Evening star., 1925-12-09
WARNS FURTHER FEDERAL AID
FOR STATES SPELLS EXPENSE
Estimates for Upkeep and Maintenance of District
Set at $35, ,626,579, $4O6, ,274 Less Than 1926
Budget-Reduction of Public Debt.


industries of airpla mes. engines and
| accessories to the amount of Sco.954- =
| 600. The remaining S2l.493. 900 is for
mainlena nee. operation. eNDerime nta
| tion and research. This Governmen mt
is pursuing an orderly policy toward
building up its Air Services. We real
ize that our national defense air prob
lem is primarily an industrial prob
lem. We also know that the airpla ne
industry today is dependent almos,
entirely upon Government business
Tor It's development and growth. We
90 not contemplate any competition
hetWeen the Government and industry
IN the production of airplaneS. With
the business already assured by the
appropria rionS for the current year
and with the further assura nee of the
business contemplated by these eSti-
mates there should be normal and
prope" growth in this industry If we
continue this policy. there need be no
fear of our national defense situation
in so far as air strength is concerned.
Buildings Here Necessary.
The President urges upon Congress
the need of additional office buildings
in the District of Columbia, declaring
again for program calling for an
expenditure of $4,000. 600 a year to
meet these needs. He indicates. too.
his Willingness to approve a general
public building bill to meet the need
OF additional Federal buildings
throughout the States provided ii
follows the plan of the Elliott bill OF
the last Congress. placing the decision
in the Treasury and Post Office De-
partmentS as to where the buildings
shall he erected. He is opposed to the
old pork barrel method Of making
specific appropria tions for specific
places And. finally. he recognizes the
dire need of the Army for better hous-
ing facilities, and urges that the War
Depa he permitted to eXpend
for buildings money IL may receive
from the sale of property now held hy
the department.
ClaSsed as Economy Move
Again ! urge upon the Congress"
says the President. the need of addi.
tional office buildings in the District of
Columbia in he interest Of Federal eff
cheney and economy. The actual con
ditionS that face some of the Govern
ments most important activities be
cause of lack Of sufficient and suitable
working space are almost inconceiv.
able. The Department of Agriculture
occupies "A widely separa ted buildings
in the District. The General Account
ing Office is scattered in 30 different
locations. while the Internal Revenue
Bureau of the TreaS Sury Department.,
with it's fina ncial problems involving
the greater bulk of the Federal Coy.
ernment's receipts. is housed in II in
different and in some cases most nm
satisfactory offices. Efficient and eco
nomical administration for which we
are striving is impossible under these
conditions. ! repeat my former rec.
ommendation that in the interest OF
good administration Of Federal buS-
ness provision he made at once by the
Congress for an annual appropriat ton
of not in excess of SIC, eco 600 for the
construction of buildings in the Dis.
trict of Columbia to properly house the
Governments workers.
NO general building Hill has been
enacted since before the war. This
matter must necessarily come up for
consideration. I am not in favor of
the passage of an act which would
he characterized as q general parcel
ing out of favors that usually bears a
name lacking in good repute am
willing to approve an act similar in
character to that which has already
passed the House. providing a lump.
sum appropriation to he expended un-
der the direction of the Treasury or
any other proper authority over
term OF years. with such annual an
preparation as the national finances
could provide
With regard to the physical pla MT
of the Government. the policy was
adopted of reaching a firm foundat ton
before we attempted to build or re-
build This was necessary because of
the vast eXpa nsion of Federal asen.
cfes and activities growing out OF the
World War. We could not hone. nor
was it necessary, to maintain this vast
war 1nherita nee. The only reasonable
and proper course was TO ascertain
what part OF il we did need 40 that
money would not he wasted on the
other. The time has now been reached
when we know approximate tely the Gov
ernment plant which should be main
tanned and the additions which are
essential thereto. l have already di-
rected your attention TO the need Of
additional Federal buildings at the
seat OF government in order to ade-
quately house and operate the business
OF the Government and protect its en-
ployes and records. The construction
OF Federal buildings at strategic points
throughout the United States will he
OF material assistance in the transac-
ton Of public business and reduce
rentals. This is not as urgent as the
need for buildings in the District OF
Columbia. There is urgent need for
new, permanent construction to house
the Army. This has been neglected
primarily because we had the tenn.
porary shelter erected during the
World War. but this has reached
stage when 1t is real waste to expend
Iurther funds upon it's repair. The
congress in appropriat ting for the War
Department for the fiscal wear 1925
directed study of the housing situa
tlon- OF the Army with a view to hav-
ing laid before it a plan looking to the
sale of property held by the War De.
partment and the utilization of the
proceeds to the erection OF permanent
buildings at places selected for per
anent military posts and camps.
rms plan. which was reflected in bills
introduced in Congress during the Ia st
session. would accomplish a very sub.
stantial commencement of the hous
ing program for the Army. | com
mend this plan to the Congress for
early consideration. 1t presents the
means of meeting an urgent need"
Describes Prohibition Enforcement
The President pictures the Federal
Government as bending every effort
toward the enforcement of the pro-
hibition law. and shows the proposed
large expenditures of money to carry
out its purpose. He says:
THE estimates carry a total Of
$21 ,940,529 for prohibition enforce
ment. This includes S12.S34 900 for
the activities of the Coast Guard in
preventing rum smuggling. AS an ad-
junct to prohibition enforcement, the
Coast Guard has proved most effective
Its activities should be enlarged and
strengthened at the earliest date pos.
sible. To this end l propose to recon-
mend to the Congress additional ap-
propriations for the Coast Guard for
the remainder of this fiscal year and
for all of the next fiscal year. This
carfaraaIalat MIA # lo