Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-12-08
TO CALL STATES
EXECUTIVES into
DRY CONFERENCE
Seeks To Establish Definite Policy
OfFederaI ard State Cooper
alton In Enforcing Laws
PROHIBITION HERE TO STAY
Proposes Abolition of Railway
Labor Board And Study OF
Transportation Problems

WASHINGTON, Dee. 8 - Presi-
dent Harding, in his annual message
delivered today before congress in
Delson, announced his purpose to IN
yite the governors Of the states and
territories to an early conference
with federal authorities, with the
view of adopting definite policies of
national and state cooperation for
administering and enforcing prohi-
Gjlion laws. In this connection ne
told Congress the day was unlikely
tc come when the prohibition amend
ment would be repealed and that the
nation should adopt course yac-
cordingly.
With regard to the transportation
problem the president proposed that
Inc railroad labor board be abolish
ed. with the substitution Of a labor
division of the Interstate Commerce
commission in its stead, and urged
the coordination OF all the nations
transportation facilities.
The president also urged extended
credits for farmers and the proposal
Of a constitutional amendment giving
Congress authority over child labor.
Legislation providing for the regis
tration of aliens in America was
also urged.
Dealing with foreign affairs, the
president declared American rela-
tions arc now free from every threat
ening cloud.
In transmitting the annual fed
eral budget for the next fiscal year
President Harding frankly told con-
gress today that whether there was
to be any material reduction in gov
ernment expenditures and in taxes in
future wears would depend largely
on whether there was to be cur
tailment of expansion of feceral aid
in lines of research, improvement
and development.
Placing the estimated government
outlay in 1924 at So, 1905 ,843,234, a
decrease of about $5OO,000,100 as
compared with estimates for this fis-.
cal year, Mr.. Harding called atten-
ton that two-thirds of this total was
on account of practically fixed
charges, such as the public debt, ma
tional defense, pensions, World war
allowances and federal aid. There
was left, he said only about one bill
lion dollars in charges subject to ad-
ministrativeI control and against
which, he added, ~ retrenchment
policy Of the government had been
directed
While expressing the opinion that
some further reduction undoubtedly
would result from reorganization
of government establishments on
more scientific basis, the president
said this alone would not affect such
material cut in operating costs as
would justify the expression Of hope
for a considerable lessening of ex-
penditures in the years to come.
Taking up the question of fed
eral aid, the executive declared that
this was rapidly broadening field,
of expenditure and that there was
a question as to how far the gov
ernment should participate in it. he
added that he did not pertain to, the
normal functions or operations of
The business of the government.
"These extraneous activities" he
cont;n,,ed nheva flowed from laws
enacted pursuant to popular demand
md | take this occasion to refer to
them for the purpose of showing that
the taxation which necessarily re-
suits in providing funds to meet thea
is u necessary incident to the full
fillment of the popular demand.
an the efforts which have been
directed to reducing public expendi-
lures, | have been much concerned
in apparent in creasing state. coun-
ty and municipal Indebtedness, and
am fearful lest this condition may
be in part attributable to the eX
penditures made by the government
pursuant to it's federal-aid laws, as
many of these state laws require
state contributions as a prerequisite
to the extension of federal aid.
The summary of the budget for
1924 as given to congress shows an
estimated excess Of receipts over ex-
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