Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-17

ally get laugh out of it. Here is
something that gave me real one and
I want to share it with you. In the
files of the Department of the Interior
there was found letter from Albert
B. Fall. Secretary of Interior I will
read 1t to you. 1t is addressed to Presi-
dent Harding.
My dear Mr. President:
Il thank you very much for handing
me the letters of Gen. Dawes, COM
menting upon my letter to you with
reference to the savings of this de-
partment. 1t Is very gratifying to know
that Gen. Dawes is in accord with my
self In the matter OF true efficiency, as
I perfectly well know that he must be
when he understood the subject of my
departmental activity from my stand
point. Through you I would like to
convey to him my appreciation of both
the tone Of and the assurance contained
III his letters which l am returning for
your files as requested.
Very sincerely yours,
ALBERT B. FALL"
Here Is the laugh. This letter about
efficiency and economy in the Depart
ment of the Interior was written at
the very time that the Secretary was
taking the first steps to get control Of
the naval oil reserves so that he might
lease them TO private interests from
which, according to the record. the
private interests were to make $780,
900 900. There is economy and efn-
cheney for you, running wild.
In all the record of the public bust
ness at Washington there Is no more
palpable evidence of neglect than the
treatment by the Republican admin
istration of the question of proper
housing for the Army.
Hits Army Housing.
1 could go into this at very great
length to show willful and known
neglect Of the property of the Federal
Government used for housing our SOL
diers. Suffice it for me to say that no
well-organized business institution in
the world would tolerate for one week
what has been going on in the Govern
ment at Washington during the present
administration. Page after page of
public hearings on the War Depart
ment appropriation bills testified to it
III language stronger than could use.
For the time being let me quote the
Secretary of War, who said:
Il have not hesitated to say quite fire.
quently that I think the conditions of
our housing is a very serious matter
and almost amounts to a national
scandal
These words come directly from a
member Of the administration. In
order to try To make the first picture
stand up member Of the administra-
ton is compelled to say that the con-
duct OF his own party III power at
Washington on the question of housing
our soldiers amounts to national scam
dial. 1t is also a matter of record that
Army officers Of high rank have been
reprimanded because they have publicly
referred to the disgraceful housing con-
ditions in the Army. What does Mr..
Hoover think of that kind of economy.
He should not pass that question along
to Dr. Work. The American people are
entitled to know from his own words
whether or not ne approves of an econ
omy that starveS Indian children and
fails to provide adequate housing and
proper eating and sleeping quarters for
the American soldier.
VIII Talk on Reorganization.
In later speech in the campaign 1
propose to take up the question of the
reorganization of the Government, a
great reform designed to bring about
real. economy and promised by both
President Harding and President Cool
idge and by spokesman for both Of their
administrations, and which. because Oh
weakness and lack of leadership and
questions of patronage involved, was
never carried out even in the slightest
degree.
have painted tonight for you three
pictures
First. the picture that the Republican
party would like to have the American
people believe as showing great eff
cheney and great economy always, with
the hope of making you believe that be-
cause of their wonderful handling of
the Government it is costing less today
than 1t did in the first year of Presi-
dent Coolidge's administration l have
made this picture full and complete.
/ have painted for you a second pic
ture, setting up real facts which snow
that the Government is costing more
this year than it did in the first year
of President Coolidge. and which show
that the small, petty economies used to
bolster up the false claim OF economy
are but drop in the bucket and really
mean nothing as against what could be
done
I painted a third picture of Repub-