Evening star., 1923-08-02
&,15O,OlO,0DO CUT
|NDEBT SINCE WAR
U. S. Also Aids Europe by
Gifts or Loans of S11,000,-
100000, Madden Says.
BY PAUL SCOTT MowRER.


Copyright, 1923.
PARIS, August 2.-The total re-
duction in Americas public debt since
the close of the world war has been
s4.150,000, 900, leaving a net public
debt as of July II, 1923, of s22.0oo,-
600. coo. Representative Martin p.
Madden. chairman of the appropriations
committee. House of Representatives
told the Anglo-American Press Associ-
ation. now meeting here.
Since the close of the war, he said
private contributions have been made
by American citizens to European
billion dollars. Credits have been ex-
tended and supplies have been fur
nished TO the extent OF more than six
billion dollars more, he asserted, and
food worth more than billion dollars
has been furnished TO sections of
Europe where the people were in dis
tress. The American government, he
declared. has never hesitated to ex-
tend a helping hand when able.
L. g. Helps in Own Way.
ut is safe to say" he continued
that whenever the American people
can be helpful in their own way in
stabilizing the world they will be
happy to cooperate. 1t is also safe
to say that what they do must be along
lines they themselves originate and
their action must be Independent of
any alliance that is likely to bind
them to action not of their own choos-
ing
The total cost of the American gov
ernment. including all war expenses,
from 1876 to 1917, when America
entered the war, amounted to twenty
five billion dollars, he said.
"In the first six months after Amer
icas entry into the war, the nation
was obligated to an expenditure of
| twenty four -anda-half billion dol
| lars Fifty -one-and nd-a-half billion dol
! lars were appropriated for the conduct
of civil and military activities of the
government during the period of the
/ war. All this was not expended, but
! the government at the close of the
war has obligations current and fund
| ed amounting to $4,000 100000.
| Drastic Cut in Expenses.
'In early postwar readjustment OBJ
! Iligations of the government finally de-
veloped to be s26.000. 100000. In 1919
| the year succeeding the war, expenses
of the government amounted to S9,-
| 900, 100000. That year the govern
! ment began to reduce expenses. II
| lowered the estimates submitted by
| the President by S939.O00OO0, and ir
| the succeeding year Congress reduced
| the estimated expenses of the govern
| ment as submitted by the President
| by approximately S1,500,0 600, 900. In the
| succeeding year Congress reduced ..
! penses as proposed by the Presid
| by 81 1,60O,O 900. This made it
I sibIe to reduce income taxes by $50
| 00O. 900 year.
| 1.-THE cost of the government foI
| 1920 had been reduced by Congress
from s9,O0O,O00,000 to s7,250,000, 900
and in 1921 to $500. 100000, in 1922 tC
| $4,000 100000 and in 1928 to $3.400,.
| 100000. These figures are for the MS
! cal year which begins July 1 and end!
1 on the 1st of the succeeding July.
| Huge Increase in Debt.
"Before Americas entry into the
war it had bonded debt of less thar
$1,000 ZOO, 900. When the war closet
Americas bonded debt was S26,000,'
100000. Before the war the annua
Interest charge of the bonded deb