Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-07-27
ECONOMY CONCLUSIyELY
PROVEN

WASHINGTON, July 25.-(Special
Correspondence-A comparison of the
financial status of the Government
at the close of the fiscal year, June
80, with former years furnishes a
complete substantiation of the Re-
publican claim to economy in nation
al expenditures and to a marked in
crease of efficiency in keeping the
Governments accounts. Congress
man Martin B. Madden, of Illinois,
Chairman Of the House Appropri-
ations Committee, has submitted to
his colleagues the actual figures of
what the Republicans have accom-
plished. The total appropriations
those for 1923, $3,747 100000, show
ing a reduction of $4,000, 900.
Those figures are impressive enough,
but the fact is that shortly after the
beginning of the fiscal year 1922 the
Treasury estimated that the expen-
ditures for that year would reach
$4,554 100000. At the end of the
year it was found that they had act
ually amounted to but $3,795,00O,0O,
a direct and actual saving of $759,
900 900, due solely to the budget sys-
tenn and the determination of Pres.
ident Harding and the Republican
Congress to make every possible saw
ing in the taxpayers money. By the
application of the same methods of
retrenchment, it is expected that even
the appropriations for 1928, reduced
as they are, will be left with unex-
pended balances at the end of the
year.
The most marked reduction in the
appropriations this year under those
o fast year is in the line of nation
al defense. For 1922, the military
and naval appropriations totaled
$763 100000, while for 1923 they are
$3.50, 100000, saving Of $213,00OO,
900. Much of that economy is direct
ly due to the results of the Wash
ington conference called by President
Harding to reduce naval ornaments.
In spite of the most rigid economy
revealed by those figures, big reduc-
lions in the national debt have been
achieved. At the beginning Of the
fiscal year 1922 the debt stood at
$23, 977 ,O00, 900, and at the end Of the
year it had dropped to $22 ,963, 900,
900, reduction Of $1,O14,000,0
The object aimed at by the Repub-
licans in thus cutting expenditures
to the bone was reduction in the
tax burden on the people. As soon
as the economies wer put into effect
they were translated into reduced
taxes, and during the calendar year
1921 $S0,0O0,00O is estimated to have
been savde the taxpayers. In the
present calendar year the total saw
ing to the people in, taxes will reach
$3.50 ,000, 900. Further savings of
the same sort will follow in succeed
ing years.
It has been the effort of certain
Democrats to compare expenditures
for the fiscal year 1923 with those for
pre-war years to show that Repub-
licans have failed in their promised
return to normally. How unfair
such comparison is may be shown
by a tabulation Of some of the in
creased COSTS Of government thht
cannot be avoided.
Pre-war year This year
Interest on public debt
$4,000 900 1915, 900, 900
Debt retirement funds,
60,O0O,O0O 1863, 900, 900
Pensions 158,0O0,OOO 252,OOO,OOO
Veterans Bureau 418,OOO 900
Shipping Board 1OO,OOO,O00
Postal Service,
324,0O0,OOO 565 900 900
Internal Revenue Service,
100000 10000 900
Not one Of those increased expen-
ditures can be escaped if the honor
an dcredit Of the Government are to