Middletown transcript., 1922-12-09
BUDGET D IS SENT
To CONGRESS
Cuts Can Be Made Only at the
Cost Of Efficiency
roTAt.s 1l.ss.ls rs ss,die,s4o,ss1
Needs Of The Army And Navy AIDE
quately Provided For In Appro-
priation-Deficit For
A Postoffice.

Washington.-Presi Harding. in !
transmitting the annual Federal bud |
get for the next fiscal year, frankly
told Congress that whether there was
to be any material reduction in Gov
ernment expenditures and in taxes in
future years would depend largely on
whether there was to be curtail-
ment or expansion of Federal aid in
lines of research, improvement and
development
Placing the estimated Government
outlay in 1924 at $3.50, 0,S43,234, de-
crease of about S500,O00,000 as com
pared with estimates for this fiscal
year, Mr.. Harding called attention
that two-thirds of this total was on
such as the public debt, national de.
fense, pensions, World War allow
ances and Federal aid. There was
left, he said, only about s1,00O,000,o0O
in charges subject to administrative
control and against which, he added,
the retrenchment policy of the Gov
ernment had been directed.
While expressing the opinion that
some further reduction undoubtedly
would result from a reorganization OF
Government establishments on a
more scientific basis, the President
said this alone would not effect such
a material cut in operating costs as
would justify the expression of hope
for a considerable lessening of ex
penditures in the years to come.
Taking up the question of Fedora
aid. the Executive declared that this
was a rapidly broadening field of ex
penditure and that there was ques
tion as to how far the Government
should participate in it. He added
that it did not pertain to the norma
functions or operations of the busi
ness of Government.
These extraneous activities" h
continued, "have flowed from law
enacted pursuant to popular demand
and take this occasion to refer t
them for the purpose of showing tina
the taxation which necessarily result
in providing funds to meet them is
necessary incident to the fultillmer
81 the popular demand.
"In the efforts which have been d
rected to reducing public expend
lures, | have been much concerne
in apparent increasing State, count
and municipal Indebtedness, and
am fearful lest this condition may
in part attributable to the expend
lures made by the Government pu
suant to it's Federal aid laws, as MAJ
of these Federal laws require Sta
contributions as a prerequisite to Il
extension of the Federal aid"
The summary of the budget +
1924, as given to Congress, shows
estimated excess of receipts over c
penditures next year of S1S0,969,1 ,125,
compared with an estimated deh'
of S273,93S,712 for this fiscal year. T
President said however, tnat he W
hopeful that the estimated deficit
1928 could be reduced in the rema
ing seven months and that the clc
of the year next June 80 would sh'
a balance account.
Estimated expenditures of S3,1s
S43,234 for 1924, which are exclusi
of the postal service, compare W
estimated appropriations of $50
S4O,S31 for the same period. Mr.. Ha
ing explained that the expenditu1
would represent actual cash wi
drawals from the Treasury, includ
some on account Of appropriations
previous years.
Another deficit in postal operate
was forecast for this year, but
Harding said 1t was estimated t
through proper readjustments tn
would be surplus of postal reven
over expenditures in 1924 amount
20 s952,439. For this year postal &C
we're placed at $3.50, ,99B,S41, or an e
mated deficiency of s31 ,502,570 as C
pared with an actual deficiency in
last fiscal year of s64,046,234. The
costs are given at 1851, 1,653,151
The President told Congress
an appropriation Of $256,552,SS7
ommended for the Army would
vide for a regular force of 10000
ficers and 125,0O0 enlisted men,
elusive of the Philippine scouts, wi
is the strength now authorized by
gress, and would enable the mi
bureau to increase the strength OF
National Guard from 100000 Off
and men to 215,000. officers and I
For the Army Air Service s12,87l
is proposed. or $23.5Oo less than ap
priated this year Mr.. Harding
this sum would permit the servic
operate efficiently in accordance
existing policy.
For the Navy s2s9, 9,sS0,993 is as
This amount, the President asse'
would provide for the present enli
personnel of $4,000 men; maintai
present ships in commission. and r
provision for continuing all new
construction in privately-owned "
except for reduction In speed OF
struction on three light cruisers.
Provision is made in the bulge
sas3, 100000 in pensions. s434,bs
USES OIL ON FIRE AND DIi