres
ent fiscal arrangements" he said, "by
taking the tax from small incomes.
removing the excess profits tax and
income surtaxes, and at the same time
gain more revenue from q protective
tariff and by q tax on manufacturers
our entire fiscal affairs the enactment
of budget system is VITAL
Asserting a need for increased eff
cheney in the government depar tmcnts,
Senator Frelinghuysen said the Depart
ment of Labor should be reorganized
and sv> >ialisn eliminated and the De-
partrnehc OF Commerce made an a9-
gressive, reliable and efficient instru-
mentality FOR the development of trade.
and not an adjunct OF the consular
service.