The Washington times., 1924-04-22

morbid financial state OF mind,
which even the Oest.intentioned
did not wholly escape. The de-
sire for profits and more profits
kept on increasing, and the quest
for easy money became well.
nigh universal. All Of this meant
an attempt to appropriate the
belongings OF others without rem.
derlng a corresponding sevicS
Criminal Selfishness.
This condition pegan to SUBJ
side nearly four years ago, but
1t left along its course a trail Of
vicious and criminal selfishnesa
which in diminishing degree has
ever since been attempting to
crafty an appetite grown all
the sharper through indulgence,
and a general credulity to rumors
OF large sums Of money demand.
ed and paid on account Of every
conceivable motive and action,
From all OF this .sordidness the
affairs Of Government, Of course,
suffered. In some Of it few
public officers were guilty par.
Elephants. But the wonder Is no.
that this was so much or so
many. rather that it has been
so little and so few. The en-
couraging thing at present is the
evidence Of well-nigh complete
return to normal methods of &C
ton, and a sane public opinion.
The gravity of guilt of this kind
is fully realized ana publicly rep \
rehended. There is an exceedingly
healthy disposition to uproot it
altogether, and administer pun.
ishment wherever competent evi.
dence Of guilt can be produced.
That I am doing and propose to
continue.
Another phase Of lingering ex.
travagance, from which the coun-
try has not yet fully recovered,
is revealed by a consideration Of
the bills which are pending be-
fore the Congress, calling for an
expenditure Of public money. Elk.
ceedingly great efforts have been
put forth to reduce the cost Of
Government. Hundreds of thou.
sands of public employees have
been released, and every depart
ment has been thoroughly de.
flated and placed under most
competent financial supervision.
The country as a whole is dN-
handing with great vigor every
possible relief from the burden Of
every unnecessary public expen-
diture.
Assaults On Treasury.
Yet Notwithstanding this, minor
ity groups Of one kind or another,
and organizations, sometimes al
most nationwide in their ramifi-
cations, are !. making the most
determined assaults upon the pub
lie treasury. I am advised by
the director OF the Bureau Of the
Budget that careful computation
dtscloseS that there are bills
pending that are seriously pressed
Tor passage, not including the
bonus, which would increase the
expenditures Of the Federal Gov
eminent for next year by about
$4,000, 100000 This would mean
that outside of the Post Office
Department, which is practically
self-sustaining, the present rate
Of expenditure would be more
than doubled. Each one Of these
items taken by itself is not large,
ana its supporters argue that Ger.
tatnly the Government can afford
to make this small additional pay.
ment. But taken in the aggre-
gate they make the stupendous
sum l have mention, and their
assumption by the Government
would mean nothing less than
financial disaster to the nation.
The law Of service must be
applied to this situation.
Our country is very rich, but
were its possessions increased
MANIFOLD, it would not be war.
ranted in paying out money ex.
cept for value received. Value
received on the part Of the Gov
eminent is estimated by a general
consideration of all the attending
conditions. At present our coun-
try does not need a greater out
lay Of expense, but a greater ap.
plication Of constructive economy.
The same state of mind Is re-
vealed again In the determined
resistance which Is made to the
adoption Of a sound method Of
taxation.
The main argument Of the oppo.
sition can all be reduced to the
supposition that the general pub
lie can be relieved Of taxation
and q greater proportion Of taxes
laid on the rich.
I shall not examine the sound
ness Of this proposal, the economic
injury, which it would inflict, or
its impossibility as a working
nrincinlo YnAntion n as another