The Republican., 1921-07-14

edness are to mature in the two years
Immediately following, and the over
burdening of the treasury now means
positive disaster in the years immedi-
ately before US. Merest prudence calls
out in warning.
Our greatest necessity is return to
the normal ways of peace activities. A
modest offering to the millions of ser
vice men is poor palliative to more
millions who may be out of employ
ment. Stabilized finance and well es-
tablished confidence are both essential
to restored industry and commerce.
The slump which is now upon US is
an inevitable part of wars aftermath.
1t has followed in the wake of war
since the world began. There was the
unavoidable readjustment, the inevita-
Bile charge-off, the unfailing attend
ance of losses in the wake of high
prices, the ineXorable deflation which
imitation has preceded. 1t has been
wholly proper to seek to apply gov
ernment relief to minimize the hard
ships, and the Government has aided
wherever possible, and is aiding now,
but all the special acts ever dreamed
of, all the particular favors ever con-
ceived, will not avoid all the distresses
nor ward off all the losses.
The proper mental state of our peo-
pie will commit US resolutely and con.
fidently to our tasks, an definite as
surances as to taxation and expendi
ture will contribute to that helpful
mental order. The only sure way to
normalcy is over the paths nature has
marked throughout all human expert
ence.
With the approval of Congress, the
executive branch of the Government
has been driving toward that decreas
ed expenditure which is the most prac-
tical assurance of diminished taxa
ton. With enthusiastic resolution,
your administrative agents are MAX
ing not only conscientious effort to re-
duce the call for appropriations, but
to reduce the cost of government far
below the appropriations you have al
ready provided
1t is easy to believe that the only
way to diminish the burdens which the
/ people must pay is to cut the outlay
in which public monies are expended.
War is not wholly responsible for
staggering costs; it has merely accen-
tuated the menace which lies in noun
ting cost of government and eXcesses
in expenditures, which successful pri-
vate business would not tolerate.
can make you no definite promise
in figures today, but l can pledge you
a most conscientious drive to reduce
Government cost by many millions. 1t
would be most discouraging to those
who are bending their energies to save
millions, to have Congress add billions
to our burdens at the very beginning
Even were there not the threatened
paralysis of our Treasury, with its
fatal refeXes on all our activities
which concern our prosperity, would it
not be better to await the settlement
of our foreign loans? At such a time
1t would be bestowal on the part of
our Government when it is able to
bestow.
The United States participates in
none of the distributive awards of
war, but the world owes us heavily.
and will pay when restoration is
wrought. If the restoration fails.
world bankruptcy attends. l believe
the world restoration is possible, but
only with honest, diligent work in pro-
ductivity on the one hand, and honest
and diligent opposition to needless
public expenditures on the other.
IT the suggested recommitment of
this measure bore the merest sugges-
ton of neglect or hint of national
lngratitude | would not urge it. 1t
has been my privilege to speak to
Congress on our obligations to the
disabled and dependent soldiers and
the Governments deep desire to grove
be ashamed of the republic if it failed
its concern for their welfare. should
in its duty to them. Neither armis
tice nor permanent peace puts an end
to the obligations of citizens to the
Government. Mindful of these things
the administrative branch of the Gov
ernment has not only spoken; it has
acted and has accomplished.
In view of some of the things which
have been said, and very carelessly
said, perhaps l ought to report offici-
ally some of the things which have
been done. E'&'gZ
In the Department of War Risk In
surance there have been filed, Up to
July 7, 1921, compensation and insur-
ance claims numbering 813,442. Of
these 747,786 have been adjudicated.
at expenditure of S471 946, 1852.
There were 100000 claims pending
when the War Risk Department was