The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-12-05
BUDGET BOOSTED
BY FEDERAL Az Z !
SAYS PRESIDENT
Must Be Restricted in Future,
He Tells Congress
CUTTING COSTS DIFFICULT
Reduction in Lines of Research
and Developing Only
Opening

dent Harding in transmitting the an
nual federal budget for the next tis.
cal year frankly told Congress yes.
terday that whether there was to be
any material reduction in govern
ment expenditures and in taxes in
future years wou depend largely
on whether there was to be curtaii
ment of expansion Of federal aid In
lines of research, improvement, ana
development.
Placing the estimated government
outlay in 1924 at $3,lS0,S43,23i, a de-
crease Of about s500,000,000 as com.
pared with that estimated for tins
fiscal year, Mr.. Harding called At
tention that twothirds Of this total
was on account of pract cally fixed
charges, such as the public debt, na'
tonal defense, pensions, world war
allowances, and federal aid. There
was left, he said, only about one bill
lion dollars subject to administrative
control and against which, he added,
The retrenchment policy of the gov
crnment had been directed
While expressing the opinion that
some further reduction undoubtedly
would result from a reorganization oi
government establishments on Il
more scientific basis, the President
said this alone would not effect such
material cut in ope ating costs as
would justify the expression OF nope
for a considerable lessening OF ex
penditures in the years TO come.
Taking up the question OF federal
aid. the executive declared that thls
was a rapidly broadening field OF ex'
penditure and that there was ques'
ton as to how far the governments
should participate in it. lie added
that It did not pertain to the normal
functions or operations OF the buslf
ness OF government
These extraneous activities. Nc
continued have flowed from laws
enacted pursuant to popular demand
and | take this occasion to refer to
them for the purpose of showing that
the taxation which will be necessary
to result in providing funds 10 meet
them Is a necessary incident to the
fulfillment of the popular demand.
I'm the efforts which have been di
rectodl to reducing pubic expend ture
have been much concerned In inc
apparent increasing state, county
and municipal Indebtedness, and an
fearful lest this condition may be II
part attributable to the expenditures
made by the government pursuah
10 It's federal aid laws, as many o.
these state laws require state contrl
buttons as prerequisite to the OK
tension OF the federal aid
The summary of the budget iol
1920 as given to Congress shows III
estimated excess Of receipts over ON
penditures next year of $lsO,96s.l2'
as compared with an estimated deiici
of s273,933,7l2 for this fiscal year
'rhe president said, however, that m
was hopeful that the estimated def'ci
for 1923 could be reduced in the re
naming seven months and that IN
close. OF the year next June 80 won't
show a, balanced account.
Estimated expenditures OF s3lSO
S43,234 for 1924, which are exclusiv
of the postal service, compared VIII
estimated appropriation Of $3O7S,94V
33l for the, same period. Mr.. Hardin
explained that the expenditure
would represent actual cash viii
drawals from the treasury, includin
some on account of appropriation |
previous years.
Another deficit in postal operation
vas forecast for this year, but NJ
Harding said that IL was estimate
that through proper readjustmen'
there would be a surplus OF post'
revenues over expenditures in ~.
amounting to 1852 ,439 For IN
wear postal costs were placed at 700
y96Sil. or an estimated deficiency
sal .5Og.570. as compared with an q
tual deficiency in the last fiscal yc'
OF $64346 234. The 1924 costs al
given at 1854 CoS,15l'
The president told Congress tn
an appropriation Of $25G,b52,S'
recommended for the army would D
vide for a regular force OF l2.oVo
iicers and l25000 EN- sted men, Q
elusive of the Philippine scoul
which Is the strength now aulhoriz'
by Congress, and would enable &
militia burcar to increase u
strength of the national guard FRO
10000 officers and men to 2l0,o
officers and men. For the army
service S12,S7l,500 is proposed
spS 800 less than appropriated u
year, Mr.. Harding said this 81