The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-01
2 BILLIONS ARE SAVED BY BUDGET Coolidge Message Marks Third Anniversary Of System DECREASE EQUALS / HALF OF U. s. GOLD Is Equivalent To Value Of All Automobiles
 Produced In 1922 HUGE CUTS MADE
 BY GENERAL LORD Follows Dawes Precedent In
 Pairing Estimates Of
 Officials
HUGE CUTS MADE
 BY GENERAL LORD
Follows Dawes Precedent In Pairing Estimates Of
 Officials

(By Leased Wire to Tho -Herald.)
 WASHINGTON, Nov. 3O.- When the annual budget mes- sage of President Coolidge is read to the opening of Con- gress Monday, it will mark formally the third anniversary of the budget system, which is credited as primarily respon- sible for knocking off more than two billion dollars in gov ernment expenditures sin c e 1921.
 That amount represented the actual decrease in expenses for 1924, as com pared with 1921, hen the budget sys- tem was installed by.7President liar ding, and General Dawes, its first di- rector, d hard-boiled soldier, stood up before nimost equally hardsbUifed cabinet members and bureau chiefs and $ told them, in. vRry plain language, that they must spend less money.
 After Dawes opened the campaign that first year, and did considerable slarhing and pruning, the work was turned over to General Lord, another soldier, who has gone ahead quietly, cut ting more and more off the annual ex- penses of the government, and stem ming the pressure from the congress- man who wants an appropriation for putting bridge over some inoffensive little creek, or for some similar pur- pose.
 ' Taxpayer Is Beneficiary
 This two billion dollar decrease gives some idea of the success of putting the government in business under the bud get system. It radiates down to the taxpayer, who doesn't often realize that he's paying for the government, and helped open the way for the tax reduc- tion made by congress last session. Just for comparison, it might be noted that this saving of two billion dollars equals half of the gold bullion and coin in this country at the present time; is equivalent to the entire savings for 20 months of the 12,5OO,O 900 depositors in the nations savings banks, or still more concretely, the value of all passenger automobiles, trucks and motorcycles produced in the country in 1922.
 Every fall before congress meets, the heads of departments and bureau chiefs push into General Lords office, in corner on the second floor, and lay their estimates before him. Then be- gins the generals tussle. He has to cut and pare. He has remarked that this is the hardest part of his task. turning down conscientious officials.
 But he does it, nevertheless. For in stance, a billion dollars was Topped off of estimates laid before him by depart ment heads and bureau chiefs for the years 1923, 1924, and 1928. Figures for the latter year have not been made public, but were included by Lord in his estimate. Over $865, ,OOO, 900 was cut by the general from the amounts cabinet heads and bureau chiefs said they needed in the period from 1921, when the budget was installed, through 1924. Congress Has Final Word
 Of course, congress has the final word on how much money is to be spent. The budget estimates are 6 guide. But growing from careful study the directOr-who is always will ing to show why he cut a certain al- lotment-and with the weight carried by the Presidents approval, the bud get has been effective, and congress departs from it only after serious con- / sideration, in making its appropria- tions. It has been thrown aside on occasion, most memorable. of which was when congress made huge increase in rivers and harbors appropriations two years ago, against which President Har- ding protested vigorously.
 Lord has to meet demands from con- gressmen and interested outsiders, as well as those of department heads. While he is preparing his figures he receives hundreds of letters and tele- grams urging favorable consideration for some expenditure or other, coming from individuals a,l organizations.