Evening star., 1928-01-31

CTkHillIalioii o. tile IllteQ StattS NrpN =
eyzlrent last night, President Coolidge
spoke as follows:
Members Of the Governments Business
Organization:
''In spite Of the fact that this is the
fourteenth OF the Semi-annual budget
meetings, there are. no doubt. many
Who are still wondering why they are
held and just what their purposes may
be Nearly every one connects them
with economy in Government eXpendi-
lures. But that is not the real an
Swer. The orderly and propoItiona;e
Use of the resources Of the people
Of The United States is certainly
being sought. But that is only the
method and the means Of accomplish
ing our main object. The real purpose
Is nothing less than the true and SCI
entiflc progress OF humanity. II Is the
major effort IN undertaking TO estab-
lish the correct relationship between
needs and resources. Il works out into
conservation o. human energy. II is
immediately translated into concrete
results. not only for the people at large
but for the people in the Government
service For the unemployed il makes
the prospect Of employment more GER
tair. For the employed il makes
hours shorter, tasks lighter. wages
higher. and positions more permanent
II makes the cost Of food and clothing
less Il reduces rents. II makes the
home easier 10 buy. and. having been
bought easier 10 pay for. II makes
investments give better returns and in
creases the opportunity for saving.
The margin for the comforts. and
even the iuXuries. Of life is widened
The ability comes for broadening edu-
cational advantages. Leisure is secured
for the better appreciation Of literature.
music and art. Means exist for the
ministrations Of charity. Contentment
and peace of mind come under these
conditions. because people have the
feeling OF success and the conscious
ness that they are rising superior TO
their environment. Our efforts are not
based on any mean and sordid mate
ria.is-1. but are inspired by desire TO
promote the mental. moral and spirit
ual welfare Of the people.
Worth Working For.
THAT. in short. is the meaning of the
budget system OF the United States. If
i is no; worth working for, then do
not know anything that is worth working
for. The members OF this business
~-ganization are certainly entitled TO
Ike great deal OF pride in what they
have accomplished. We are not only
working for our own benefit but un-
dertaking 10 promote the general well
fare Of all the people of our own Ma
ton and carry the same influences TO
every quarter OF the globe Prosperity.
with peace and contentment. is an en-
viable situation. We have that within
our own Nation. We would not have
Il II the business Of our Federal Gov
eminent had not been we'll managed.
The results Of that management are
portrayed in the present condition Of
our Nation. The enormous importance
OF constructive economy IN Federal
operations has been established. 1t is
here 10 stay. The prosperity, peace
and contentment Of the people demand
t. They furnish the money TO run the
Government. They have a right 10
have It run for their benefit.
In this great business OF the Fed
eral Government problems OF nlagni-
tude are constantly arising Each day
brings forth its differing problems. so
that it Is essential that we keep our
principles constantly before us. We
gather here twice each year for that
purpose Our record is represented by
what has already been done. But ali
OF this could be undone II We did not
proceed carefully and wisely in our
future operations. We are here TO pre-
pare for those operations in the light
OF past experience. The best gauge
OF the possibilities OF the future Is the
success Of the past. We are not per-
feet We 90 not claim 10 be. But
since the Inauguration in this Nation
OF the budget system We have been
steadily improving our business man
agement. You have your individual
tasks. Il Is essential however. that
you know the effect Of your task upon
the Federal finances as whole. This
Is an essential factor TO successful
organized action. II is one OF the basic
reasons for these meetings.
Orderly Plan Asked.
We are now facing the time when
{. is even more essential that we
proceed in an orderly manner. The
result under seven years Of the budget
system has been 10 the advantage Of
the people II Is 70. that. and that
alone, that We labor. The advantages
70 the people have been manifold IL
has found direct expression III vastly
diminishing our public debt and IN
three reductions In taxes. Both Of
these would have been impossible
without careful and prudent manage
r1ent o. the expenses Of our Nation.
On December 81 last the public
DEBT stood al approximately $4,000: :
900 900. We can only visualize what Is
reoresented By that figure by going
back 10 the days of isl5-i9is, when
our debt was Increased from slightly
over $3.50 900 600 10 nearly s2eye0o.-
600 900 This increase IN Cur debt
from 81 900 600 900 70 &2s 600 .000, 600
occurred within the short space OF
slightly more than two years. But
despite the heroic efforts Of both
the executive branch and the legigIa-
tive branch of the Government, IL has
required eight and ogle-tnird years u
.eouce tiae DEBT by 81 500 900 600. This
SHOWS how much easier u Is u borrow
money than 10 pay II. Prom April.
1917. 10 December. 1927. covering a
span ~ more than 10iz years. We paid
80 interest alone oVeE $500. 900 900
Since the declaration. IL war IN April.
1917 ve have paid ~ interest and
principal more than SIT 900. 600 900.
We cSnGct OTereSfiuae Or over
eEgspilaSaze the ;sapoFtance of the re-
caAcilon yt2ich 1ss been mace i1 our
debt Our 3nteTEs1 cost Is Sill great
burden This eos. for nezt year, how
ever, VIII ut 81 900 G10 q day iess than
4, yss ~ the pcak ~ our Interest
charges Two hundred thDUSaTld men
a. S. PER Gay L. gil&t this represents
Al " this lzhor nAs been yeleaSed for
productive emplosmefil fpf ,ne gsoc cf
al the peopie. What a saving o! hu-
slsrl energy.
''t9le p9oDie are co:lceTDfc in tsz re-
ollc'pon. They are. ti4sTe.pge. Concerned
81 everything tnat makfs hucti fsoic"
ton possibility IL slightly u4oss than
slE years We haye hes,l three fedacilo;,S
IN tsyes A. real ssile3 has bnen sf7mce1
the taxpayer Jne cJi4clllols ~hict
mace that fellrt yJs6lbie GIG not osaii
Dy acclGsDt. They were he result u
carefully eyn61c1ed ftdFrs! bilA?ffss
The executive branch and The legislative
branch n our Government cG~ofcifstAc
the!F efforts " MAKE this possible
THROWN fi4ofe efforts the budget Eal