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

work and improvements made necessary
by disasters which have overtaken our
own States and outlying territory.
These expenditures could not have
been financed without an economical
administration. We could not have had
tax reductions and the added expense
OF these necessary things without care
iul and orderly management of the
business of Government.
In this period of greatest prosperity
the purely business phases of admins
tratlon, the interests of commerce and
the encouragement of industry have
not been permitted to absorb our atten-
ton and mortgage our revenue to the
exclusion OF the more humane objects
and purposes. The duty and privilege
or providing for our veterans and en-
ployeS who have need of relief have
not been neglected. The Employees
Compensation Commission in 1928 paid
out S3,267,0 for the benefit of injured
Government employees, while the ex-
penditure for pensions, compensation,
insurance and care for the veterans of
various wars exceeded in 1928 5000, OO0,-
600. In all these fields of need the
Government has disbursed with gen.
erous hand. and its hospitals and
homes tor its wards thicaIy dot the
land. In times of great disaster 1t
opened the doors of its Treasury.
"On the artistic, altruiStic and patri-
otto side there has been no parsimonious
Withholding. The beautiful Arlington
Memorial Bridge that is spanning the
Potomac, the preservation and marking
OF historic spots, the character of the
public buildings being erected through
out the country. eloquently deny the
charge that we are only a commercial
Nation with no regard for anything but
the pursuit of the dollar. During these
late years there has been a steady
growth of interest in the higher and
better things, and am convinced that
the tone and character of the Nation
has constantly improved.
We are giving the people better
service than ever before. The post
office is extending to the people. rich
The Public Health Service protects
us from plague and other evils with
painstaking care heretofore unequaled.
In all our lives, sleeping and waking,
we are guarded and protected and
helped by the Federal Government IN
more and more ways. This has been
done under the restrictions OF policy
of drastic economy, which have saved
from waste the funds to make increased
and better public service possible. You
certainly have given abundant reason
for being proud of our great Govern
ment.
Much Remains to Be Done.
"In spite of all these remarkable &C
complishments, much yet remains TO De
done. We still have an enormous public
debt of over SIT 900 900, 600. In spite OF
all our efforts for economy, our great
savings in interest, and our four reduc-
lions in taxes, the expenses OF the Fed
eral Government during the last year
are showing a tendency TO increase.
While much has been done In reducing
the costs, by far the largest item OF
credit is due for preventing increased
expenditures. A. short time ago there
were pending before the Congress, and
seriously being advocated, bills which
would have doubled our annual cost OF
Government. At the present time COM
mittees have reported. and there are
on the calendar In the Congress. bills
which would cost more than a billion
dollars. Had there not been constant
insistence upon O policy Of rigid econ
omy. many of these bills would have be-
come law.
1T would be a great mistake to sup.
pose that we can continue our national
prosperity with the attendant blessings
which it confers upon the people.
unless we continue to insist upon con-
structive economy In government. The
margin between prosperity and depres-
sion is always very small. A decrease
of less than 10 per cent in the income
of the Nation would produce . defcit in
our present budget. The costs OF State
and local governments are rapidly
mounting. From. % 900 600 900 IN 1921
the National Industrial Conference
Board estimates, that they reached
1881 900 coo In 1921. This Is such q
heavy drain on the earnings Of the
people that II Is the greatest menace to
the continuance OF prosperity. It Is q
red flag warning us Of the danger OF
depression and repetition OF the
disaster which overlook the country In
the closing days of 1920. It is warn
ing that should be needed by every one
intrusted with the expenditure or ap-
preparations Of public funds. It is the
reason that further commitments by
the national Government for any new
projects not absolutely necessary should
be faithfully resisted.
1.-THE results of economy which have
meant SO much to our own country, and
lndlrEcty TO the world, could not nave
BEEN successful without the Bureau Of
the Budget, Tt has been able in eight
years to reduce estimates by 1854, 000,-
000.. The ability with which that bu-
reau has been managed is due to its
director Since have been President
it has been under Gen. Lord. In all
our meetings have spoken of him in
terms Of cotnMendation. He has con-
tinued to justify all have, ever said
opportunity which shall have during
my administration publicly to express
to him again my appreciation of the
high character of his work and my in
creasing confidence In the budget sys-
tenn. No friend OF sound Government
will ever consent to see 1t weakened. No
one who admires fidelity and character
in the public service viii ever fail to be
grateful for the services OF Gen. Lord,
who will now address voaI X