Evening star., 1922-12-04
GREATEST REFORM. SANSF
PRESIDENT OF BUDGET

the gross public debt was $22.S63.3s1.-
7O8.31, as compared with $23,Sf7.4sV,-
55254 on June &c. 1921, showing =, wing a Re. re-.
fiscal year 1892. This reduction was
accomplished through the following
means: First. in the amount of $42S.-
694. 500, through the cumulative sink
ing fund and other public debt ex-
penditures payable from certain spes
cific receipts: second, in the amount or
S277.572.593.13. through the reduction
in the net balance in the general fund
of the Treasury; and third. in the
amount of $313.s01. .651.1o. through the
surplus of ordinary receipts over ex-
penditures for the year.
Reduction on Debt.
On April 40. 1921. the short-term
outstanding debt maturing before
June 80. 1928, was more than $7.50O,-
100000. which through the reductions
was reduced to about $4,500. 900. 600 on
June 80, 1922. and up to November 10.
1922. this amount had been further re-
duced to approximately $4,000. oOO.ooo.
These refunding operations have In
v9ived the issue on Ssa 0etoosr o6S non IT, ,gs d1
term bonds and the issue of Treasury
notes aggregating s2.743.334,0oO ma
turing as follows: $701.S97.70o dur
ing 1924. $s36.T27.700 during 1925 and
sl.104.70s.600 during 1928. These re-
funding operations are carried on for
the purpose of changing the maturity
date of public debt obligations and
thus to avoid the necessity for meet-
ing obligations of many billions of
dollars at one time. The resulting dis
tribution of maturities does not indi-
cate a reduction in the total of such
obligations.
We now come to the estimates OF
appropriations for 1924. amounting to
5.oIS.940.33l 69. This is $l95. .29S. .S69.li
less than the appropriations already
made for the current fiscal year 1923.
Early i'll July 1 called together In
open meeting for the third time the
executives constituting the business
tablishment of the government and
at that time further emphasized the
need of more rigid economy in the
expenditure of public funds. I stated
that the estimated receipts for the
fiscal Year 1924 would not permit SO
liberal appropriations for that year
as had been made for the current hs-
cal year 1923. The preparation of the
estimates of appropriauO as they
by this policy. While 1t may be pos
Sible to make Il small reduction in an
item here and there. any material re-
duction will necesSitate change in
the administrative policy upon which
estimates of appropriations for the
Ing below a comparative statement
or the estimates Of appropriations for
1924 and appropriations for 1929.
Money for Military.
Statement No of the Budget gives
a functional classification Of the esti-
mates for the fiscal year 1924. which
will be found interesting and inform
ative. showing as it does the approx
mate amounts devoted to important
government activities and interests
This classification has four general
civil functions and a group
ing of the non-functional appropria-
tions.
u Will be found that a total of
SlO3.0t0.Ss6 is carried for general
functions. which include the legis-
lativc. judicial executive and the gem
eral administrative operations of the
government which cannot be allocat-
ed To specifi: civil functions.
The sum of $l.@56,7l5.939 is provid-
ed for military functions. which in
ciuGes military pensions, retirement
ances and national defense
The amount recommended for ma
tionsl defense is divided into two
classes: Army. s25S.552,ss7; Navy.
S2s9.Ss0.993
The amount recommended for the
maintenance and operation of the
Army will provide for a Regular
Army of 1900 officers and 125.0Oe
enlisted men, exclusive of the Philip
pine Scouts. which is the force now
authorized by Congress: will! provide
for the training Of IS ,0G1 reserve of
for $50 for a period Of three months.
as against a total of only 5000 for
fifteen days during the current fiscal
year: will provide for the attendance
of 3s.000 men at civilian military
training camps. as against $1,000 dur
ing this current fiscal year; and will
enable tine militia bureau to increase
the strength of the National Guard
from 10000 officers and men-the
strength on June 50. 1922-to 215.000
officers and men: While no increase
in the number of students enrolled at
Reserve Officers Training Corps units
at schools and colleges-now totaling
81. 900 students in 225 institutions-is
provided. the funds recommended.
however. will cable a larger number
basic and advance courses of instruc-
tion.
Ne Posts Provided For.
The funds recommended will pro-
vide for all essentials connected
with the upkeep of all military posts.
camps and stations, the Army transport
service. the coast defenses Of the
United States. Panama and insular
possessions. and other military activ-
767 for new construction at military
posts and S750.00O toward the re-
placement of worp-out portions of
the Alaska cable. For the arr service.
the amount recommended is S12.S71.-
500. which is s23.500 less than the
1923 appropriation. and will permit
this service to operate efficiently in
accordance with existing policy. For
the United States Military Academy
at West Point $2.o6S.42S is recon-
1924
The amount recommended for the
Navy will provide for the present en-
listed personnel of $4,000 men; will
maintain all present ships in COM
radius Of capital ships from 1s.oso
miles, to 1920 miles. and other chips
proportionately: will provide train
ing for 1000 officers and 1000 men
in the Naval Reserve. and will make
provision for continuing all new
yards. except for reduction in speed
of construction on three light
cruisers; for suspending the con-
struction OF four auxiliaries in navy
yards and reducing the speed Of con-
TuCtlOu OIL lWO hccl
The amount provided in the budget
for military pensions and allowances
INCLUDES 100000 for pensions,
$434.5s4.o50 for world war allowances
and $20.3sS.2ss for retirement pay.
Allowance for Pensions.
The amount recommended for civil
functions totals S953.5ss.0s6. Under
this general function $14587,167 Is
allowed for foreign relations and
protection of American interests
abroad: $1s.553.6s6 for general law
Is OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1924 AND