New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-02
w orld w ats
Bud get Effort,
Harding Says
President Tells Chiefs of
Bureaus America May
Set Foreign Nations an
Example i'm Economy y
Pledges His Full Support
Declares Country Demands
Cutting of Expenses,
Despite Heartburnings

From, The Tribune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, July 1.-Foreign
countries are watching with keen in
terest the efforts of the Administration
through an efficient budget system, The
President indicated to-day in a brief
speech before the members of the
Budget Bureau in the Treasury Di-
rector of the Budget Dawes prevailed
upon the President to open the meet
ing of bureau chiefs and representa-
tives from various departments, who
gathered to organize. After the Presi-
dent spoke he returned to the White
Ho1se.
General Dawes outlined the first
budget regulations, which he took up
in detail. Estimated savings under
the several appropriations will be sub.
mitted to the President for his ap-
proval, and upon such approval the
balances thus saved will be designated
as general reserve"
The President in his brief address.
pointed to striking example of lack of
cooperation which he encountered dur.
ing the war. He said:
Il am very happy to come over and
meet YOU this morning, because | feel
that the success of the very great work
you are undertaking lies in more in
innate touch between those who are
responsible for details and those who
must report to the President
j remember a very striking incident
during the war period that led me to
resolve that | would try to know
little more about what is going on.
One morning had left my office in the
Senate Office building to go to the
committee on Commerce to discuss the
very critical question of getting steel
for fabricating ships. I had barely
taken my seat in the committee When
telephone call came in that a gentle
man wished to see me in the ante
room. and / found it was the head Of
the Steel Industries Board.
Ignorant of Associates
Il saw him in the anteroom of the
committee room, and he opened up his
memorandum and said:
1t is published that fabricatinr
plants cannot get any steel, and we
nave furnished them every pound thew
have asked for. Something is wrono
somewhere l asked him, Have von
met Mr.. hurley, chairman of the Ship
ping Board" No, have never met
him.' Have you met Mr.. Piez, chair
man OF the Emergency Fleet Corpora
Vlon lr NO, 4 have never met him
:, mere was that striking situation
lN IL
or the Shipping Board and the chair
man of the Emergency Fleet Corpora-
tioh mad never met the chairman of
che steel Industries Board, and the
1allufe to get steel was due to the fact
tnat they had never understood each
other The Emergency Fleet Corpora-
tlon was trying to 90 over the head
OF the chairman of the Steel Industries
Board. | recite that as a recollection
of wartime inefficiency.
1T isn't possible, of course. for the
rresldent to see every one REPRESENTING
the bureau OF the Budget, but he wants
you TO start on this great work with
the KnoWledge that he is deeply inter
esteo, thaG ne wants you to succeed,
ana that he has unbounded faith in
your chief. He is going to have ali the
authority of this government back of
MN. Ihere Will be many heartburn-
inngs. 1t isn't simple thing to bring
about the severance of connections
with the government. 1t isn't an easy
thing to change the habits of CEN
tury. 1t isn't an easy thing to stand nm
against those who want to spend. Our Or
own country is calling for change.
and II 1t will add to your interest in
else 'Aihe
The world is watching this we'll
resolved experiment. 1t is no violation
OF confidence to tell you that one of
the distinguished diplomats in Wash.
Continued on pace three,