Milford chronicle., 1921-02-25
BILLIONS TO Be SAVED
BY REPUBLICAN LEADERS
REFUSE EXECUTIVE REQUESTS WHICH
WOULD LEAD TO DEFICIT in The
TREASURY NEXT YEAR.
By Smell Smith

the House, mas SOUNDED LQe QedCl
knell of high government expendi
lures.
He has announced in the Hous
that he and the Republican party ar
in favor of tax reductions, but tina
these must be preceded by furthe
cutting down of expenditures.
''Our people," he says, "have bornt
with extraordinary patience and pa
triotism a tax burden which has paiC
a much larger proportion of our wal
costs out of current revenues than has
been paid by any other people en-
gagged in the world war. While the
war lasted, and during the succeeding
period in which we were meeting ouI
war obligations, there was compare
lively little criticism or complaint of
even the most burdensOme, inequit-
able and hampering of war taxes. But
with the passage Of two full years
since the signing of the armistice the
demand for relief from the federal
taxes which vex, annoy and inequit-
ably burden the individual and which
seriously interfere with the normal
flow of business and the development
of industry, has become well nigh un-
iversal. There is no appeal before Con-
gress more general and more impera-
tive than this.
Expenditures Must Be Cut
"No considerable or satisfactory re-
lief from tax burdens can be afforded,
however, until we shall have laid the
foundations of such relief by very
considerable reduction in government
expenditures. Fortunately the Repub-
lican Congress has in the last eigh-
teen months made real and substan-
tial progress in this direction. The
total net ordinary expenditures of the
government decreased from $18,514,
100000 in the fiscal year ending June
80, 1919, to 6,403, 100000 in the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1920.
Surplus Was Made Sure
"'This Congress in its first session
reduced the appropriations carried by
the eight regular supply bills for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1920, |
which had failed of passage in the for
mer Congress, in the sum of approx
imately S94O,O00,OOO below what those
bills carried when last considered by |
the former Congress, and $1,685,000,- /
900 less than the administration esti
mates for the same services. This |
enormous reduction in appropriations |
below the estimates of the depart
ments and the sums carried by the
appropriation bills as they failed in
the Sixty-fifth Congress had the eff
feet of Transforming an anticipated de-
ficit into a surplus of 1921 100000 of
ordinary receipts over ordinary net
for the year ending
June 80 last.
Last Year Big Saving Made
"In the second session of this Con-
gress the total of appropriations car
ried by the regular supply bills was
81, ,474, 100000 below the administration
estimates, and this stupendous saw
ing bids fair to accomplish even more
satisfactory results in government fl
nances for the current fiscal year.
"The Secretary of the Treasury esti-
mates our total receipts for the pres
ent fiscal year at $5,799,758,375 and
our expenditures at $4,851 ,298,9 ,931, an
excess of receipts over expenditures of
S948, ,459,44 This sum would be avail
able for reduction of our total indebt-
edness.
"The situation thus presented would
under the circumstances be very
one were we assured of
reduction of federal ex-
such as we have been able
10 accomplish in the last eighteen
months. Unfortunately, however, the
estimates presented to us by the eX-
scutiVe departments, through the Sec I
retary of the Treasury, not only do
lot propose or contemplate a further 9
'eduction in government expenditures, &
)ut an increase of over billion dol
ars. The total of the regular estimates
or the thirteen appropriation bills are
i, ,O98, ,535, ,8O5 in excess of the current S
appropriations for the same services.
leave it to others to properly char t
.cterize these estimates. My wonder e
rows as l examine these colossal es-
imates after having read in his an 4
lual report the appeal of the Secre- b
ary of the Treasury, who submitted d
hem,- for the practice of rigid ecOno- a
ny in government expenditure and C
be Presidents reminder in his recent
Message of the need of economy. Such c
are measureless and u
is
"The people are looking to this Con- e,
ress for relief. We shall not disap-
oint them" tt
Relief for Maternity Ills y
While Congress, in the pursuit of lo
lis economy record, has eliminated tt
Il "pork barrel" legislation for in la
,rnal improvements such as public
lildings and rivers and harbors, it is IL
Ot neglecting opportunities for the al
of progressive social well
re legislation. This is indicated by
Ie passage through the Senate of the
II to promote maternal and infant dI dI
7giene by the establishment Of agen- VI
es in the Children's Bureau for CO.
)eration with the states in the dis "
ibution of information. The immed- VI VI
te direction of the work is to rest Ie
ith the states, and the work is to be :.
.rried out in such manner as may be sl
utually agreed upon by federal and se
ate authorities. Ia Ia
The information will be distribute 10
through bulletins, public health a. a.
lrses, consultation centers, lectures vi vi
ID other suitable methods. Whenever M sll
,cessary, and especially in remote 81
eas, medical and nursing care for
others and infants may be provid-
|, in so far as available funds may
rmit.
States Aided to Do the Work No