Evening star., 1927-12-07
Department of the Interior.

Appropriated for 1923 -: 1885 asa .O2o 90
Supplemental estimates sub oo On, IN
mtted for 1928 oI,I9s. oo1 ~
Total for 1928 io5o 33f s36 6S3'Ssa fS3 tssa 40 90
Net decrease ......... 36.493. 7322o
The failure of the second deficiency
bill for 1927 forced the use of $3S,00O,-
600. of the pension appropriation for
! 1923 @to meet pension payments for
the months of May and June, 1927.
The rapid adjudication during 1873 OF
a largely increased number of new
claims due to the new pension leglsla-
ton of the first session of the Sixty
ninth Congress will further increase
the shortage in the 1928 appropriation.
Accordingly, a supplemental appro-
priat ton of SAG, 100000 for Army and
Navy pensions for 1923 will be neces-
sary. Supplemental estimates for 1928
will also be necessary in the amount
of $3.450.000 for the Coolidge Dam
irrigation project being constructed by
the Indian Service. and S1,0O0,00O for
the construction of roads and trails
by the National Park Service. These
and other necessary supplemental
items for 1928, if appropriated by Con-
gress, will increase the total of the
1928 appropriations from S285, ,484 .02O
to 1896, ,6S3 ,821.20, or S36, 1872 20
more than the Budget estimate for
1929.
Reductions for Interior.
The following comparison is made,
therefore. between the Budget esti-
mates for 1929 and the existing appro-
priations for 1928, plus the above
mentioned supplemental estimates for
that year. The estimates for the Of
flee of the Secretary of the Interior
show decrease from $685. 900 to $780,
200, due mostly to small reductions in
personnel. The estimates for the Gen
eral Land Office are decreased from
50, ,297 $50 to So 1885 by reductions in
personnel in the District of Columbia
and in the field. For the Geological
Survey there is a decrease from 81
S07,SS0 to 81 1,766,080, chiefly in the
items for classification of lands and
oil-leasing work. For the National
Park Service the estimates are re-
duced from $4,9246S5 to $4,612,25O,
due to the submission of a supple
mental estimate for 1928 Of 81 600, 900
for roads and trails construction, al
though there is an Increase OF
$687.565 in the 1929 estimates over
the existing 1928 appropriations. The
estimates for the Bureau of Education
show a decrease from $921,22 to
1914 800, largely through the reduction
of the item for investigation of land
grant colleges. For the Territorial
governments, the estimates show a
Slight decrease from $1,620,200 to
81 500, 200, through a reduction of
| 500 900 in the estimate for the Alaska
Railroad, which is offset in part by the
biennial estimates of $50, 900 for legis-
lative expenses.
The estimates for the Bureau of In
dian Affairs are apparently decreased
| from $16204, ,486 in 1928 (Which in
cludes supplemental estimates for
! 1928 of $3,549, ,80120) to $13,754 ,009.
Excluding the 1928 supplementals,
there is an increase in the 1929 esti-
mates over the existing 1928 appro-
priations of $1,099, ,324, to provide for
more extensive work in educating the
Indians and in lettering their condi-
ton physically.
Pensions Total Cut.
For the Bureau of Pensions, the es-
| Inmates are decreased from $685.
| $4,000 to 1921 1873 900, through the in
cluson for 1928 of a supplemental es
innate of SAG, 10000 900 to meet increased
pension payments during that year
| The 1929 estimates for the Bureau OF
Pensions include the amount of $19,
| $50 900 for beginning the financing OF
| the liability of the United States to
| the civil-serVice retirement and diSa-
bility fund.
Estimates for the Bureau of Recla
nation show an increase from $l2,
498 500 to $13, 100 900, to more rapidly
carry on the work of authorized new
construction of reclamation projects.
For St. Elizabeth's Hospital the esti'
mates are increased from $929,000 to
| 81 ,313 600 due to the inclusion of an
item of $4,000 for the beginning of
construction of a new medical and
surgical building to cost, with equip
ment, $875, 900.
estimates for the Columbia Institu