The Glasgow courier., 1922-03-24
A Business Administration
Special to the Courier:
By Mex. w. KRIEGH

Special to the Courier:
In its economy program, the Hard
ing administration has taken long
stride in the reduction Of government.
al expenses. The cost of government
for the present fiscal year was reduc'
ed to $4,065, 100000 more than ST.
OOO, ,OOO, 900 below the estimates sub
mitted for the year by former Secre-
tary of the Treasury Houston; and
further reduction to $500, 900, 900 is
in prospect for the fiscal year 1928.
Of this amount, $975, 900 for in
terest, 1881, ,0OOb 300 for sinking fund,
and $490, 100000 for disabled soldiers,
aggregating $1,846,000,000 represent
fixed charges inherited from the for
mer administration.
The revision of the revenue laws
has saved the taxpayers $835,00O,OOO
per year thus far. In addition the ad-
ministration has reduced the funded
debt $4,000 100000, and the floating
debt 100000, 900, making the United
States the only country in the world
that has not only balanced its budget,
but has reduced it's debt since the
war. It has arranged for the fund
ing of the foreign debt of $11 ,0O0,-
100000, loaned by the previous ad-
ministration, in the face Of strong ag-
itation for it's cancellation, and has
taken steps to collect the cost Of
American occupation on the Rhine.
These are the outstanding features of
its fiscal record during single
year-a year fraught with grave
problems which rapidly are disap-
pearing under the careful leadership
and management Of the trained, prac-
tical business men in the Cabinet and
in control Of legislative affairs.
Measured by the amount of work,
the number of people affected, and
the acuteness of problems to be solv-
ed, the Harding administration has es-
tablished record, and the people will
not be misled or confused in their
judgment. The democrats are en-
deavoring to place the administration
on the defensive during the coming
campaign by agitating the bonus
question, by criticising tax reduction
on the ground that there should have
been a greater reduction of the tax
burden, by minimizing the work ac-
complished and exaggerating the i'm
portance of measures still to be pass
ed, and by cunningly distorting the
facts about the industrial and busi-
ness depression inherited from their
own regime, in which there has been
gradual improvement of stable, and
not spasmodic or uncertain character.
With respect to the dissatisfaction
on the part of ex-service men, it is
questionable whether or not thier dis
affection is as widespread as political
propaganda would have the public be-
lieve. The people will remember that
disabled veterans are being taken care
of to the tune of $5OO,O00,O00 annu-
ally, and no stone has been left un-
turned to aid those unfortunates who
have been handicapped by disabilities
resulting from service. The writer
served overseas from 1917 to 1919 in
the zone of advance as an enlisted
volunteer, and ventures the opinion
that ablebodied men, like himself, are
more concerned about the men who
were disabled or contracted disease
through exposure, than they are about
an immediate cash bonus to those who
came through unscathed. A way will
be found to provide for the proposed
bonus; but the administration has
been entrusted with the duty of de-
vising a way that will not seriously
disturb the country's economic struc-
ture, or retard the return to business
and industrial stability which will in
sure steady employment for the for
mer soldier, a condition far more me-
cessary to his welfare than the tenn
porary relief which the cash bonus
will afford.
There are 3O1 republicans in the
national House of Representatives, as
against 1872 democrats. The avowed
purpose of the democratic national
committee is to GUST, by hook or
crook, as many republicans as possi-
BILE. In the coming fall elections, the
republicans are far from being on
the defensive, but are prepared to
wage persistent, aggressive cam
paign based on their record, and fur
ther constructive legislations to fol-
low, which already is nearing COM
pletion. Democratic leaders realize
and restless conditions, resulting from
that restless conditions, resulting from
maladministration during eight years