The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1922-05-25
Gen. Dawes C.amouhage
Savings"

Washington, May-In an effort
to save the Republican Congress at
the polls this fall, the adminis.ra-
tion has set Brigadier General Hell
and Maria" Dawes to work with
pencil and paper to save" money
for campaign camolhage. Brigadier
General Dawes bearing the same re-
lation to the political finances of
the administration that Briga-
dier General Sawyer bears to the
military effulgence.
Last January, President Harding
announced that $136,00O,OOO had
been saved during the first six
months of the present fiscal year,
basing his claim upon the state
ment of Brigadier General Dawes,
the Director of the Budget.
On Feb. 8, Representative Byrns
of Tennessee, introduced resolu-
ton asking the President to give
some details of the alleged savings.
On the Sth of the present month
the report of the Director of the
Budget in response to this resolu-
ton was published in the newspa-
pers, with no notice whatever to
Congress as to what it contained
until the members read it in the
newspapers. l. k the colored
widow, whose mourning outfit in
cluded a complete suit of black un-
derwear, because as she announced,
when | mourns | mourns," Gene
raj Dawes in his report of saving" /"
alleging a reduction in expenditure
from 1921 of 81 800, 100000, shows
that when he saves he saves"
As Representative Byrns of Ten
nessee points out, savings by the
administration can only consist of
funds which nave not been expend-
ed out Of the appropriations previ-
ously made by Congress for govern
mental purposes during the fiscal
year, and which Congress believed
to be sufficient to carry on the
routine operations of the Govern
ment.
He then shows that Congress actu-
ally appropriated $292, ,733, ,916.74l
to meet deficiencies Incurred by the
executive departments for 1922, and
calls attention to a letter written by
Secretary Mellon on April IA, stat
ing that there would have been a
large deficit had he mot determined
to postpone payment of some
5000, 100000 of obligations due un-
til the next fiscal year.
Concerning the claim of savings"
for the ordinary routine of the gov
ernment, Mr.. Byrns says, "a casual
analysis shows that they are plainly
deceptive"
The reduction in ordinary ex-
penditures for routine business of
government, generally subject to
executive control. in 1922 as COM
pared to 1921, will be in the neigh
borhood of 1907, 100000, according
to General Dawes report.
Mr.. Byrns points out that in this
statement General Dawes takes
credit for the following reductions:
Army expenses, $712, 100000; |
naval expenditures, over $192 ,000,-
900; Shipping Board, $50, 100000;
amounting 10 1861 ,431, ,617.16,
thus showing by his own figures
says Mr.. Byrns, that the actual
expenditures have been increased
rather than decreased
In 1921 there was an army of
over 100000 men and a very large
navy, and there were also large war
han covers in 1921 which were dis
pensed with in 1922. 1t is ride
ulous, !" says Mr.. Byrns. Ito say
that the administration is entitled
to take credit for its reduction to
something like a peace-time basis !"
One interesting phase of General
Dawes report is that it shows that
the President has increased the ex-
penditures of his own Office over
what they were in 1921. It should
be remembered too, as Mr.. Byrns
points out, that the appropriations
in 1921 were made by Republic
can Congress.
A reduction Of taxes = says Mr..
Byrns, lis the only test as to
whether or not there has been d re-