Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-02-19
A Miserable FaIIare.

The latest figure juggling act Of Presi-
dent Coolidge and his alleged statistical
mselcians was a miserable failure. For a
while the public was fooled az usual. but
suddenly Representative Jos W. Byrnes.
OF Tennessee. saw through II ALL He ex-
posed the tfickery then and there.
President Coolidge in the role Of the star
performer was attempting to show the
public that Federal appropriations for this
year represented economy. He was getting
by with II. too. until Mr.. Byrnes disclosed
that the figures he used for comparison
were not last years figures. but those for
1921. Here are some Of the major facts
concerning the Presidents false claims Of
economy which Mr.. Byrnes brought out in
q speech on the floor Of the House:
"A comparison Of the Budget figures for
the next fiscal year with those for 1925
shows an increase Of $4,000. 900.
The expenditures for 1924 were So
506.0O0.000. For 1925 they were S.
529.O0O.O00 and for 1925. S3.6Is .000.-
600.
In the face of these figures will any one
seriously contend" he asked. that the cost
Of the Federal government is not steadily
increasing despite the wide claims Of
economy and wise business admlnistrationf
The cost Of the Executive once. which
includes the personnel Of the oficial force
Of the President and the maintenance Of
the White House. was Si97 900 in 1921
1T is S463.000 in 1925. or an increase
Of $50 per cent
when the present Chief Executive as
stunned Office in the fiscal year 1928. the
cost was $349 900. showing an increase
in three years underline present Executive
Of $iS4.000. OF nearly 40 per cent
The President called attention 10 the
fact that expenditures for 1925 viii be
$l.9le 900 900 less than for 1921 and the
inference was that this large decrease
was the result Of close economy and saw
ines by the administration
Without commenting on the unfsirness
Of comparing 1925 with the fiscal year
Immediately following the war when the
army and navy had not fully demobilized
from war strength and war agencies were
in full operation. let Us see what consti-
tutes this large reduction
The army and navy cost sL062 .O00.-
900 less In 1925 than in 1921
The railroads still needed aid in 1921
as result Of their having been taken over
during the war and the costof the railroad
administration was $723,500. 900 less in
1926 than In 1921
THE grain corporation had been organ
lied as a war necessity to stabilize the
price Of wheat and IL cost $50 $50 900 in
1921 and nothing in 1925.
THE interest on the public was $780,
100000 less 10 1925 than in 1921.
The cost Of civil war pensions was
$50.50O.O00 less 10 1925 than 10 1921
The emergency feet corporation. war
agency. cost >9i.OO0.00O less In 1925
than In 1921.
These six items total S2.i97 900 900
or Zfo,UOOOUO more than the reduction
In which the President takes such great
pride and which he credits to constructive
economy
The President and the Director Of the
Budget both labored to show that the cos I
Of the ordinary business routine Of the
government is decreasing. We are all
efatifed at any reduction OF expenditures.
but fairness demands frankness and the
figures themselves present the best evil
dence."