The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1921-09-14
AVERAGE ANNUAL
TAXES $500
EACH FAMILY
Patriotic Body Urger Public To Awake
To Excessive Cost Of Government
And Announces Campaign Of
Education.

NS" ioih' iuipclleu ny ITtAlucHl
Hardlng's letter to Senator Mccormick
Of Illinois, reviewing the achievements
Of the Administration, Charles d. Orth
President Of the National Security
issued statement commenting fore
IDLY on the general question of gov
ernmental expenditures and econo-
mics.
Congress and the Administration
are entitled to great credit, but the
people of the country must not be lull-
ed into a false sense of security" says
Mr. Orth.
The statement In full reads:
Although the Presidents letter to
Senator Mccormick, outlining the eco
Monies which have been suggested by
the reduced appropriations made by
Congress, was written for political
purposes, the facts which it outlines
are none the less important and en-
couraging.
THE changes have been rung dur
ing the past few years on the prof
iteers, of whom all too many still exist,
but it is now high time to turn public
attention to the squarnderers of pub
lie funds.
IF the American people would take
the trouble to realize the fact that
Federal disbursements cost the aver
age American family over $3.50 an
nually and that this sum is practically
doubled by state and municipal taxa
ton, the importance of demanding
public economy and assisting to bring
it about would be realized
"The cornerstone in the structure
of the high cost of living was and is
heavy expenditures, national, state and
local Years ago Senator Aldrich, one
of the most gifted financiers who ever
sat in the Senate, stated that If the
expenditures of the government were
administered on a business basis every
dollar expended could be reduced to 70
cents. No practical man doubts that
this condition still exists.
Congress and the Administration
are entitled to great credit for their
endeavor to cut down expenditures by
insisting upon decreased appropria-
tons. But the people of the country
must not be lulled into a false sense
of security merely because the appro-
npriatios are smaller. 1t must be re-
membered that expenditures never
have been and probably never will be
limited to appropriations unless and
until the people of the country figour-
atiyely speaking, rise up on their hind
legs and show a proper interest in the
matter and insist that the various de-
partments of the national government
keep their expenditures within the ap-
preparations made by Congress.
"Under the present system, the de-
partments go on spending more than
the appropriations and Congress is
then practically forced to allot the
money later on by general deficiency
appropriation.
1T is not only with regard to ma
tional expenditures that the people
should concern themselves. A big cut
in all state and local expenditures
should be insisted upon and 1t should
also be insisted that this big cut be
not made at the expense Of service to
the public but shall be done by bust
ness methods and business administra
Of the sort that Senator Alrdich had in
mind when he made his noteworthy
statement.
THE National Security League is
collecting statistics which 1t is hoped
will be useful in enabling every COM
munity to compare its expenditures
with those of other localities to the
en- dthat there shall be some standard
ization for the public benefit.
80 far as information can be OBJ
tanned, the League will endeavor to
keep the public Informed regarding
the bureaus and departments at wash
ington which over-run the appropria-
lions made by Congress.
But nothing can be accomplished
for the public benefit unless the peo-
pie themselves will arouse from their
jreset stupor and take proper active
interest in their civil affairs.
zone of the many unhappy after
maths fthe war has been the let
down in public interest in civic affairs.
The average citizen seems to believe
that he is performing his duty by crit
icising and Directing in his private
conversations to the abuses and short
comings which exist at the present
time, but when 1t comes to taking any
definite action, the let George do It
spirit prevails This is not the spirit
upon which was based the progress
and development of the American ma
i'cn."