The Washington times., 1925-09-14

Army and Navy Putting Up
Hot Fight for Their
Estimates
BY ROBERT S. THoRNBURGH

By ROBERT S. THORNBURGH
The Government family fight"
t. determine the amount of money
to be spent in the year ending
June 80, 1927, was officially start
ed today when the. bureau of the
budget opened appropriations hear
ings.
Budget Director H. M. Lord, with
a strangle hold on the Treasury's
purse strings, is striving to keep
official expenses as close to
$4,000, 100000 as humanity pos
sible.
With estimated receipts of about
$3,2O0,000,O 900, depending upon the
slash taken at revenues in the
coming Congress, an accomplish
ment of a So 600, 900 expenditure
year will yield the Government a
net. surplus and pave the way for
further tax cutting.
Permanent Rum Patrol Sought
Among the important budget
items this year viii be a move on
the part of the Treasury to create
a permanent rum patrol TO guard
the coastline against liquor SNUG
glers.
Secretary of the Treasury Mellon
has already made a personal inspec-
ton of Rum Row and has sane
toned the move as the only means
Of checking smuggling permanently
The prohibition appropriation like
wise is awaited with considerable
interest. For the 1926 year it was
about $4,000 900.
The budget will attempt to pre-
vent any material extension of the
Governments activities in order
that. subsequent cutting of costs
NAV be reflected in tax reducftuf7S.1
Some officials. however, hold that
much of the cost slashing is petty
economy and that the Government:
and general public are losing money
IN the long run.
Adding to Wealth
They insist that there are many
fields of endeavor, including inves.
LEGATIONS OF business conditions. fors
eign trade fields. new Inventions.
military and naval SURVEYS and sci.
entific studies which. whiies costing
considerable money. would Increase
National wealth.
The battle between the budget
bureau and the War and Navy De-
partments-waged every year since
the armistice was signed-is the
most bitterly contested OF the set
tos in the annual assault on the
Treasury by Government depart
ments
Lord has announced he wants to
keep the combined army and navy
appropriation under $500 900 900,
divided equally between the two
departments.
The military arms of the Gov
eminent contend that If such an
economy policy Is followed out the
national defense will be inadequate
for the nations protection and that
many important functions of both
departments must be abandoned.
Budget Officials Opinions
For the year ending last July the
War Department spent about $348.-
$50. 900 and the navy cost 1892
249 900.
In giving Congress his views on
national defense for. the 1925 budget
President Coolidge asked that the
appropriation be limited to $549,-
000 900.
Budget officials expressed the
opinion that the national defense
item should be held within the
$500, 600. 900 mark in the 1927
budget.
The figure does not include non
military expenditures of the War
and Navy departments.
Preliminary estimates of the cost
Of various departments must be in
the hands of Lord by Tuesday. In
cases where the bureau has cut
down the amounts originally de
manded, department experts will be
given a hearing.
Special budget committees will
hear the pleas of department heads
and make their recommendations to
Lord. Lord will submit his final
budget report to the President in
November and the budget message
will go to Congress at its opening
in December.