Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-22

The text Of the Presidents addres s
at the budget meeting of the United
States Government last night follows:
Members of the Governments Bust
ness Organizations
The more these business meetings
of the United States Government In
crease in number the more | am i'm
pressed with their surprising impOr-
tance. They are held for the purpose
of discussing the financial affairs Of
one of the greatest business institu-
tons in the world. Primarily, we con-
slider the corporate welfare of the Fed
eral Government, but that Is not the
ultimate object. The real purpose for
which we are assembled is to discuss
PLANS and adopt policies which will
affect in their actual daily life the wei
fare. progress and prosperity of
ll!,000,0 900 people.
What we do here reaches into every
home in the land. 1t determines
whether the taXgatherer is going to
require more money from the head OF
the household to meet the cost of
maintaining the Government. or
whether the taxgatherer is going to
leave more money with the head of
the household to meet the cost OF
maintaining the family. Our efforts
here are translated into benefits for
the head OF the household and his
family This does not mean that the
Government should refuse to make
OUTLAWS which are for the develop
ment of the country and the beneht
Of the people. but, taking all these
elements into consideration, 1t does
mean a strict adherence to the prin-
ciple of constructive economy.
1t is not, then, for the purpose OF
4; oe f1In
tons which are really for the benefit
Of the people that we have been work
ing under a budget system for the
past five years. 1t is rather to Sc
cure a. wiser use Of our national re-
sources and more satisfactory re
suit at less cost. More work and bet
ter work for a smaller outlay of the
money of the taxpayer is the real
test Of a progressive administration
No Part Unessential.
In the performance of your daily
work you are naturally concerned
with the immediate task which con
fronts you. You know the immediate
result Of your labor. You may not
know its effect on the operations of
the entire Federal Government But
it is the sum total of these daily
cheney. No task is so small that the
effort Of it's performer loses its inhu
ence on the product OF the whole. In
dividual effort brings collective re-
suits.
The effort has been to improve the
public service by elimination of waste
and lost motion and by constructive
conservation Of our resources. The
effort has not been to reduce the ex-
penses Of the Government at the eX-
pense Of the public welfare. 1t has
been to reduce expenses for the bene-
fit Of the public welfare. 1t has been
an effort for constructive economy.
SO long as the Government remains
this work will not end. That you may
know the result Of your collective
effort It has been our custom to hold
these meetings twice each year
1t was but nine years ago that the
Federal Government was obliged to
draft not only the persons but the
property Of the people to meet the re-
quirements of the World War. 1t
was less than eight years ago that
this Nation faced the host OF problems
arising from military rehabilitation
Of persons and industry. The inter
vening period has been one OF restora-
ton and rehabilitation. 1t Is to these
ed Much has been accomplished. but
much remains to be accomplished.
The orderly management of our af-
fairs is q perpetual test of our ability.
You have demonstrated what can be
done. and I am confident will con
tinue undated the effort for even
greater accomplishment.
Cites Effect on Debt.
We cannot anticipate further appre-
ciable reduction in the total annual
expenditure for the business OF the
Government. Our main chance comes
in debt reduction. 1t was estimated
in the last budget that we would spend
this wear sS9. 600, 900 more than we
spent last year. That estimate, as
shown by the returns to date, will
prove to be substantially correct. But
this effort to perfect our governmental
business, to round out the accomplish
ment OF the task on which such
notable beginning has been made. Of
fers unlimited opportunity for econom-
ical administration. Your best efforts
and the continued support and coop
Grafton of Congress will be required
to hold our expenditures for Govern
ment business at approximately their
present level.
lar simply to save 1t. We are not
striving to save the dollar at the ex-
pense Of the public service. Rather do
we approach it from the other side
and save the dollar for the good that
Il will bring to the people whom we
serve We can make the dollar pur-
chase more by purchasin more wise
ly. We can eventually save money by
a Justified expenditure today which
will reduce future annual unproduc-
tive expenditures. This Is construc-
tive economy. Congress has most
wisely provided q program Of con-
structive economy In the two public
building laws, one for domestic use
and one for our foreign legations.
These measures will eliminate annual
cost for rentals which bring us no
future returns.
The recent act providing for con-
struction at military posts and sta
tons Is also a measure of constructive
economy. The funding of our public
debt at lower rates Of interest has
been another notable achievement in
constructive economy. Every dollar
that has been applied to the reduction
of the debt has saved the people of
this Nation and the generations to
come. at least 4 cents per year in in
terest. Keep this in mind in your
administration of public funds. Every
dollar that you save sWeIls the sur
plus which goes to the further reduc
ton of our debt Thus every saved
dollar saves at least cents per year
in interest to the taxpayer. In con.
sidering immediate projects or re-
QuirementS you should have in mind
their future benefit. SO that the ele-
ment of possible constructive econ
omy in contemplated expenditures
may not he overlooked.
Benefits OF Coordination.
The budget system prescribed by
Congress in 1921 co-ofdinated our
fina ncial requirements. 1t paved