Evening star., 1923-08-22
MADDEN PREDICTS
FURTHER ECONOMY
Says Congress Will Strive to
Follow Out Policy of
President.

Representative Martin Madden
chairman of the House committee on
appropriations. predicted today that
the incoming Congress will pursue
the policy of keeping the government
on the substantial and creditable
basis of paying its debts from cur
rent revenues"
My recent trip to Europe" said
Mr.. Madden, which gave me an op-
portunity to study closely the eco
nomic and financial condition of the
countries of England. France, Bel
Gium and Germany. has served to
accentuate my admiration for the
course our government has taken
toward a restoration or normal
state of government finances. Prior
70 this visit our domestic achieve
ments in the reduction oe federal eX-
penditures, decrease of national debt
reduction in taxation and the elm
lnation of wartime and quasi-war
time activities had been the cause of
great satisfaction. but, viewed in
countries abroad. they seemed moth
ing short OF miraculous.
This course has been the gradual
evolution of the policy of the party IN
power. The republican Congress com
ing into power in the House in 1919.
followed by a republican administra-
tion in full control of all branches of
government in 1921, has followed a
persistent and relentless program of
reduction in government expenditures
that has an overwhelming influence
for good on the entire nation
Drop In Expenditure.
THE expenditures of the govern
ment for the fiscal year 1919. which
was the fiscal year in which the ar
mistice was signed. covering the ordi-
nary expenses Of the government and
excluding public debt retirements
were approximately S1S,500, 600, 900
Our expenditures for the fiscal year
which closed on June 80 last. on the
same basis Of comparison. amounted
"Our total gross public debt on
May 81. 1919, the high point, was
$25.916.O00.000. This amount has
been gradually reduced until it has
reached the figure %s Of s22;s 900 'oGO ,O
taxes has lifted from the federal tax
payer burden in excess of three
quarters of a billion dollars annually.
The number Of government employees
has been steadily reduced until the
number eliminated during the period
of the republican party exceeds 125.-
900. At the seat OF government alone
in the thirty-seven months of this
policy there have been reductions In
each of thirty-five Of the months
varying from maximum OF 5,53I to
a minimum of A.
"In my opinion the incoming Con-
gresS will pursue the same policy OF
keeping the government on the very
substantial and creditable basis OF
paying its way from current reve-
nues. The indication from President
Coolidge that he expects the executive
departments to eliminate 1925, 100000
from last years appropriations in or
der to bring the budget within the
estimated revenues is a good omen
The Congress will insist upon such
program and will do everything In
It's power to see that the government
continues upon the rigid course OF
economy and curtailment which has
been followed.
One Half of Whole.
What has been done and what is
proposed by the federal government
should also be followed by states
counties and municipalities. The cost
of the federal government is about
SO per cent of the aggregate cost OF
all kinds of government in the United
States. including state, county and
municipal governments.
The course of the national gov
ernment should be a healthy object
lesson to the lesser political sub
divisions. Only by their corporation
can the total aggregate expense be
greatly curtailed. 1t will not do
merely TO discuss the problem. Each
individual must practice thrift and
save something from his income.
Each city and village must keep a
rigid hand on it's treasury. Each
county and state must keep its budget
down. 1t won't merely do for one
subdivision to shift the burden to
another. That would be subterfuge
1t would merely come back to the
taxpayer in another form. Denial
and careful spending are the only
methods by which budgets can be bal
anced.
Our country is in an enviable
world position today by the careful
management of it's finances. We
should and will continue that pru-
dent conduct in considering the next
national budget. If the states and
local units will cooperate to that
same desirable end a very healthy
condition will have been entered into