Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-29
HOOVER IMPROVES
COOLIDGE ECONOMY
Thirty Per Cent Cut in White
House and Executive Of
flee Budget for 1881.

The customary calm of Calvin Cool
idgs must have received terrible
shock yesterday when he picked up the
newspaper from his doorstep in
Northampton, Mass, and read that the
estimates for the White House and EX-
ecutive Office for the next fiscal year
are 80 per cent less than the $6ll ,944
appropriated Tor the current year.
AS far as percentages go. 80 per cent
Is very sizeabla cut. and Citizen Cool
idge, who probably gave more thought
to cuts and economizing than to any
one other thing while he was President,
no doubt is still wondering how PreSl-
dent Hoover accomplished such feat.
In the partial list of the 1891 budget
estimate figures revealed by President
Hoover it was shown that the estimates
for the White House and Executive
Office for the year beginning July
next are S402, 800. This is $209.624
for the year ending July 30. which
appropriations were instituted while
Mr. Coolidge was winding up his era
of economy in the White House.
Full Explanation Lacking.
No explanation was made in Mr..
Hoover's advance information as to just
how this big reduction was to be
brought about. In trying to fathom the
mystery Mr. Coolidge must have. been
baked at the very start. knowing that
the Executive Office force and the per-
sonnet of the White House staff, as we'll
as the police guardians, and the cost
of maintenance of the old mansion
itself and the grounds about 1t, could
not possibly be reduced below the point
they were when he left the White
House last March.
Despite the 80 per cent reduction
shown bv Mr. Hoovcr'S partial figures,
&c hot
the Executive Office are not to be OPP
Grated next year any cheaper than Tor
the present year. 1t Is very probable
that they will cost little more next
year.
The reduction is somewhat mislead-
ing when the true story behind those
total figures is known. The TACT is
that the 80 per cent saving is brought
about by transferring the White House
police force which cost 900 for the
current year, to the Treasury Depart
ment. This years appropriation in
cluded 5000 for altering and other
wise making Mount Weather Va, pre-
sentable as a rural retreat for Presl-
dents. for which no item appears in
the estimates for next year. Also, IN
this years cost there is an item OF
$4,000 for the purchase and framing
of an oil painting of President Coolidge
to be hung in the White House. That
item is missing in next years estimates.
Extra Salaries Held Down.
Finally. there is an item of 100000
for remodeling the Executive Office and
one for $4,000 for increases in salaries
and extra maintenance. all of which
Just about consume the reduction OF
5000 600 indicated by Mr.. Hoovers es-
Inmates for next year.
Another perplexing feature of the
White House estimates is the fact that
the increase in clerks and stenogra-
pliers and messengers since the advent
of Mr.. Hoover makes no appreciate
difference in the total estimate for
Office salaries.
The explanation of this is that the
additions to the office force have been
borrowed, so to speak. from some one
Of the departments. and these clerks
are being carried on the rolls of the
latter. This, however, is not an inno-
walton on the part of President Hoover.
1t has been carried on by Presidents
for more than quarter of a century
Another interesting feature of the
details of the Executive Office appro-
priation estimates. and a fact not gen.
orally known, is that the $4,000 an
nual salary of the Vice President Is
included.