The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-07-10
U. S. LEADS THE WORLD
IN REDUCTION OF DEBT
THE COST OF LOCAL GOVERN
MENTS INCREASES AS FED
ERAL COST DIMINISHES.
THE MENACE OF MOUNTING TAXES

Discussed by the President in Speech
1 At Denver. Cites Census Figures
To Show Startling Increases in
Counties and Cities.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah.-Presi-
dent Harding outlined here today
what the federal government has ac-
complished in decreasing taxes and
the public debt, and made a plea for
action along similar lines by the states,
municipalities and counties.
The executive said the federal gov
eminent is diligently seeking to
prove itself helpful example" in re-
moving what he characterized as the
menace of mounting taxes and grow
ing public indebtedness, but added
that this was not alone federal prob
lem, that "the improved order must
come into the units of government
into which the federal government
never intrudes.
Notable Accomplishments
He said the federal government was
working under a program which Gin
wolves extingushing a half million Of
the tpublic) debt each year, and as
serted that the payments which the
British government will make under
the British-American debt settlement
will correspondingly relieve the bur
den upon American taxpayers"
The president declared no other
country in the world had been able to
make such record in public debt re-
duction as had the United States. He
pointed to reduction of more than
one-half in federal taxes during the
past two years as compared. with the
load in 1920.
The British debt settlement, the ex-
ecutive went on, has been acclaimed
all over the world as one of the most
notable and successful fiscal accom-
plishments ever recorded" He added
that aside from reducing the burden
of American taxpayers the settlement
had been one of the most reassuring
events since the armistice," coming,
as it did, at time of widespread I'M
certainty and misgiving throughout
the world of business everywhere"
Figures furnished to him by both
the treasury and the census bureau,
the president stated, make it perfect
! ly plain that whereas the cost of fed
eral government is being steadily re-
duced the cost of state and local gov
ernments is being just as steadily in
creased, year by year"
State and Local Governments.
Take the costs of state govern
ment." he said. 81 am informed that
the revenue of the states in 1913 ag-
gregated $368,000,000, and that in 1921
they had increased to $959,000,000;
that is, they had increased 161 per
cent, and every dollar of that increase
had to come in some way or other
from the public. The expenditures of
the states in 1913 aggregated $685.,
100000, and in 1921 they were ST.,
COS 100000; an increase of 163 per
cent. The Indebtedness of the states in
1913 amounted to $423, 100000, and in
1921 to $1,012,000,000, an increase of
139 per cent.
Turn now to the cost of city gov
eminent. The census bureau has COM
piled data on the governments of 227
of the large cities. 1t is shown that
these cities in 1913 collected $780,,
| 100000 in all revenues, and in 1921
they collected $1,567 100000; that is,
they were compelled to take 70 per
cent more in taxes in 1921 than they
had taken in 1913. The same group of
cities expended in 1913 $1,0l0,000,000,
and in 1921 $1,726,000, 000-an increase
of II per cent. The total debt of this
group of cities in 1913 was $2,901,
000 900, which by 1921 had risen to
81 ,000,000-an increase of 40 per
cent.
County administrations appear,
from the rather limited information
which at this time the census author
tiles have been able to produce, to
have shown much larger proper
tionate increase in cost and tax col
lections than did the governments OF
cities.
There Is But One Way
There is but one way for the COM
munity finally to get back on its feet,
and that is to go seriously about pay
ing its debts and reducing its expens-
es. That is what the world must face.
| The greatest and richest government
must face it, and so must the hum
blest citizen.
| IF | could urge upon the American
people single rule applicable to ev-
cry 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;
if you are one of the fortunate few
who have no debts make it rule to
save something every year.
Keep your eye everlastingly on
those who administer your govern
ment units for you; your town. your
county, your state, your national gov
eminent Make them understand that
YOU are applying the rule of thrift and
savings in your personal affairs, and
require them to apply it in their man-
agement of your public affairs. 1t
they fail find other public servants
who will succeed. If they succeed give
them such encouragement and inspTa.-
ton as will be represented by tuil'
! IS haorfu onnTPCIlffnn, f0T-