Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-17
TEXT OF Gov SMITHS SPEECH AT SEDALIA NO. la

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never learn this from the political
bookkeeping of Mr.. Hoover and Mr.
Mills, or the Republican national COM
mittee. But. of course, when you are
painting a false picture, overlooking a
little item like S2.600,000 900 is not of
much consequence.
Charges Executive Increase.
In painting the real picture, let us
go first into the Office of the great
apostle of economy, the President him
self. and We find that in 1921 the ex-
ecutive department, limited to the Office
of President and Vice President, cost
the people $4,000. In 1927 that
figure moved up to $685. 900. but as long
as the national committee says that
this increase WAS caused by an ex-
panditure for putting new roof on the
White House to make it safe, we will
let it go at that. But what about 1928
when there was no roof to be paid for,
and the appropriation moved from
$4,000 the first year of President
Hardings administration 70 1923. 900 in
1928, considerably more than 100 per
cent increase?
Let us take the District of Columbia.
which is a city run by the Federal
Government. In the first year of the
Harding administration it cost the
people of the country $2l .92l 900. In
1923 1t jumped to SAC, loss, 600, almost
100 per cent increase, and this in the
face of the Republican claim that cities
and municipalities of the country out
side of the = strict of Columbia were
responsible fcS destroying the effects of
alleged Federal economy.
If Coolidge economy has reduced
the cost of Government, it should be
reflected in the expenditures of the
various departments of Government
Let us take look at the figures.
Lists Department Figures.
The cost of operating the Depart
ment of Agriculture jumped from S143.-
900 900 in 1924 to $156,000, 900 in 1927,
The Department of Commerce from
S25 000000 in 1924 to S3l 900 900 in
1927, the Department of the Treasury
from $l17,000,000 in 1924 to $l44,O0O.-
600 in 1927. And SO goes the whole
story. For the purpose of painting the
picture properly. let us take all the de-
partmentS of the Government, and we
will find an increase in expenditures in
1927 as against 1924 of about 5000 ,0O0.-
900: and the appropriation acts of
1928 so far signed by the President
show that expenditures for this fiscal
year will be greater than in 1927.
There is nothing there that makes
good the first picture. 1t destroys it
entirely. And it was because of that
the Republican managers saw fit to set
up an alibi in the Republican CAM
paign book
At this point let me say that the
of no
come as near to a Chinese
puzzle as anything / have ever SEEN
They were in the same condition in
my own State until l devised a system
Of direct accounting to the people in
plain, ordinary words and figures that
the man of the street can readily
understand. The fiscal reports of the
United States Government challenge
even the ingenuity of accountants. and
for that reason they readily lend them
selves to Misrepresentation The Fed
eral procedure in appropriating and
money is hard to follow and
difficult to analyZe 1t looks as though
the whole system was devised to con-
fuse and mystify. Certainly that has
been the effect
Charges Political Move.
When Congress convenes in Deem
Der, according to the Director of the
Budget, it viii be compelled to meet
deficiency of approximately 500 900 900.
That means money that should have
been appropriated at the regular ses-
sion. but was not, and / see a certain
significance in that entering a presi-
Dental campaign, when there is a de-
sire on the part of the Republican
party to paint for the people of the
country a false and misleading picture
of economy.
You may be sure, however, of the fig
ureS I gave you tonight, because they
are correct. I have given you the real
picture as it would be given by any
man who. desired to talk plainly and
to the American people.
There Is still third picture that I
would like to paint tonight and lay be-
fore the American people. That is a
picture OF what should have been done
and was either neglected entirely or
or was started with a grossly
inadequate appropriation SO that ad-
could get the credit in the
election OF doing something without
paying for it. In order to put this pic
ture properly before you must first cali
your attention to what / consider to be
trick bookkeeping. Under the system
at Washington we have what Is known
as deferred appropriations This is
device under which undertakings are
started with small appropriations and
the Government is committed to large
in succeeding years.
thereby passing the buck to the next
administration after election.
Cites Rent Roll.
There is no greater waste in the coun-
try today than the annual rent roll of
the Federal Government, which is about
$40 100000. Can you imagine an ad-
ministration claiming credit for great
economy that expends in rent in one
year $40 100000? am informed in some
instances the rental paid gives a yield
to the property owners in excess of II
per cent per annum. There Is no econ
omy in that; that Is cold-blooded waste
Let me put into this picture exactly
what Is going on in the Government at
washington with respect to property ac-
quired for public buildings of various
kinds throughout the country, and as
against the first picture of alleged econ
omy let me show picture of willful
waste. Bear in mind that when the
Government acquires property for pub
lie use 1t is Immediately lifted out of
the taxable values of the community
wherein 1t is situated. That means that
II the Government acquires plot of
land in any city, town or village the
municipality loses the tax revenue OF
that piece of land. Consider what a