The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1922-02-22
WORK Of CONGRESS
REDUCED EXPENSES

Washington, Feb. 21.-The senti-
ment expressed in some quarters that
the congress is not concerned about
reducing governmental expenses is
wholly unfounded, as the action of the
house of representatives upon esti-
mates submitted to it by the budget
bureau shows. Acting in accordance
with the budget law, estimates for
the executive departments were sub
mitted to the congress in II different
bills. Four of these bills have been
acted upon by by the house of repre-
sentatives, and the appropriations
asked reduced by $4,000, 900.
Twelve million dollars was cut from
the budget presented by the Treasury
Department, SOS, 100000 from the
Postoffice budget, $40, 900 900 from
the budget covering all the indepen-
dent governmental agencies, such as
the shipping board, interstate COM
merce commission, federal trade COM
mission, civil service commission, etc..
and $4,000, 900 from the budget for
the District of Columbia. Eight more
estimates remain for the c~onsidera-
ton of the house, and it is said by
those who are in a position to know
that the reductions on some budgets
yet to be considered will be greater
than upon any of the four already
acted upon.
This action of the house is consis-
tent with its record during the spe-
cial session, at which time it made
reductions in estimates submitted by
various executive departments in an
aggregate of about $500, 100000.
This republican congress has shown
itself to be in earnest about economy.
One of the best evidences of it is the
fact that it promptly enacted the bud
get law, under which all methods of
economy inaugurated by the execu-
tive departments is made possible. 1t
has co%operated with the executives in
every particular in an effort to re-
duce the operating expenses of the
government to the lowest possible
figure.
Examples of extravaganza and
waste are constantly coming before
the budget bureau and before the con-
gressional appropriation committees
One Of the most recent examples
came to light during a copsideratior
e of the budget for the District of Col
umbia, in which it was disclosed tina.
public officials were using public au
e tomobiles for private purposes. Il
one case one official had incurred
repair account of $1,000 on a machin,
IS that originally cost less than hal
X that amount. AS a result of this
/ bill was Immediately introduced max
D. ing it a misdemeanor for government
III officials to make private use of pub
ID lie automobiles. Not only was sue
N a bill introduced, but congressma
D. Martin B. Madden, chairman of tn
Al house committee on appropriation
sc issued a formal statement saying:
~ 81 have served notice directly o
certain government officials and al
serving notice generally on all go1
eminent officials as they come befol
VI my committee that all illegal use
government funds must stop. The
" must not exceed their appropriation
nc without authority in law and the
% come asking for deficiency appropri
tons. They must not use none
4, = given them for one purpose for son
other purpose. There has been a tie
u rible misuse, especially of autom
biles, by officials in certain depar
" ments. / told one official particula
ly that if this was not stopped I m
self would take legal action to ha
it stopped"
Speaking of the reductions in pu
lie expenditures Congressman Ma
den says:
"The republican party has made
good start. 1t came into control
the congress in 1919. The expen:
of the government in that year We
=