Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-29

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than perfunctory assistance from serv-
ice people. Hearty, whole-souled CO.
operation was necessary. That kind
of cooperation we have had. It Is
because of this attitude on the part of
our personnel. because of their interest
In better administration, that SO few
false notes, so few discordant blahs.
have marred the harmonious full-toned
chords of accomplishment, woven in
and about that dominating, never
ceasing note of economy"
Budget System Broad.
1--WE have a great deal to say about
the budget system-possibly too much.
7 wish, however, to emphasize the fact
that the budget organization comprises
not only the President, the Budget Blu
reau, the budget officers of the various
departments and establishments, the
chief co-ordinator, our splendid CO.
ordinating boards, the area co-ordinat-
ors and the $50 Federal business asso-
Citations, but includes every person in
the Federal service. When we speak Of
budget achievements we are voicing the
accomplishments of the people in the
Federal service and the Congress that
in its wisdom gave us our budget system.
THE man of the house arrived home
4 from militia drill and pridefully in
formed the members of his family that
he had been appointed corporal.
"'Are we corporals, too?' eagerly asked
the children.
"'No, no, children replied the mother
Of the family, only me and your pa.
But not so in this successful fight
against waste, indifference and inef-
f1ciency. for We are all corporals and en-
titled to wear the chevrons of honor
able budget service.
THE Federal budget system is no
longer an experiment. 1t Is not strange
that its entry into Government opera
ton was regarded with misgivings by
administrators, who, through years Of
service. had experienced little control
over their estimates and less control
over their expenditures. 1t. however,
has come to stay. Chief Executives,
cabinet officers, budget directors. bureau
chiefs will continue to play their
parts and pass on the stage. but the
fundamental Importance OF budgeting is
SO evident that 1t has become the fixed
policy OF the Government. The manner
/ In which the policy Is carried out the
methods of the budget bureau. may be
4 legitimate objects of criticism, but the
system itself defies attack And the
attitude today of the people In the serv-
Ice leads one to think that they believe
in 1t and approve of 1t. !. It Is possible,
a however. In some cases, that this atti-
tude may be one of resignation. Said
one friend to another:
ct understand your daughter Is tax
ing piano lessons. What progress is she
: making?'
improving, think was the answer,
either that or we are getting more used
to It,
Comparisons Made.
J In budget discussions heretofore. we
; have made our comparisons with the
!, year 1921. That was the last year free
from budget control. The total expendi-
ture for that year. exclusive of debt
reduction and postal expenses, was S.
, lis 1927 ,689.30. In 1927-six years later
and six budget years-that extraordi-
nary outgo had been battered down
70 $2.s74,o2S, 674.62. This gave us re-
duction Of $2,141 1913, 0l468 in six
years. The figures have given, which
have been challenged, are exact-taken
from the records even to the last stray
Cling penny--and think can be
understood even by the schoolboy who
said he had no difficulty with algebra
and geometry, but couldn't understand
mathematics.
THAT year-1927-was also dis
tinguished as the year of largest sur
plus--$6SS. 800 .921.70. which you may
recall we applied to the debt, saving
thereby $25,000, 900 in annual interest.
"That 1927 figure of $2,974. O29. 674 go
Is the lowest expenditure level this gov
eminent will ever see. The country is
growing. expanding, developing glori-
ously. Its population is increasing
100000 In 1920 and 100, 900 900 in
1928. You can't run a modern mogul
locomotive for the money that was sllf-
ncient to maintain and operate an old
style woodworking engine. When legiti-
mate operating expenses fail to show
development and growth it will be evil
dence that something Is radically
wrong with the republic.
From now on we can look for steady
increase IN necessary national expendi-
cures. This, however. does not change
puoget policy nor weaken the demand
LOT the Strictest economy in federal
operations. Rather that demand is
strengthened. With the growth of the
country new important projects will
present themselves, calling for more
money from the Treasury. and no mat
ter now great the revenues, unless they
are courageously controlled and wise
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necessary purposes. burdensome addi-
tional taxes, or inability to carry on
necessary constructive work, will result.
Certainly we contemplate no such pos
Sibility
And the year 1927, with its record
OF smallest expenditure and biggest
surplus. forms the new starting point
Tor budget operations From now on,
instead OF striving each year to reduce
! expenses below the preceding year, we
enter upon a new and equally important
} duty to see that advancing costs are
renected in necessary development and
constructive progress.
Supreme Fight in 1929.
Expenditures in 1928 exceeded the
1927 record by $149,935, 35573. This
was almost entirely due to new legis-
lation providing for new projects of
great national Importance. We man
aged, however, with the aid of $780,
100000 reduction in interest, to end
the year with a surplus of 1898 $685.
: 23l .06. OF this amount 1867, 1853, 710.12
was applied to the debt with an annual
! interest saving of $14,000,000.
1.-THE current year thus far has not
been a happy one for the budget organ
ization. An original estimated surplus
OF 1882 $40 1913 was by new legislation,
including tax reduction, transformed in
5 to a threatened deficit of $94,000,000
! AT the last meeting of this organiZa-
ton In June the President called at
' tention to this radical change In pros
: poets, stated that he nevertheless con-
- templated no deficit at the end of the