Evening star., 1925-07-03
|CALL FOR BUDGET
DEMANDS BIG CUT
Estimates for 1927 Ordered
to Come Within Limit
of 5000, 600, 900.

The Bureau of the Budget last night
sent out its call to all government de-
partments and establishments for
their annual estimates for the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1927. The esti-
mates are due at various times from
September l to September Is.
President Coolidge has asked that
these estimates, exclusive of the postal
service alone, shall come within
SO ,0S0, 900 900, a "shrinkage" of the
Governments expenditure program in
order TO effect further tax reduction.
With the surplus for the fiscal year
1926 having so far exceeded estimates
with the total OF $3.50, $685. 1858 that
tho Treasury has ordered a restudy of
the estimated surplus for the year
1926, the prospects for 1927. which
will be reflected in the estimates now
called for are considered by observers
of all political faiths here to have vital
interest for the American taxpayer.
Economy Demanded.
The call for 1927 estimates under
signature Of II. NJ. Lord, director of
the Bureau of the Budget, by direc-
ton of the President" contains no
specific reference to the stringent re-
trenchment program of economy de-
manded of the Government chiefs by
President Coolidge. But the depart
mental and established heads still
have ringing in their ears the mes
sages of their Chief Executive, and
Gen. Lord, at the recent regular meet
ing of the business organizsti of the
Government. when further economy
for the purpose of further tax reduc-
ton was laid down as the order of the
day.
Although Gen. Lord had called upon
the business heads of the Government
to whittle sharply at their 1927 es-
Inmates with the near-vain hope of
bringing them within the Presidents
figure, ii was evident today that the
Bureau of the Budget was getting set
for a strenuous time between the re-
ceipt of the first group of estimates
in September, and the submission of
the budget by President Coolidge on
the first day of Congress, December Z.
Tax Reduction Promised.
1t is on this day that President
Coolidge has promised the American
people he will not only submit his
budget message, but will recommend
ton he will recommend seems to con-
stitute one of the most absorbing
topics in governmental as well as
other circles these days.
Many guesses have been haZarded
by prophets of various kinds, and
some members of Congress have gone
so far as to fix estimates OF their own
These estimates of possible tax re-
duction to be provided in the new
revenue bill run from s250,000 900 to
s500,000,0 900. The nearest official fig
ure out of the Treasury Department
Is $500 900 900.
President Coolidge, in calling upon
his departmental executives for action
carrying out the "shrinkage" in the
expenditure program for 1927, said:
ITO accomplish the objective which /
have outlined for 1927 will require
your fullest assistance and co-opera-
ton.
"Scrutinize carefully each item of
your estimates" said the President,
before you submit them to the di-
rector of the Bureau of the Budget.
We are waging a fight for the tax
payers. We are nearing the time
when constructive economy in the
business of government will not find
q reflection in continuing lessening
yearly outlays. But the necessity for
constructive economy in our opera
tions will ever be with us. It's en-
=,
because thereby we serve the people"
Preliminary Figures Asked.
Director Lord sent out his call for
the preliminary estimates June %, the
day after the regular meeting of the
business organization of the Govern
ment. These preliminary figures af-
ford a bird's-eye view of the situation.
but are officially revealed to no one
but the officials of the Budget Bureau
and the President.
Some new features are included in
the call for the regular 1927 estimates.
One of these is the request for five
copies of the entire budget from each
reporting Office, instead of two, which
have previously been required.
For the first time also the report on
the field services personnel must be
made in detail, comparable to the re-
ports made for personnel in the Dis
trict of Columbia, showing salaries
and wages. and the number of per-
sons in each salary range. The field
service was formerly reported in a
lump sum.
There is also a new feature which
will show the difference between the
1927 and 1926 estimates, If any, as
due TO decrease in force or increase