Evening star., 1924-01-21
Test of Presidents Speech
Before Business Organization

penditures. The executive branch
OF the government and the legis-
lative branch have stood side by
side in this intensive campaign
for economy. 1t has required
courage. patience and sacrifice.
We can now truly speak of a
business organization of the gov
ernment, for It is a business or
ganizntion conducted on a busi-
ness basis. This joint executive
and legislative campaign for
economy has made ii possible to
reduce present taxation. Econ
omy has no other purpose.
The budget for the coming fiscal
year, transmitted to Congress De-
cember 5 last. carries estimates of
appropriations for all purposes,
approximately $332, 100000 less
than the actual appropriations for
the current fiscal year This re-
duction Is reflected generally in
all of the appropriation items of
the departments and esta blish-
ments. The appropriations which
may flow from these estimates will
determine the maximum amount
of business YOU will be authorized
to perform. You will all probably
have your appropriations for the
coming fiscal year before we meet
again. And SO / want to say to
you again that ] shall expect your
expenditure program for the next
fiscal year to reflect a policy which
VIII enable you TO effect some saw
ings from your funds. ] look to
you all to hold in reserve In an
unapportioned status some amounts
from your 1925 appropriations.
expect you to conserve these re-
serves and TO use them only where
conditions which may arise dur
ing the progress of the year make
ii imperative that YOU do SO. 1t
is good business practice TO have
on hand funds TO meet Gnantici-
pated requirements. We have
found this TO be so during these
last three fiscal years.
Co-Ordfnnting Agencies Essential.
wish here to emphasize the
importance Of the co-ordinating
agencies which are functioning
under executive order. Co-Ordi-
nation OF our routine business of
government is just as essential as
is the coordination OF the bust
ness of any private concern. 1t
eliminates waste and lost motion.
The personnel engaged on this CO.
ordinating work Is your personnel.
II is working in your interest.
We cannot operate as n business
efficiency without co-ordination,
nor can we operate economically
without efficiency. 1t is a source
OF much qualification to the Chief
Executive to know that the prin-
cipleS Of this ordinating work
are now being applied by the de
partments and establishments
themselves to the business within
their own departments.
Al the last regular meeting of
the business organization of the
Government President Harding
had occasion TO call Your atten-
tion to the fact that the estimates
which are before Congress are
Executive. He admonished YOU
against the advocating Of ar est!-
mate before the congressional
committees IN excess OF the ex-
ecutive recommendation. ] trust
that all of you are now SO ia
miliar with the budget and ac-
counting act as TO make unueces-
sary any further admonition.
This law must be observed.
TIL" receipts for this year are
setimated at S3,S94 ,677 900 and the
expenditures $3,565, 03S. 900, show
ing a surplus of $329.639.000. Each
dollar that you can reduce your
expenditures will add to the esti
mated surplus. IT will be Il source
of much qualification to me il the
close OF the fiscal year will show
an actual expenditure less than
the present estimate. That can
be done If we remember that
every dollar of public money
which we pay out has 10 he
earned. 1t represents the toll of
the people. 1t is so much taken
away from everything they pro-
duce; so much added to every
thing they buy. There will be no
doubt about the result If we insist
that for each dollar spent there
= Ill.
President Hnrd:ng's Vision.
Before giving way TO Gen. Lord,
the director of the bureau of the
budget, who will tell you in more
detail of our work and accom-
pliShments, I wish TO say q parting
word We have inherited from our
beloved leader. President Harding,
a task to which he devoted him
self increasingly and urtiringly.
He had before him the vision OF
co-ordinated business organization
Of the government functioning eff
emily and economically. He worked
without CeaSing to bring this
vision TO reality. His inspiration
Will always be with us. 1t will be
j privilege to be of aid in carrying
to completion the task which he
began. We can best serve his
memory by pledging ourselves to
further and greater effort to bring
more complete efficiency and more
secure economy into the business
of the government
Now l turn this meeting over to
the budget director. He does not
occupy place of ease and insig-
nificance. but place of difficulty
and of honor. He is the eyes and
ears of the Executive and the
managing director of the fiscal
policy of the business organiza-
tion of the government. II you
think he cannot see the details Of
each department as you see them,
YOU must remember that you cam
not see the requirements Of the
whole government as he sees
them. He occupies a position re-
quirinS the greatest amount of
candor, tact and good judgment.
1t is well to remember that his
real object is not to hinder, but to
help you and to help me, and,
most of all, to help the country.
His efforts have been successful.
You and /, and especially the ma
ton at large, are under great OBJ
legation to him for his self-sacri-
ficing- service. ] present to you