The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-09
Lessons Of Thrift Taught By Dawes Will Show Upon Final Report Of Government, Sec- retary Mellon Declares
NEW TREASURY OFFICIAL GETS CREDIT FOR SAVING
Comptroller, General McCarI Has Not Winked At Extrava-
 gances-Many EmpIoyes Are Now Off Federal Payroll
By THOMAS l.. STOKES

By Leased Wire To The Age-Herald
 WASHINGTON, June S.-Uncle Sam. closing his years business with huge surplus) shows that he is mas tering the thrift tactics of the fiery drill master, Hell Maria Dawes"
 At the end of the fiscal year, June 31, the government books will show surplus over the budget figure of approximately 25,OO0,000, Secretary of the Treasury Mellon estimates.
 What the constant watchfulness of General Lord, successor to General Dawes as director of the budget, has ccomplished-with the aid of ip- creased tax and customs receipts may be seen from the estimates at the beginning of the year that there would be deficit of nearly $7OO,- 100000. Later this was increased by discovery of interest due to the amount of 25,O00,000 on War Saw ings stamps.
 Since General Dawes startled hard ened government officials two years ago at the first budget meeting py vigorous denunciation of government waste there has been cutting here and pruning there-with the hand laid heavily on Congress against un- necessary appropriations.
 o o O
 Big Increase shown.
 The total expenditures of the gov ernment this past year were nearly s194, 900, 900 less than the year before. One of the savings showing now economy has been practiced IS that of nearly s3000,000 for the upkeep of legislative estanii hments, ihcIuus ing thousands of clerks. doorkeepers and minor officials about the Capitol the Library of Congress and the GOV ernment Printing office.
 Another saving has been effected by reducing the size of the govern.
 
 the present administration more than 100 0OO employees have been dropped from the government pay rolls While many of these were extra wartime employees, great number were reg ular employees, for whom there was no real need.
 Prevents Extrnvnngances.
 President Harding and his lieuten- ants first General Dawes and now Generald Lord, have had to cope with the traditional loose economy prac- ticed for years in spending govern ment money. For instance, the Presl- dent recently found one official who was working his head off" trying to spend 0,000 that had been appro- priated to his department, just be- cause it was provided by Congress and he thought it was necessary to spend it. The new spirit of economy, El year ago. the President found an other official who had fallen far short of his appropriation. This of- ficial has effected a big saving dur ing the past year.
 The economy program has been greatly helped by conscientious young official who is new to the ways of government and has none of the traditions which wink at unneces- sary expenditures-Comt Gen. eral J. R. McCarl of Nebraska. Hav- ing the last word in approving treas- ury disbursements. he has already reused the ire of two cabinet mem- bers by refusing to approve expendi- lures from their departments.
 The only departure from appro- priation figures of the budget came this week. On account of the huge increase of business at the ports, 1t has been necessary to provide extra customs agents, and President Hard ing has approved cecretary Mellon's request for additional funds. it was announced Friday at the White House. However. the greatly in creased customs revenue will offset this expense.