Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-03
Coolidge Analysis

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siuction without weakening our ma
tional defense. but rather perfecting
1t. This nation Il ut peace with the
world. We no longer have tnterna.
,taonal competition in naval construc-
ton OF major. units. We are con-
cerned primarily with maintaining
adequate preparedness. We snoulo
have adequate preparedness In 1896
commended.
aside from the important factor
Of training personnel our national
defense Ii largely an Industrial PROB.
lem. Today the outstanding weak.
ness In the Industrial situation as Il
affects national defense Is the made.
quacy of facilities. to supply air ser.
vice needs. The airplane industry
in this country at the present time Is
dependent almost entirely upon gov
eminent business. To strengthen
this industry 10 to strengthen our ma
tional defense. For the air service
Of the Army and Navy, and the Air
Mail Service, the estimates, including
contract authorizations. amount to
$3S,s45.000. This contemplates an
expenditure with the Industries of
$1S.2S7 900 for the procurement of
airplanes. engines and accessories.
The remaining $20,65s.000 Is for
maintenance, operation. experiment
tation and research. The amount OF
$SS,s45, 900, however. does not Include
all that will be available for this
service In 1925. Amounts contribute
ing to the air service carried IN
other estimates. ami usuable war
supplies, will make n total avail
ability conservatively estimated at
100000.
"The amount requested for nation
al defense includes $50.1lS.00o for
the Army and Navy Reserves. Ma
tionai Guard. Citizens Military
Training camps and other civilian
training activities.
There IL also included in the ma
tional defense estimates $7.444,0o0
for increase Of the Navy. This will
provide for continuing work on the
feet submarines under construction
and for beginning work on two OF
the four remaining feet submarines
authorized in the 1915 program. With
regard to the Navy estimates. legis-
lation is now pending which provides
for additional vessels, including
gunboats for use on the Yangtze
river. Further estimates for in
crease in the Navy are dependent
upon the enactment OF this legisla-
ton. 1t will also be necessary to re-
quest of Congress legislation in
creasing the authorized cost OF the
two airplane carriers now under
construction. II this be granted 1t
will require funds for the next fiscal
year not proved in the estimates
contained IN this budget
"For rivers and harbors $b6.2S7,-
600 Is recommended. In this Is in
cluded $4,000. 900 for maintenance
and Improvement Of existing river
and harbor works. s10.50o,000 for
Hood control on the Mississippi and
SACRAMENTO rivers and $5,437.6o0 for
the operation and maintenance OF
canals and the removal OF wrecks
ami other distractions. OF the $40,-
100000 for maintenance and I'M
provement OF rivers and harbors,
s21,973,915 is for new work and $i7,-
241,675 is for maintenance. This
will make possible material progress
on the most important projects ap-
proved by Congress.
at is estimated that $6.54t,59o will
be needed to complete Dam No. at
Muscle Shoals. OF this amount, So
, sol 200 will be required this year.
This will be covered by a supplement
tai estimate for 1925. The balance
There Is included in these esti-
mates $50.000,000 to be set aside in
the adjusted service certificate fund
established under the World War
adjusted compensation act Of May
; payment to the fund to be made
January /, 1926. For the first pay
ment due January /. 1925. 800. 000,-
600 is included in the deficiency bill
now under consideration by Con-
sress. The applications from
veterans so far have been below the
estimated number which the records
indicute- as entitled to the benefits
of the act. If the two appropri-
ations recommended are made, 1t Is
estimated there will be sufficient
amount in the fund on January ],
1926, to meet the demands OF the
act. Should the number of applica-
lions increase beyond what present
experience indicates as probable.
there will be ample time to submit
supplemental estimate for the ad-
ditional amount necessary before
that date.
For federal aid to states the
estimates provide in excess of S10s,
100000. These subsidies are pre-
scribed by law. am convinced
that the broadening of this field of
activity is detrimental both to
federal and state governments. Eff
ficiency of federal operations is i'm
paired as their scope Is unduly en-
larged. Efficiency of state govern
ments Is impaired as they relinquish
and turn over to the federal govern
ment responsibilities which are
rightfully theirs. I am opposed to
any expansion of these subsidies My
conviction is they can be curtailed
with benefit to both the federal and
state governments.
"For reclamation purposes I am
recommending s9,777,257 for 1926. II
is highly desirable that the Congress.
as a basis for this and other future
reclamation expenditures. enact the
legislation embodying new reclama-
nation policies proposed in II. r.
9S11. Sixty-eighth Congress, first
session.
1.-THE gross public debt was re-
duced $1,O0S, S94,375 during the rs
cal year ended June 30, 1D24. and
stood at 81. $50. S12080 on the lat
ter date. This reduction was accom-
plished through 1) the application
of the sinking fund and other pub
lie debt requirements required to be
made from ordinary receipts, aggre-
eating $457 .090. $50: (2) a reduction
in the general fund balance of $780,
1859; and (3) the use of the en-
tire surplus Of $505. 366.OS6. The
annual interest charges on the debt
represented by this reduction are
equivalent to over $45.000.O00.
THE total reduction in the debt
since the high point Of SIG. 504 CO..
600 on August 81. 1919, amounted
to S5,343, OO0, 600 at the close of the