Evening star., 1925-01-27

| There 10 nothing, however, In the
law, nor any intent on the part of
the Chief Executive. to preclude the
officials who appear before the COM
| mittees of Congress from giving the
l committees full and complete infor-
| nation on any item contained in the
| estimates. There is a marked dis
| tinction between advocating an in
| crease in the executive estimates and
| furnishing Congress with full and
| complete information concerning
| them. The former Is prohibited by
| law, as It should be. The latter is a
! fulfillment of the right of Congress
which has never been questioned nor
should ever be questioned.
Before we meet again you will
have your appropriations for the next
fiscal year. In formulating your ex-
penditure program under these ap-
propriations keep constantly in mind
| the necessity for economy. In max
| ing your apportionments OF these ap-
preparations set up reasonable
amount in a reserve status. This
course has helped you in the past.
1t has enabled you to meet ordinary
emergencies without interfering with
your regular program. 1t has helped
US to save.
New Tax Gut Possible.
For the next fiscal year of 1925
our financial outlook as presented in
! the budget for that year is most en-
couraging. If the budget program is
sustained by Congress at this session
| will be able in the next budget to
| recommend a further reduction IN
taxes. The outlook for 1926 is that
we will have a surplus that year Of
more than $373,000,000. Any increase
In receipts will swell this surplus
And any decrease in expenditures VIII
again add to the surplus. BY economy
in operation you can help swell this
estimated surplus. Each dollar that
you add to 1t should go to the bene-
fit of the taxpayer In reduction in
taxes.
This intensive drive for economy
is increasing the efficiency of Federal
business Let those who are inclined
to scoff at IL, those who are inclined
to refer to 1t as cheeseparing, look
at the result 1t has accomplished
They will find there an answer which
is complete and overwhelming. II
the practice of economy is not popu-
lar, the results Of IL are viewed with
tremendous satisfaction.
Your own closer scrutiny of your
requirements, the searching revision
of your estimates by the Bureau Of
the Budget, and the further search
ing inquiry by Congress OF the budget
estimates all lead to efficiency of oper
alton. They separate the necessary
from the unnecessary. They lead to
the grant of funds sufficient only for
the necessary. This meeting tonight
is being broadcast. What l say to
you here is being heard by the in
visible audience in whose interest we
are gathered. They are watching our
efforts in their behalf. We have not
failed them in these last four years.
We Will not fail them in the four
years TO come. These next four years
will be years OF continuing pressure
for economy. There must be no re-
treat
Prosperity on Increase.
I'VE are evidently entering
upon an era Of increasing
prosperity. with increasing bust
ness we can surely depend upon in
creasing revenues. 1 have heretofore
indicated my purpose that growing
revenues shall not be absorbed in un-
| warranted increases in Federal ex-
penditures. AS the country grows,
an honest, reasonable increase in cost
| of government is expected. That in
crease, however, must not be timed
| to keep step, dollar for dollar, with
the increase in revenue. Necessary
| increases in the cost OF government,
| due to legitimate Federal growth,
must be offset by reduction in cost
| Of existing activities and the elimina-
ton of projects and the discontinue
ance of operations that can be dis
pensed with without interference with
Federal efficiency. We are occupying
fields that should be abandoned. We
| must reduce the cost of government
! to a point which will reduce taxes to
/ a point where they cease to be a
| burden. Loyalty to the taxpayers of
this nation demands that we secure
this result.
! Before turning this meeting over to
Gen. Lord, the director of the Bureau
| of the Budget, 1 wish to express to
| him appreciation of his disinterested
! and faithful service. The law has
not provided a more important office
than that which he holds. Our en-
tire service has no officer more truly
! devoted TO the promotion of the well
| fare of the people. I wish also to
| express my appreciation of your eff
| forts and my faith in your loyalty
| and devotion to a continuation of
the economy program which we are
| following"
i