Great Falls tribune., 1922-01-23
ECONOMY AT WASH
INGTON

1ASNA = OAN
DROBABLY very few people ex-
pected much real economy at
Washington, Notwithstanding the
great amount Of advertising which
Budget Director Dawes has been
given. From a recent discussion
in congress, over deficiency DILL
it would seem that there is little
relief to the burdened taxpayer IN
sight for the next two years az
least. Congressman Joseph w.
Bryne, of Tennessee, took that oc-
casion to analyze the estimates OF
expenditures covering the years
1922 and 1923, as follows:
"Let us first compare the estl-
mated expenditures for 1928 with
the actual expenditures for 1871
and then with the estimated ex-
penditures for 1922. There was
expended in 1921 on railroad claims
and other expenses growing out OF
the government control OF railroads
the sum Of $73o,711,66e.eS. There
is no estimate for expenditure OF
any sums for this purpose for the
wear 1923. AS is well known, the
amounts needed for this purpose IN
1928 will be taken care OF IN an
other way under the transportati IN
act.
"There was exp ended in 1921 tor
the war department the sum of
,1ol,615,o13.32, as against the
estimated sum Of $36e,eo2,lo7 tor
1923 or. a difference of $73l,712,-
oO6. 80. made possible. as we al
know, by material reduction OF
the arrny by act Of congress from
what it was during the years I'M
mediately following the war.
"There was spent in 1921 for the
navy department the sum OF $685.
a73.s35,5s, and it is estimated thee
will be spent for this purpose IN
1928 the sum of S431,754,ooo, a dit
ference of S21s,519,s35.5s, made
possible solely by act Of congress
in reducing the navy from what 1t
was Immediately following the war
and by reduction of the naval con-
struction program.
"There was expended in 1921 tor
the purchase of obligations OF tor
eign governments the sum OF S73'-
soo. .6e7.44 and $16,7s1, ,32o.7e for the
purchase of farm loan bonds IN
order to enable the farm loan board
to function, and $922,5e3.l4 BY way
of unclassified repayments, ano
more than S35,Ooo,o00 by way OF
bonus to civil service employees
These were all necessary expendit'
ures for 1921. It is not estimated
or contemplated that any sum fo1
any of these purposes will be spent
in the year 1928.
"There was expended in 1921 to'
the shipping board, largely tor con
struction purposes, the sum o.
S130.723,26S.z6, whereas only $50,
4e5.735 is estimated for expendit
ures during 1928, difference o.
Sso,227, ,535.26 arising out Of thu
construction of merchant ships II
1921. all Of which will have beer
completed by 1923.
"There were number OF wa
activities. like the food and tue
administration, war finance, grail
corporation, war trade board, ant
the like growing out of war, which
II had not been possible to full.
wind up in 1921. There was ex
pended in that year on independen
offices of this kind the sum o
S83. 5o6,4l8.52. The estimated ex
penditures for 1923 are $17,034,58a
a difference of $s6,561, 1852, mad
possible by the closing OF most o
these offices five years after tn
war.
'.It is perfectly clear that non
of the various sums which / hav
mentioned as having been spent i
1921. but which will not be spen
in 1923. can be accredited as a
economy to either the administra
ton or congress. They were eS
pcnses growing out Of the wa
which had not been dispensed wit
in 1921, but whcih no one woul
suggest should be carried on
1928, five years after the wa
closed.
"Thcse sums aggregate the SUI
of S1,e54,244,3e4.03. If this is d.
Quoted from the $2,o32,2s5,e62.3' 81
which the president is so careful
point out as the difference betwee
the actual expenditures in 1921, an
the estimated expenditures for 1872