Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-07-01
PRESIDENT urges
federal ECONOMY
Reduction in Governmental
Expenses to Point of "Sac-
rifice" His Object.
SEEKS LOWER TAXATION
Gen. Lord Follows With Address
Tabulatiag Savings Under
Budget System.

In the face Of smaller federal in
come and increased expenditures in
liked charges" such as the world
war bonus. President Coolidge has
ordered economy in administration to
the point of real sacrifice" for the
next fiscal year, in order to make
possible further tax reduction"
Addressing the seventh regular
meeting Of the business organisation
OF the government At Memorial Con-
tinental Hall last night, the Presi-
dent reported on the success of the
budEet system in government for the
paA three years and dvelt at length
on the right OF the people for lower
tanes. Director Lord Of the bureau
tof the budget described in more de-
Etail the operations Of the year.
The surplus for the fiscal year clos
ing last might. the President estimat-
led at $4ss.ooo,ooo.
Sugssstiea for Ensuing Years.
For tho fiscal year ending June 80,
IS25, the estimated surplus of $685.
100000: the President asked be in
creased a.st e eios economy Co and efficiency to
.1.F Eor tn, the nse.i year ending June 80.
ne iresfdent asked estimates
Of administration, exclusive of the
public debt and postal service, to a
total OF 1880, 900.
| This program Of sharp reduction
tho President justified on the basis Of
| the taxpayers right to "en3oy the re-
wards of his own Industry" A warn
ing was sounded by the Chief Exec
| utive th1t ONE of the greatest per
lis TO an extensive republic lay in
rights.
Clutches Reckless Taxation,
"A government" soiemnly declared
the President. which lays taxes on
the people not required by urgent
| public necessity and sound public
policy Is not protector of liberty,
but an instrument of tyranny. One
| of the first signs Of the breaking
gard by the taxing power Of the right
| OF the people to their own property"
VI particular interest to this city
| was the Presidents declaration that
one Of the principal avenues of
economy could be reduction of the
| number of government employees. In
pointing out how money could be
saved the nrst definite suggestion of
| the President WAS the matter Of
personnel" declared by the Chief
! costly item in our -e1penditUres.''
LEVER Pay Rsal RsesanenAed.
I'VE must reduce the government
| pay roll" said President Coolidge. II
am satisfied that 1T will lead to great
| er efficiency" No line of procedure
| was laid down, however, nor was
| there any further suggestion to the
| department ofiicials concerning how
they are to let out more government
Printing and binding also were
| scored by the President as "a fertile
field for economy"
Warning was given some oficlals
| who apparently feel that the esti-
| mates transmitted to the bureau of
the budget are the estimates which
they are authorized to advocate be-
| fore the committees Of the Congress"
These persons were served with due
| notice by their chief that this prac-
las Chief Executive, I propose to
protect the integrity of my budget"
Tax Re1sxa Urged As Need
President Coolidge reiterated his
statement that what is now needed
tax reduction" but said that tax re-
duction WAS still needed. In his typ
| fcal short sentences and directs
method. the President declared: II
am for economy. After that I am for
more sconomy-"
1t was the Presidents first public
speech since being nominated by the
Republicans at Cleveland to succeed
himself in the White House. He took
occasion to review the progress OF
showed . progressive and consist
ent reduction in expeditures"
An analysis OF expenditures and re-
cedpts, the Resident said. 'ehovs that
IN hA 20 ~
ton in receipts we have achieved n
substantial surplus at the end OF each
OF I,o the hscal years-SSl4.ooo,o 900 for
During the same period, the Presi-
dent pointed out, there was "rrogres-
sfve reduction Of the public debt.
amounting to about 81, 722, zoe, COO, with
an additional saving of interest of more
than &12&e0o, 600 each year. Tho present
public debt was reported at s2l.z54.-
600 600.
Gen. Lords Budget Showing.
Gen. Lord, who followed President
Coolidge on the program. declared
succdnctly that "in three budget years
We have cut the ordinary exIse nses OF
government In half"
In his accustomed manner OF preeent.
ing the most hard-heatied facts and
figures of the budget in the most easily
Understood and entertaining fashion
Gen. Lord described by comparisons the
$2.00o,0o0.0 900 difference between what
the government took out Of the federal
Treasury in 1891, the last He-budeet
year, and what it took out In the faoaI
year ending today.
Translated into other terms, Con.
Lord said this saving was equivalent
70 hall the gold coin and bullion IN
the United States At tho present time !;
the entire savings OF 1880, 600 de-
postUs in the nations saving banks
for . period Of twenty months, the
lv1lue OF all the passenger automobiles
produced throughout the United States
IN 1szz. plus the value of all the
the nutoF cycles; It 'e1ceeds the
smount paid In dtvidenda by all tine
ratlroAdS In the United States for five
years; 1t 10 nearly three times the
OF exports over fmports) in 1872; it
tis more than twice the value OF the
EUnfted States cotton crop of 1882, and
Enearfy two and one-half times the
value OF tho country's wheat crop In
k192s''
/. Pr.aing knife StM servieeable.
Tho old 'sbudgst pruning knife II
badly worn" said Gen, Lord. though
| 1ae In the servine term 1t, RUTHLESS
@.ssr, 4 ~. q, f Sgt cut OF .nnu.l esti-
Not unly IN the field Of esttmatss.
h1a the 'prsniaS knife been eper-
atsd, explained Con. Lord. to the ex-
Etout that DunpAementa1s were brouaht
down this year - per cent heloV
1921, the last pfe-bndget year. Spp-
plsmentals this year. he said. amount ;
The percentage of taxpayers, aunnax
exacted by the federal. a. compared