Evening star., 1924-06-15
Budget Bureau Is Striking
At Useless i. S. Expense
Continued from First Page.)

One feature Of The new budget prooe-
6ure that is attracting attention not
only in this country but throughout the
world is the custom of holding semi
annual meetings of the personnel in
Washington who are directly con-
cerned with estimating for and the
obligating and expending of govern
ment funds. The next business meet
ing of the government is to be held
June 80.
Following that business meeting
and President Coolidge's announce
ment, work will begin on the esti
mates for 1926. which the law require
will be submitted to Congress the
first week in December. when Con-
gress is due back.
Let's consider some actual figures
showing how the budget bureau op-
I crates: The various departments and
establishments had estimated that
they expected to withdraw from the
Treasury and would expend for the
twelve months from July l, 1923, to
June so, 1924, a total of s3,66s, 900, 900.
The estimated receipts from all
sources totaled only s3,63s, 900, 600
showing an expected deficit of $780,
100000. For that total of estimated
expenditures the money had been ap-
propriated and was available. They
could spend it. The only restriction
thereon was such control as the Presi-
dent would be able to impose through
the bureau of the budget.
President Harding at the business
meeting on June Is, just before he
started for Alaska, stated very de-
cidedly that not only would there be
no deficit in 1924, but that after set
, ting aside the S512 200, 900 to be ap-
piled during the year to the reduc-
ton of the public debt all other ex-
penditures, including interest on the
public debt, must be kept within s3,-
900. 900 900. This meant a reduction in
their spending program of $156,00o,-
600.
A new estimate of expenditures for
the year, under this policy, on Novem-
Der so totaled only S3,565. 900, ,o00-a
reduction of s1o3. 200, 900 from the
original estimates. A further reduc-
ton of S53,000,000 had to be made if
the policy of President Harding,
which is now the policy of President
Coolidge, is to be shown on June 80,
as having been carried out.
The reduction in expenditure, COUP
led with Unexpectedly large revenue
receipts, has converted the $50, 900, 600
possible deficiency estimated at the
June is meeting a year ago into a
promised surplus of $329,00O, 600 as
estimated on November so. While
the spur of a threatened deficit has
been removed, there has been no re-
laxing of the pressure for savings.
The federal personnel have had il
impressed upon them that there can
be no higher service at this time than
to cut down and keep down federal
expenditures.
There is only one reason for econ
omy in the public service. and that is
reduction in taxation. President
Coolidge was able to recommend a
program Of tax reduction because ex-
penditures had been reduced through
the sacrifices of the executive depart
ments. Note these figures:
The total receipts last year were
81. .007, 100000 and we ended the year
with a surplus Of $30s, 100000. The
total estimated receipts for next
year, 1925. amount to only $3,6s3,o00.-
600. Although receipts under the
present system of taxation would be
reduced below the receipts of 1928 by
ss14, 900, 600, the surplus estimated
for next year has advanced from the
s3oS, 100000 left over from last year
to $3s5,000,000. Despite the fact that
there has been a progressive falling
of in revenues, there has been a pro-
gressive increase in the estimated
surplus. which could only be effected
by a reduction in expenditures more
than offsetting the reduction in re
ceipts.
Now. referring back to the saving
or S53,o00,000 that had to be made
this year by order of President Hard
ing, II would seem to the casual tax
payer that thAe should be a simple