Evening star., 1924-12-02

crease in expenditures made neces'
sary by the World War adjusted
compensation act. Yet we are conn
dent that the year will be closed with
surplus of more than S67.oOO,OOO
Our aim should be not only to con-
serve this prospective surplus but to
add to il.
For the fiscal year 1926 it is eSti-
mated that the ordinary receipts Will
he s3641.295,092 and the expenditures
s3,267,551.3.S. This indicates q sur
plus of SS73.743,7l4. In addition to
these receipts and expenditures it is
estimated that the postal. receipts
will be 647.4l0.000 and the expendi-
lures chargeable thereto s637,37 .005
revenue of s10,023.995. which amount
is included in the estimated general
surplus of sS13,743,7l4
We come now TO the estimates of
appropriations contained in this bud
get. The Chief Executive is pledged
TO economy in the requests he makes
upon Congress for funds for the
executive branch of the Government
This pledge is kept in these estimates
of appropriations. They call for a
total Of s3.OS9, ,223,S414S, exclusive
of the Postal Service. A fair COM
parison of the estimates Of appro-
priations for 1925 with the appro-
priations actually made for 1925
should include the supplemental esti-
mates for 1925 which were presented
TO Congress for considera ton in the
second deficiency bill, fiscal year 1924
and the bill to adjust compensation
services. These two bills failed of
enactment before the adjournment of
Congress June :, 1924.
Takes Up Defense Needs.
For the national defense the esti-
mates amount to 100000, which
is s29,00o000 less than the amount
available this current fiscal wear
These figures do not include nom
military items of the War and Navy
Departments This reduction is made
In accordance with my belief that we
can have adequate national defense
with more modest outlay of the
taxpayers money.
Further study may point the way
10 additional reduction without
weakening our national defense. but
rather perfecting il. This Nation is
at peace with the world We no
longer have international competition
IN naval construction of major units.
We are concerned primarily with
maintaining adequate preparedness.
We should have adequate prepared-
ness in 1926 within the limits of the
amount recommended
Aside from the important factor of
training personnel our national de-
tense is largely an industrial problem
Today the outstanding weakness in
the industrial situation as il affects
national defense is the inadequacy of
facilities 10 supply air service needs.
Ihe alrplane industry in this country
at the present time is dependent
almost entirely upon Government
business. To strengthen this indus
try Is TO strengthen our national
defense.
Toti'I Way Be si5,Oo0,oOo.
For the Air Service Of the Army
snd Navy and the Air Mail Service
the. estimates, including contract
authorizations. amount to s3s,945.oo0
ms contemplates an expenditure
with the industries of s1s.2s7, 900 for
me procurement of airplanes, en-
Eines and accessories. The remain
ing S2o,6oS,o00 is for maintenance,
operation, experimentation and re-
search. The amount of s3s.945.
however, does not include all that
VIII be available for this service in
1875: Amounts contributing to the
AIT service carried in other estimates
ana usa bic war supplies will make a
total availability conseryativeIv
estimated at s65,O000OO.
The amount requested for national
defense includes $50,1180o0 for the
Army and Navy Reserves, National
Guard. citizens military training
camps and other civilian training
activities.
There is also included in the ma
tional defense estimates of $7444.oO0
for increase of the Navy This will
provide for continuing work on the
neet submarines under construction
and for beginning work on two of the
four remaining fleet submarines au-
thorized in the 1915 program. With
regard to the Navy estimates. Iegis-
lation Is now pending which provides
for additional vessels, including gun
boats for use on the Yangtze River.
further estimates for increase In the
Navy are dependent upon the enact
lnent of this legislation. It will also
he necessary to request of Congress
legislation increasing the authorized
cost of the two airplane carriers now
under construction. II this be granted
it will require funds for the next fis-
cal year not provided in the estimates
contained in this budget.
Rivers and Harbors Funds.
For rivers and harbors $56.237. 500
IL recommended. In this is included
100000 for maintenance and i'm
provement of existing river and har-
bor works. $10.50o.0o0 for food con-
irol on the Mississippi and Sacra-
mento Rivers and s5,437, 500 for the
operation and maintenance OF canals
and the removal of wrecks and other
obstructions. OF the $40,000,00O for
maintenance and improvement of riv-
ers and harbors, s21,s73,S15 Is for
new work and sl7.241,575 Is for main
tenance. This will make possible
material progress on the most i'm
portant projects approved by Con-
gress.
1T is estimated that s6,541.5s0 will
be needed TO complete Dam No. at
Muscle Shoals. OF this amount
s3,501, 200 will be required this year.
This will be covered by supple
mental estimate for 1895. The bal
ance, $3,040.39o, Is provided for in
these estimates.
There is included in these esti-
mates s5o,O0o,0o0 to be set aside in
rhe adjusted service certificate fund
established under the World War ad-
justed compensation act of May IS.
1924. This is for the second payment
TO the fund to be made January l,
1926. For the first payment, due jan
uary /, 1925, s100.o00,0o0 Is included
in the deficiency bill now under con-
sideration by Congress.
Bonus Application Cited.
The applications from veterans so
far have been below the estimated
number, which the records indicate
as entitled to the benefits of the act.
IF the two appropriations recon-
mendec be made, it is estimated there
will be a sufficient amount in the
fund on January 1, 1925, to meet the