The Alaska daily empire., 1922-12-30
Alaska's Share.
(CordOva Times. ]

(Cordova Times)
 Tn an economy year." the country faced with a S60O 900 900 deficit and Congress pledged drastic retrenchmens, Alaska's share in the general looping off of appropriations is recommended in the Presi- dents annual budget, was hardly unexpected It is one of the anomalies of the aferwar situation that reconstruction era calling for the wide expendi- ture of moneys in general development, should be faced with the poverty incident to the burdens, Alaska is exception to the rule in this respect newed prosperity and promise of increased develop ment having created special need for adequate ap- proprations. In the absence of figures showing the general disposition of the Federal funds however, it is taken for granted that Alaska has fared worse propcrtionately, than other commonwealths, and a survey of the division among Alaskan departments dscloses the fact that all have pretty evenly shared in the general reductions The cut in particular instance is to be regretted The appropriation of but s750000 for the replacement of the cable between Stka and Seattle just half the estimated that operation, looks very much like sheer waste since with that amount hardly be done than to effect repairs which at best but a temporary make-shift That temporary make-shifts however, all that be expected at this me is evil denced by the appropriations all along the line, and if the funds granted sufficient maintain the work of various services and insure against de- preciation, it is as much, perhaps, should pcct The President put it succnctly when he said Government expenditures would depend upon the ex- tent of the aid which khe Government gave along the lines of research development and improvement The country has demanded of the present administration reduction in taxes and economy in the expenditure of Government moneys. That President Harding's Budget has managed effect saving of about $500 900 GOO over the estimates for this fiscal year, is his answer to that demand. He gets at the kernel of the nut when he reminds the nation that "extranecus ac- tivities' included in projects for which Federal aid asked, have flowed from laws pursuant to popular demands, and that "taXaton which provides the funds to meet them, is necessary incident to the fulhllment of popular demand" You can't eat your cake and have it, in other words, and in the admin lstratons efforts at economy Alaska must be willing to orego it's share of the Federal aid upon which it. more than any other Territory in the Unon depends One thing is expressly impressed upon Alaskans by the present budget, and that is the advisabily of Alaskas getting in the omnibus road bill by Which some $100, 900, 900 is appropriated among the several states for road building. Aaskas share III the last bill would have netted the Territory close to S4,00o,O00 The most vital need in Alaska today IS roads, and the looping off of construction funds from the appropriation to the Alaska Road Commis- sion is eloquent testimony to the advantage of shar- Ing In the general distribution of road building moneys which no commonwealth in the land needs so much Alaska