Evening star., 1924-12-07

In previous articles you have been
told how Uncle Sam raises more than
three and three-quarters billions of
dollars year: how the 10 executive
departments and two score independ-
ent establishments are called upon to
do all manner of things for the peo-
pie, so that he has the greatest bust
ness organization in the world, and
has to conduct the worlds largest
employment service to get efficient
workers, including experts on all sub
jects. from bugs To battleships
You have quite naturally inferred
that the money goes out in large
sums to pay for all these workers
and for supplies and for the thousand
and more projects that are considered
desirable for the general welfare.
But few, if any. of the nieces and
nephews had stopped to think that
Uncle Sam must apportion out his
finances so that there will be a proper
rela ation and balance between all these
myriad drains on the public Treas
ury, just as your own father and
mother have to figure so much for
rent, so much for coal, clothing, food
and other necessities.
Costs of Government
Just now. when Congress is III ses-
sion for the particular purpose of
passing appropriation bills for the
support of all these Government ac-
tivitieS seems most appropriate
! time for the people to get a better
: understanding of the costs of govern
ment,
! In q large measure ii is the job
| of the Director of the Federal Budget to
work out for Congress a preliminary
( alloca ton of the funds necessary 10
/ carry on work authorized by law and
! with a proper balance between the
/ various departments and establish
! ments and the bureaus and divisions
/ within these larger organization
! units.
( President Coolidge. addressing a
! meeting of the business organizations OF
! the Government (made up of admins
! trative representatives from each de
! partmenD. aptly described the job OF
{ the budget director, saying
+ He is the eyes and ears of the
/ Executive. and the managing director OF
! the fiscal policy of the business organi-
! cation of the Government. If you think
! he cannot see the details of each depart
ment as you see them. YOU must re-
member that you cannot see the require
! ments of the whole Government as he
sees them. He occupies a position re-
! curing the greatest candor, tact and
! good Judgment 1t is well to remember
! that his real object is not to hinder, but
! 10 help you and help me. and most OF
| all to help the country.
So while the current news items Will
| from day to day tell YOU of the progress
/ of Congress on these appropriation bills.
! giving YOU the particular amount for
/ various activities it is well for you To
/ keep in mind a sort of balance sheet on
| Government finances with the main
/ items of receipts and expenditures by
| most important general functions.
Estimated Receipts for Year.
The estimated receipts for the next
! fiscal year are S3,641 ,295. .092. OF this
/ the biggest source is income and profits
! tax. $I.71O.O0O 900. or 1896 per cent of
/ the total Miscellaneous internal revenue
/ will WELD about $S90,S75.000, or 24.41
| per cent customs revenues. $535 ,0t0,-
! goo, or 1859 per cent: interest. premium
| and discounts. s197.912.5SS. or 5.43 per
| cent; fees. fines, penalties and for
| FIXTURES, S42,402. .997, or lie per cent ;
| payments of investments. S57, 7,52l,SoO, or
| 1.58 per cent; trust fund receipts, $751;
! 6lO.032 or 2.41 per cent. and other
| miscellaneous receipts s119,972.615. or
| $50 per cent.
! Against this we have the following
principal expenditures by functions