South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-09-09
SURVEY SHOWS HOW
MOUNTAIN OF j. S.
TAX MONEY Is USED
Return TO Pre-War Basis OF
Economy Not Expected
at National Capital.

WASHINGTON. sept .- Grum-
bling as Pee paws his income tax and
irritated by the extra cent or two
which he pushes across the bar az
Tho soda fountain. Mr. Average CHI
zen occasionally feels the pinch ~
federal taxation. talks 10 over with
his neishbor and declares that an
awful l0- ~ money is needed 90 keep
Che government running. but seldom
realizes where an the dollars that
Uncle sam gathers into his treasury
60
Secretary Of the Treasury Mellon.
in his first estimate OF the cost OF
operating the government, figures
that about four and a half billion
dollars would be- required to keep
the official wheels of the nation re-
volving during the present fiscal
year. Tho secretary told congress
how much the government needed.
showed neat rows OF figures 20 prove
his deductions. and then the house
proceeded 90 slice there and trim
hero in accordance with their own
ideas Of how much money Uncle
sam could get along with-or with
out
Departmental estimates OF ex-
penses are being given the careful
"once over" nowadays under the
suspicious eye OF Charlie Dawes. Of
fetal watchdog Of the treasury. but
bureau chiefs-tho.e who decide how
much they need TO keep things go
ing-are set iu their ways and hard
% bulge. The effects OF the war.
when the personnel Of many de-
partments Increased enorm CusIy. are
still felt. and although efforts have
been made 20 return 10 normal work
ing conditions. it Is improbable that
the comparatively cheaply operated
government OF pre-war days will ever
be restored.
Billion Required for Interest.
The biggest single item in Sec'y
Melons list of estimated eXpendi-
lures for this fiscal year is the in
terest on the public debt. which IS
placed at almost a billion dollars,
or nearly one-fourth Of the total
requirements Of the government.
There IS TO be. it is estimated. an
expenditure OF S545.2O6.2O4 70 the
act Of 1920. and S551,354,S65 for the
retirement OF the public debt. as re-
qmred By law. The debt payments
include Sinking fund. S265.754.S65;
war saving securities. S10O,0OO.0 900;
miscellaneous debt redemptiOns,
100000. purchase OF Liberty bonds
from foreign repayments, S3O,500,-
600. redemption Of bonds and notes
from estate taxes, S25. 900, 600; re-
tlrement Of Pittman act certificates
s70,OOO,0OO. retirement from +. r.
B. franchise tax receipts, 100000
600.
The legislative branch OF the gov
eminent estimates that It will need
St7.213.813 during the present year
while the executive department viii
get less than two million. its ex
penses being estimated at S1,s97,751
The estimates list their require
ments as follows:
STATE department, $40, 900; de-
partment Of justice, s17,OoO.OOO; post
office department. $2,2O0.000: inte-
riOr department. including pensions
and Indian claims, 322.OOO,OO0; de-
partment OF agriculture, $123,0O0.-
600, department Of commerce, $19,-
$4,000 department of labor $5,252.-
$50, Independent Offices, $13.4S4,516i
District of Columbia, S22.1ST663.
miscellaneous. $G2,5OO,0O0; postal de-
dcieucy. S60.O0O,000. bureau of wal
risk insurance. S2S6,OOO0OO; public
health service. $47OOO.0O0; collect
ing revenue. S53.11O.139, all other
treasury departments 99,457795.
federal board OF vocational educa-
ton, S162. G55,1S4; Panama Canal
S1O,0OO.O0O.