The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-12-05
Nation Apprised Of
What 1t Has To Pay
For-Wars Past and To
Come, Monopolize the
Bulk of the Money To
Be Spent By United
States, Totaling Nearly
Three Billions


Washington, Dec. 5.-Congress re-
convened today, after two weeks
vacation from the rigors of the spe-
cial session, to enter upon the tour
of duty which was expected to occu-
py the next seven months.
The program for today was expect
ed to be very brief, comprising formal
conyening of both houses, appoint
ment of committees to advise Pres-
dent Harding that congress was in
session, and awaited any communica
ton he desired to make, and adoption
of 4 resolution providing for joint
session to hear the executive mes
sage tomorrow.
The first national budget will be
sent to congress by President Hard
ing today, inaugurating new system
of national expenditures, but conside-
ration of the document is not on the
days program.
Washington, Dec 5.-A federal
budget for the fiscal year 1928 ap-,
proximately $500,000000 below the
four billion dollar figure which had
been estimated some time ago as the
minimum government expeditures for
several years to come faced congress
when it reconvened today.
The exact figures, as prepared by
the newly created budget bureau and
transmitted by president Harding in
"a special message. were s3,505, ,754,727
inciuding an estimated deficit Of $21,-
509,666 in the operations Of the postal
service.
This total represents a decrease of
$462, ,167 ,639 from the $S,967 1922 1856 es-
timated expenditures for the current
fiscal year and 2,032,965,932 from
the actual expenditures in the fiscal
year 1921. 1t is, however, $167 ,571.-
977 In excess Of the estimated re-
ceipts of $3,338, ,1S2,750 while the out
go for the current fiscal year exceeds
the estimated receipts of $3,943, 49,
$50 by $24.46S,7O3.
Referring to the apparent deficit for
1928, President Harding wrote the
congress that ways are provided for
the relatively easy adjustment without
added taxation of the discrepancy
between the income and outgo. AS
one means he recommended legisla-
ton directing the reduction of the
accumulated naval supply account of
$100,000,000
Total of Appropriations
Actual appropriations asked Oh
Congress for the various federal de-
partments and agencies for 1923 total
1924 4,S75,5 ,592, exclusive Of postoffice
department. This represents reduc-
ton of $122, ,S06,310 from the original
estimate as presented to the budget
bureau, it is stated, but is approx,
mately $27,000,OO0 more than the ap-
preparations for this fiscal year. q
Explaining the $2S0.S79. .134 excess
of estimated expenditures in 1923 over
the appropriations asked for, budget
officials explain that some of the
funds actually to be put out will be
I carried over in continuing appropria-
tions and by other means. They sa,
that appropriations for given year
do not accurately reflect actual ex-
penses for that year, pointing out that
while the appropriations for this flc-
cal year were $3.197 ,807 ,962, the esti-
mated actual outgo will exceed this
sum by approximately 100000.
War Costs
OF the total estimated expenditures
for 1923, approximately $2,900,000, 900
4 is to pay for past wars and to keep up
the fighting arms of the government,
leaving only about 100000 for the
peace time pursuits of the federal
establishment. The estimate for the
army and the navy is 1901 ,636, ,107, a
Z reduction of $50, 1906 ,299 as compared
n with this fiscal year and $956,352,741
as compared with the fiscal year 1921.
The navy estimate Of $431, 1,754000. 1t
Z is explained, does not take into ac-
count any possible reductions that
might be brought about as a result of
y the arms conference, the total includ-
4 ing funds for continuing work on the
ships of the 1915 program, most OF
which would be scrapped under the
proposal made to the conference by
h the American government.
Il The largest single item in the bud
get is the fund for the interest ON the
public debt the 1915, ,000.0 900 provided
IL lacking only $25,00O,000 OF the total
y Expenses OF the federal establishment
before the world war.
In addition there is an estimated
Y 1850. 3ss,so0 for the wAs debt sinking
incinded in the total for the army
md navy IL $3t,9S4,400 for develop
I1ant ana maintenance Of the Ar SER