The Washington herald., 1921-06-24
DAWES TOASK
ORDRAFT0F
BUSINESS MEN
Seeks Financial Leaders
of Nation to Help
On Budget.
HELL AND MARIA"
STARTS NEW DUTIES
Calls Means at Hand Pitt
full in View of Great
Task Ahead.

Brig. Gen. Charles G. Davss. of
Chicago, arriving yesterday TO as
sumo his duties as director Of the
budget. announced after a eenfer-
ence with Mr.. Harding that the
President would draft a number Of
the leading business men of the
country TO assist In reorganizing
the finances Of the government on an
economical and scientific basis.
Gen. Dawes, who is chairman OF
the Central Trust Company ef illl-
nois board Of directors. brought with
him william 7. Abbott. vice presi-
dent of that institution, 10 serve
Temporarily as assistant director.
Mr. Dawes. who took up quarters
temporarily in the once Of Gen Per-
shing, asked the War Department
to detail TO assist him two ofhcers
with whom he served abroad and
whom he described as two great
co-ordinstors'-Gen George Van
horn Moseley. a regular army ofacer.
who was assistant chief of stah sf
the general headquarters In France.
and Col. Henry Smither. who was
assistant chief of stan of the service
OF supplies
starts with Punch
with that hell and maria" punch
for which he 10 famed. Gen Dawes
in discussing mis- Undertaking in the
new position which he intends to
hold only long enough to make the
budget bureau a going concern.
struck right and left with criticism
of Congress for crsmping his or
ganIzation facilities. with praise OF
Congress for cutting billions Of
dollars" from the -unco-ordinated
departments Of the government"
and with admonition Of the patriotic
duty Of drafted business men 70 aid
in effecting the government econo-
mics that win lessen the burden Of
taxation under. Which tnsiaess 10
staggering. 49,
I'VE all know the desperate con-
dition of the business OF the country
at present-industrial. agricultural
and commercisl-and that IL 10
staggering under a tremendous
burden Of taxation from which it
must be relieved IL IL is to properly
survive" said Gen. Dawes. Con
gress has passed the budget law IN
order to give the President the ma
chinery with which 60 secure the in-
formation necessary for him TO di-
rect the reform OF government bus-
ness administration and save taxex
Review, Help Given.
Let us see what Congress has
done to give the director OF the
budget the machinery to attempt
this colossal task which. IL we are
to get any material relief, even 50
late as the fiscal year ending June
so. 1923. must be practically COM
pleted by December ! OF this year.
He is given an appropriation Of $685.
600 for expenses and employs an az
sistant in each department appointed
by the Cabinet head. But from the
S225.OOo appropriation. besides the
assistant director of the, budget he
can employ for this stupehdous work
only four men OF his own selection
at not over $4,000 each. For the
rest of his force he is compelled 20
take his chances on men TO be certi-
fed to him by the Civil Service Com.
mission. One might as well be
handed q toothpick with which 10
tunnel Pixies Peak.
Unless the bureau chiefs Of the
departments and the leading bust
ness men Of the country respond
to the call of the President as they
did four years ago. the situation ts
hopeless so far as any material re-
lief for two years is concerned from
this source.
Looks 10 Harding.
''on or before August l. ] shall
expect the President to invite a num-
ber Of leading business men TO come
TO washington to serve withouC
compensation in an advisory capacity
to the budget bureau. These gen
tlemen when they arrive. will al
FIRST be assigned to different depart
ments TO advise and cooperate with
the respective budget officers o.
Outside men. of whatever COM
ma nding ability, cannot go into the
vitsls of government business in Eve
months. unless the bureau chiefs co-t
operate to the last degree. In ad-
vance Of my appeal to them coIlee-
lively. predict from them not only
cooperation, but the initiation or
suggestions for economies to the
budget representatives.
only the thought that II de-
clined the Presidents call woufds
regard myself as pusillsnimoua
gutter for the balance of my life.-
led me to accept. II there is one %
you. who, after enjoying the benehts
of great prosperity, success and
prestige under the protection OF .
government which you claim to love
declines TO accept this call, except
for reasons of life and death. your
conscience will be cursed by the
same conviction. However great the :