New-York tribune., 1922-10-14
Dawes Credits
President With
BudgetSavings
General Spills a Few "D's''
ON Cabinet 'Comanches,'
and Calls Congressman
''Pusillanimous Peewits''
Is Guest at Dinner Here
Says Harding Hung AK in
Capitol, Handy for Use
in Backing Economies

waving MS arms ana stamping. and
firing broadsides Of "hells" and "damns"
as he went along, Brigadier General
Charles G. Dawes, until. recently di-
rector general Of the national budget,
told representative financial and civic
leaders last night that the only way
to maintain co-ordinated business eff
cheney in the Federal government was
to stand behind the President in his
efforts along that line.
General Dawes characterized Cabinet
members as "Comanches," and Con-
gressmen as "pusillanimous peewits,n
declaring both to be the natural enc
mics of the budget system and efa-
cheney in government generally. He
also disclosed considerable inside his
tory as to his efforts in bringing
economy into the governmental adj
ministration, including the narration OF
several rows between high esacials and
himself over questions involving Ahe
cutting down of expenses.
For what has been accomplished in
government efficiency he gave the chief
credit to President Harding, making
tho budget secondary in this ccnnee-
ton. President Harding" he said,
hung an AK on the wall Of the Cabi
net meeting chamber. And don't you
think for one moment he would hesi-
tate to WELD it on the neck Of any
Cabinet member should this become
necessary"
Smokes War Pipe
General Dawes was The chief speaker
at testimonial dinner given him in the
Waldorf by the New York City branch
OF the National Budget Committee. On
sitting down at the center of the
speakers table he pulled out his "Hsll
and Maria" pipe-the one which ac-
companied him on his war and budget
adventures-and smoked it constantly
thereafter.
Several times he interrupted the two
toastmasters designated to introduce
him, telling Sam A. Lewisohn abruptly
to "never mind that tiowery stuff" and
advising William M. Chadbourne to
"cut it out" when he began passing
compliments his way. He also broke
chairman Of the National Budget Com
mittee, when Mr.. Pratt said 1t would
be good idea for Cabinet members to
sit in Congress, declaring that "it's
hard enough to keep those fellows
down without their going to Congress
over the Presidents head"
81 am thankful" said Mr.. Pratt, as
he sat down, "that General Dawes per-
mitted me to speak as long as he did"
"Under every President up to Hard
ing" said General Dawes, "the heads
Of the various governmental depart
ments did as they damned pleased.
Each ran his department without refer
ence to the needs of the whole. AS
the result, most disgraceful system
had grown up.
War Showed Way Out
"Co-ordination of the military busi-
ness during the war pointed the way
to what could be done. Had the present
budget system existed in our govern
ment then, billions of dollars wasted
would have been saved"
The. Cabinet members, he said, "were
the natural enemies Of the budget sys-
tenn, and would tear it to pieces in
thirty days if they could
He accused Congressman Of cow
ardice and asked his hearers to COM
pare the names on the roster of Con-
gress twenty-five years ago with those
to-day.
"To illustrate" said he. SHAKE the
name of the American Legion before
any damned peewit in Congress and
he'll run like rat for his hole. Any
organized minority-the farm bloc, the
labor bloc or the maternity bloclcan
get anything it wants, regardless Of
the interests Of the whole people.
What is most needed in Washington
to-day is statesmanship.'