Evening star., 1928-06-12

duces revenue we find in place Of our
prospective surplus n threatened deficit
Of $94, ,279 900. Are we disturbed at this
radical change in the picture? Dis
tllrbed perhaps but not discouraged.
Down, but not out! To the Federal
service threat of deficit Is but chal-
lenge and we accept 1t.
"If l mistake not the purpose and
policy of the Chief Executive, deficit
will not be tolerated.
Expenditure will be kept inside reve-
nue, no matter what the decrease in
revenue may be. To save possible en-
barrassment YOU should work out your
1929 spending program carefully In ad-
vance. Provide first for the things
that must be done. Go slow with your
obligations, SO that If. as the year de-
velops, the President finds 1t necessary
TO impound some of your funds in
order to avert deficit, it will not in
terfere with YOUR priorities. Make no
expenditure that can be avoided. The
Bureau OF the Budget receives COM
plants from taxpayers of unnecessary
Federal buying. Investigation has
shown most of these complaints to
have no more foundation than the
woman's criticism of her husbands
purchases. II seems the husband, who
was balancing the household budget,
INDUCED in a little lf-congratulation.
Said be:
81 don't believe I've made one ex-
travagant expenditure. so far, dear
"Retorted the wife witheringly:
What about that fire extinguisher you
bought six months ago? We've never
used it once!
Exercise the most careful discrimi-
nation in your spending. If there is
any doubt about an expenditure, kill 1t.
The conditions we must meet next
year h,re been plainly set out. The
administrator who knowing these con-
ditions, sends a Federal dollar on a
doubtful mission lacks something of
the loyal fighting spirit for which. we
plead and which we will sorely need
the coming year.
Cutting Out Two Billions.
"The President has referred to an
historic two billions of dollars-the
amount of reduction in national expen-
diture during the budget season. In
1927 the last complete fiscal year, we
spent $2,044 100000 less than was ex-
pended in 1921, the last year free from
budget interference. To adequately tell
the story of that campaign would re-
qulre a book. a large one. The few IL
Illustrations that follow utterly fail to
give a true picture of the successful
efforts of service people to cut out
needless expense and make the tax
payers dollar work overtime. Hun
dreds and thousands of contributions,
big and little, make up that $2,0000 00G,-
600.
Here is one of the little ones! The
Bureau Of Plant Industry, Agricultural
Department, needed an electrical heat
ing apparatus. 1t built one and saved
$l2. This is fair type of many hum
dreds OF constructive efforts that help
ed out on the grand total.
"A survey of the Governments tel
ephone facilities by experts from the
Bureau Of Standards saves us $500
a year. Another small saving. But
notice, please, it is a saving of $4,000
year and has been going on for seven
years.
Transporting people and things is a
pig annual expense 49, approximately
S200, 100000 a year. We revolutionized
our traffic methods. with a continuing
annual saving In excess of 81 900 600
In connection with Texas air activities
the quartermaster general of the Army
recently effected switching agreements
that will save $375.000 the first year.
He also saved $1,6i2 793 from 1925 to
1927 in handling gasoline, fuel, lubricat-
ing oils and helium.
Every Christmas season Federal
agencies possessing trucks help Santa
Claus Trucks are loaned the Post Of
flee Department, with saving to date
OF $574llf8l. Please credit these
sizable amounts to our $4,000, 600, 900
shrinkage.
Communication Service.
In 1924 we established a Federal
message center. Under this arrange
ment Government agencies in Washing
ton have their official messages sent
free TO any part of the world where
the Army and Navy have radio stations.
Last year 1t saved us $f,7iI,92325.
while the record for nine months
promises a saving this year Of $2,l83.-
600. This latter saving will cover the
expense OF the new Federal building
proposed Tor Seattle. And this is one
OF the savings that goes on from year
TO year. Nearly $4,000. 900 saved in two
years by simple piece of co-ordina-
tionl Here's another shaving whitfield
off that $4,000. 900 900.
The budget organization found the
Government as whole blissfulIy OBJ
liviouis OF the value Of prompt settle
ment Of its bills. Few Federal agencies
had given consideration to the advan-
tages derived from prompt settlement
Of bligations--advantages consistinr
not only OF the saving Of cash discounts
but IN the better prices, better goods
and better service a promut-payfng
customer gets. Today the entire Fed
erat organization Is alive TO the neceg-
sity Of prompt payment.