The Washington herald., 1921-05-27
GOVERNMENT BILL
FOR COMING YEAR
NEAR FIVE BILLION
Expenditures Will Ex'
ceed Appropriations
For Fiscal Term
BEGINNING JUNE 80
Figures Based On Conserva-
tive Estimates by Treas
ury Deartment.

Tne federal government will
spend during the hscal year which
begins June 30. more than s4.5oo.-
100000. according to conservative
estimates made at the treasury de-
partment
The ngure is based on appropria-
lions, made and in prospect, and on
figures furnished by the executive
departments. Congress already has
provided for the expenditure of
s3,s3o. .ooo, 900, if pending army,
navy and deficiency bills are in
clpded. In addition, there is in
prospect an appropriation of $780,
oeo, 900 for the extension Of federal
aid to states for road building,
which would swell the total au-
thorizations to $3.50, ,oo0, 900. De-
1ieiencies are estimated at 100000
900.
But this figure does not truly
represent actual funds that will be
paid out of the treasury DUNG the
year. 1t includes, for instance,
's5T4.0oo,O0 appropriated for the
postal service, more than s5oo,ooe'-
Oe0 of which will be repaid by pos
tai revenues. 1t does not take into
account hundreds of millions which
must be paid to the railroads. in
settlements arising out of federal
contol and the six months period
during which the federal govern
ment guaranteed the income of the
roads.
Nor does il include large '.unex-
AaI A1o il h..
partments. expenditure of which
during the ensuing hscsl year has
been authorized. There are also,
numerous indefinite appropriations.
and authorizations not contained in
the IL major supply bills.
Treasury VIII Pay s4.5e5, 900 900.
The treasury. taking all these
factors into consideration, and
utilizing information from the de-
partments. estimates that il will
be called upon to pay out during
the next year approximately s4,-
5s5, 5,ooo. 900. And this figure does
not include the postal revenues in
excess of s50o,o00,ooo which the
postofice department spends to
support itself.
It is impossible at this time, Of
course, to estimate all deficiencies
which will be incurred. They will
develop as the year progresses, and
may greatly increase the treasury
departments estimate.
The estimated expenditure of s4,-
SIS. .ooo.0 900 compares with $500
900, 900. the total which it is figured
the treasury department will have
paid out during the IL months end
- ~
is more than $1,000 200, 900, but the.
expected outgo is greatly in excess
of $4,000. 900. 900. the figure beins
used as a basis by congress IN its
revision Of revenue laws.
Army and Navy Bill Reduced.
An outstanding fact in any COM
parison is that all efforts of con-
gress to enforce economy have not
succeeded in reducing materially the
activities of the executive branches,
except the war and navy depart
ments- They show large savings,
due primarily to the fact that war
time establishments have been re-
dueed and few IL any contracts re-
main to be liquidated.
The war department. for in
stance, which during the current
year Will Spcnd IN excess OF sA'VVO'-
900 900, for the next year contem-
plates an expenditure Of s56s.750,-
900. The navy department. which
during this year required sss7,50O,-
900, expects next year to get along
on s545.7,5. 900.
Another sizeable saving will oc-
eur in the extension of federal aid
To the railroads. They were paid
from the federal treasury during
the present year more than $780,
e0O. 900. But next year. 1t is Inquired,
payments to them will not aggre-
gate more than s545.000.0o0. al
though II Is conceded this amount
may be increased by additional
claims which the railroads will file.
A further saving arises from the
fact that the government will not
purchase any more obligations of
foreign governments during the
ensuing year. This item took from
the treasury this year s132. .Oo0.0 900.
The public debt will require $751;
oe0, 900, compared with s5ss.0o0. .00e
this year. The sinking fund. for
the eventual retirement of war OBJ
legations. will take s2s5.o0o, 900 of