The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-05-12
BYRNES DISAGREES
WITH PRESIDENT
CHARACTERIZES ECONOMY RE
PORT AS BUNK"
South Carolina Representative Takes
Issue With Figures by
Dawes
Hugh W. Roberts in The State.

Hugh W. Roberts in The State.
Washington, May 8.-Representa-
tive Byrnes of South Carolina spoke
in the house today with reference to
the statement Of the president ap-
pearing in the morning newspapers
claiming for the administration re-
duction in expenditures for the fiscal
year, He said in part;
.The president in his letter to Rep
resentative Madden made public to-
day merely conveys to congress infor-
nation as to expenditures presented
to him by the bureau of the budget.
Had the president the time to inves-
tigate the report he would discover
that the statements as to savings are
based upon system of political
bookkeeping; that as matter OF TACT
the departments which he has been
advised will refrain from spending
s136. 100000 of the total appropriat-
ed for them for this fiscal year have
actually received from congress to
date in deficiency bills supplemental
appropriations amounting to S574,-
691,O46.65. On last Friday the house
passed another deficiency bill appro-
priating s17,0oO,OOO which will GER
tainly be enacted into law, and before
july / we will have still another de-
fciency bill.
"And if the president had the op-
portunity to examine the itemized
statement of the alleged savings con-
stituting the total of S136,000,000 he
would discover that it is pure bunk.
For instance, the largest single item
originally claimed as saving was
100000 out of the pension fund,
Because the pension bureau was be-
hind with it's work it was estimated
.thi samount would not be spent be-
fore July l. But, the bureau caught
up with it's work to some extent and
under date of March 2 advised me
that they would spend all but S6,00O,-
600. If h force becomes more eff
cient in preparing the pending cases
this. alleged saving will be still fur
ther reduced. Even if not. spent by
July l the fund remains available and
whenever the cases growing out OF
the Spanish-American war act are de-
cided, the pension dates back to the
day the application was filed, and the.
money will be spent. General Dawes
would have US believe that the less et-
fcient the force is in investigating
the cases the less money will be spent
but he 81 mistaken.
eIn the state department of the to-
tai saving claimed of approximately
s1,20O,O00, s750,ooo is payment to
the Republic of Colombia, treaty Of
January 9, 1912 This amount was
appropriated in 1909 and has re-
manned available ever since but Co.
lombia refused to accept it. If it is
saving this year, it has been saved
every year since 1909, and by such
savings the government will accumu-
late wealth.
'Tn the treasury department the
largest alleged saving is in the office
of the supervising architect, approx
imateIy S19,GOO,000. This represents
funds for the construction of public
works which will not be completed
this fiscal year, but the money re-
mains available, will be spent next
wear, and in no way is dollar saved
to the taxpayer. 1t is simply guess
that certain public buildings will not
be completed and the amount of the
contract not be paid before July /.
"Aanother alleged saving is $12,-
100000 out of the total available for
rivers and harbors. Now every one,
except General Dawes, knows this is
a postponement, not. saving; that
it simply means that payments upon
contracts for work under construc-
ton will not be made until after July
l.
Another item of saving is the ere
payment to importers of excess of de-
posts, s1,7O0,0O0." This is a per-
manent appropriation always avail
able. At the beginning of each year
the treasury sets apart its estimate of
the amount that will be spent during
the year. After the estimate was
made this year, to make showing of
economy, the department reduced
their estimate of the amount needed
by s1,700,O00. But it matters not