Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-17
ten SUPPORT ONE
BY PUBLIC FUNDS
COSTS US S46 EACH

New York, Dec. 16.-Approximate
ly every ten persons enga ged or en-
ployed in private enterprise in the
United States are supporting, on the
average, one person depending for
his or her living on public funds,
during the current year, according to
a study of public expenditures being
made by the National Industrial
Conference Board, PAT Park Avenue,
New York. This estimate includes
public charges in almshouses, charit-
able and penal institutions and
pensioners as well as public en-
ployees.
The number of persons in public
service, including federal, state and
local government employees since
1928 has increased again, after the
decline from the wartime peak, to a
total of approximately 2,S0O,0 900, the
Board finds. This is an increase of
about 60 percent over the number of
public servants in 1918, the year be-
fore the war.
The direct cost of the service
rendered by these public employees
and officials for the current year is
estimated by the Conference Board
at $4,000, 100000, representing an in
crease of about 20 percent over the
cost Of the 1928 public payroll.
Adding to this the cost of pensions,
annuities and allowances paid to war
veterans and supepannuated en-
ployees, numbering approximately
100000 persons, and the cost of sup
porting about 100000 public charges
in almshouseS and in charitable,
Nvz-
the Conference Board research staff
estimates the total cost of those de-
pending for their livelihood directly
on public funds during the current
year at about $5,140 900 900.
This sum, the Board points out
represents about 81 percent of the
total national income of 1924. 46.S
percent of the amount paid out in
wages. or 81 percent of the amount
paid out in wages and salaries COM
bined by all the manufacturing es-
adjustments in the country during
the year 1929, the latest for which
such data are available.
The total public payroll, including
the support of public charges, If the
burden were distributed equally
among persons gainfully occupied
but not holding public jobs. would
cost each person in private employ
ment, or engaged in business or in a.
profession, about $125 annually. The
corresponding burden on each man,
woman or child in the United States
would amount to SAC per annum.
The total number of public SER
wants in 1918 amounted to 1,7S5,O0O.
In 1918. at the end of the war, those
in public service numbered 5.129.-
900 Qncluding army and navy); in
1921. the number had been reduced
to approximately 2.7s6.00O declining
further to about 100000 in 1929:
the estimated number for 1925 is g.
100000. There have been since 1928
increases in the war branches of the
federal service, the postal depart
ment, in the educational departments
of state and local governments, in
municipal, police and fire depart
ments, and in general clerk hire.
The number of persons in the
federal executive civil service
classified and unclassified positions,
but exclusive of legislative, judicial,
army. navy marine, coast guard and
District of Columbia personneD was
564,71S on June 80, 1925. as compar-
ed with 554,9s6 on une 80, 1924,
548,531 on June 30, 1923 and 917,760
at the time of the armistice.