The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-01-16
CUES 7 ION
g WHAT
TOClJT
Increasing Governmental Ac-
tiVities Are Backed Appar-
emily by Reason and
Public Opinion
By WILLIAM HARD

It is considered by the most ex-
perienced observers here of ma
tional politics and of national ex-
penditures that the time has come
to lap off some of the Federal
Governments activities, but nat
urally there is little or no agree
ment as to which of these activi-
ties shall be the ones on which
the ak shall fall.
Leaving aside the postoffice and
leaving aside the payments of
principal and interest on the pub
lie debt, the expenditures recon-
mended to Congress by the Bureau
of the Budget for the next fiscal
year total $131, 900 900 more than
the amounts appropriated in the
regular appropriation bills for
the current fiscal year.
How Reduction Is Seen.
The reason why q reduction for
next year compared with this year
10 at present seen is that during this
year, in addition to the regular ap-
preparation bills, there are and will
be supplementary deficiency bills
These deficiency bills, plus the
regular appropriation bills, will give
US expenditures this year some $780,
000, 900 greater than the expendi-
lures recommended to Congress by
- %1,
bill just passed. a considerable pro-
next year to come.
Already, however, the Bureau Of
the Budget, as usual, and as Is in
evitable, is sending supplementary
estimates and recommendations to
Congress: and Congress will act upon
these estimates and recommendations
both in regular appropriation bills
and in deficiency" bills.
For instance, the Bureau Of the
Budget has already sent to Congress
q supplementary recommendation
for an irrigation project which was
not mentioned In the Presidents bud
get to Congress at the start OF this
session last month: and the money
$500. 0O0) for this project, which is
in Oregon, already has been voted.
Naval Construction Expense.
Further, If we undertake even a
small measure Of our new naval con-
struction, as already in principle is
authorized in the naval construction
bill just passed, .~aconsiderable pro-
portion of our apparent gain of $780,
000, 900 in economy for next year
over this year win disappear.
Looked at in a large way, there
fore, we are not making any very
large holes in current Federal ex-
penditureS at this time; and the
difficulty is that nobody is really
ready to say just where those large
holes should be accomplished.
In fact, certain numerous Fed
eral activities, instead of getting
holes driven into them, are almost
continuously getting bulges added
to them.
Let us consider just a few Of
them. small and large.
$123.OOO for Botanic Gardens.
We have a Federal Botanic Gar
den. It is a nice thing to have.
This current year it's appropriation
was 100000. For next year, its
appropriation is scheduled to be
$123.000, according to the Bureau
of the Budget
We have, besides an air service
in the army and an air service in
the navy, a National Advisory Com
mittee on Aeronautics. It's appro-
priation this year was $4,000. For
next year the Bureau of the Budget
recommends for it an appropriation
OF $534.09O.
Congress used to enact laws
without a Tariff Commission. Now
we have to have a Tariff Commits
Gf0n
wise the President. It's appropria-
ton this year was 1872 900. For
next year the Bureau of the Budget
recommends that il have an an
preparation Of $712.000.
We maintain national parks in
South Dakota, Oklahoma, Montana,
Utah, Colorado, California, and other
Western States for the recreation
of the American people. This year
the appropriation for maintaining
them was 1877, 900. Next year that
appropriation, by and with the ad.
vice and consent Of the Bureau OF
the Budget, is scheduled to be
1910, 900.
Funds to Fight Disease.
We want the Federal Government
10 assist in the prevention and cure
of social diseases. 1t does so at an
annual cost of $4,000. 1t spends
this money through the Public
Health Service in the Treasury De
partment. The appropriation fol
the Public Health Service this wear
was $84O, 900. The appropriation
recommended for it for next yeal
by the Bureau Of the Budget wa.
$1,020,000, and Congress gave 1t &
few thousands more. Shall the Fed
eraI Government not continue 4