Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-27
Pres. Harding
CONTINUED from Page Ons)


To the Budget Bureau Mr.. Hard
ing attributed much Of the credit
for getting government expenditures
back to something like normal. I'm
| der this plan, he declared, the ad-
ministration has been able to 'awak-
en- a spirit of economy and eficien-
| cy in the public service"
I'VE have introduced business
methods in government" he added,
| land instead Of operating blindly
and to suit individual departments
| which have never visualized the gov
eminent as q whole, and felt no
! concern about the raising of funds.
we. are scrutinizing, justifying, CO.
| ordinating, and not only hating
| mounting cost. but making long
strides in reducing the cost Of gov
eminent activities.
= Perhaps the budget system
would not accomplish SO much for
! taxing and spending divisions small
! or than the state, but resolute
~ mmitment to strike at all extrava-
| = .ce and expend public funds as
one would for himself in his per-
sonal and business affairs will ac-
| complish wonders"
! Figures furnished to him by both
| the treasury and the Census Bureau,
| the President stated, make it per-
| fectly plain that whereas the cost of
| federal government Is being steadily
| reduced, the cost of state and local
governments is being just as steadily
increased, year by year."
Take the costs of state govern
ment, he said, Il am informed that
the revenues of the states in 1913 ag-
gregated S36S,0O0,000, and that in
| 600; that is, they had increased ISL
| per cent, and every dollar of that in
| crease had to come in some way or
! other from the public. The expendi-
! lures Of the states in 1913 aggregated
| $3.50, 100000, and in 1921 they were
$1,005,0 100000; an increase Of 1853 per
| cent. The Indebtedness of the states
| in 1913 amounted to s423,000,00O and
| in 1921 to $1,012, 100000, an increase Of
| 1879 per cent.
Turn now to the cost Of city gov
| eminent. The Census Bureau has
compiled data on the governments Of
c27 of the large cities. 1t is shown
| that these cities in 1913 collected
$500, 100000 in all revenues, and in
1921 they collected S1,567. 100000: that
is. they were compelled to take 76
per cent more in taxes in 1921 than
they had taken in 1913. The same
group of cities expended in 1913, ST.
| OlO,O00,000 and in 1921, S1,726. 900, 600
an increase Of II per cent. The to-
tai debt of this group Of cities in 1913
was $2,901, 100000 which by 1921 had
risen to S4,334, 900, 000-an increase OF
40 per cent.
County administration appears,
from the rather limited information
which at this time the census author
I 70
have shown much larger proper
/ tlonate increase in cost and tax COL
lections than did the government of
cities.
! There is but one way for the COM
munity finally to get back on it's feet.
and that is to go seriously about pay
ing its debts and reducing its ex-
penses. That is what the world must
face. The greatest and richest gov
crnment must face it, and so must
the humblcst citizen.
! If l could wage upon the Amerf-
can people single rule applicable to
every one of them as individuals. and
to every political or corporate unit
among them, it would be to learn to
spend somewhat less than your in
come all the time. If you have debts.
reduce them as rapidly as you can;
II you are one of the fortunate few
who have no debts, make it a rule to
save something every year.
Keep your eye everlastingly on
those who administer your govern
mental units for you; your town, YOUR
county. your state, your national gov
ernment. Make them understand
that you are applying the rule of
thrift and savings in your personal
! affairs. and require them to apply it
N their management of your public
affairs. If they fail find other pub
nc servants who will succeed. If
they succeed. give them such encour
! asement and inspiration as will be
represented by full measure of
nearly appreciation for their efforts"