Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-23
The Peoples Money.

President Hoover has second time
warned Congress that appropriations
must be kept within the budget figures
if deficit in the public Treasury is to
be avoided. Yesterday he addressed let
tiers to the chairmen of the Senate and
House committees on appropriations
calling attention to the fact that one
hundred and twenty-five bills have been
reported by standing committees Of
Congress or have passed one house
or the other which would authorize
an additional expenditure Of s35o,oo0,-
900. These measures are above and
beyond the annual supply bills for
the Government. Many Of them carry
comparatively small items. But in the
aggregate they reach huge sum- Many
of them have merit. 1t may be neces-
sary to pass some Of them. But the
Presidents warning is timely. The
country has experienced a constant re-
duction Of the Federal tax rates since
the close Of the war period. A resolu-
ton Of Congress, approved by the Presi-
dent, has Topped $16o,o0o,ooo of the tax
bill, which the people are paying on the
incomes received in 1929. No one wishes
to see the Treasury placed in position
where the Federal taxes will have to be
increased or q bond issue made by the
Government.
A government differs little from the
individual family when it comes to iv-
ing within its income and on a budget.
The danger to any budget Is not from
the major causes Of expenditure, but
from the dribbling away of money on
the smaller items. It is against just
such dribbling of the peoples money
that the President has taken stand.
Many of the proposals advanced In
Congress looking to the appropriation
of public funds are worthy. But are
they sufficiently worthy to run the
country into debt? The country is not
at war, but In the midst of peace. The
Federal Government already is expend-
ing a vast amount to aid the American
people In making greater success OF
their private undertakings. 1t is pour
ing out millions Of dollars for education,
for public highways and for score OF
other meritorious objects.
The House is about to have before II
O river and harbor bill, authorizing
large expenditures. Here is a measure
which provides for many projects Of
exceeding merit. 1t is measure upon
which individual Senators and Repre-
sentatives may seek to fasten many
amendments still further increasing the
amounts to be expended ultimately by
the Government. The river and harbol
bills Of the past have frequently beer
labeled pork barrel" measures. 1t does
not necessarily follow that the new bill
can properly be so named. Neverthe-
less, it is measure which will bear
watching. The President did not ir
his letter specify any piece of legisla.
the river and harbor bill can only be
| conjectured.
Economy in governmental expendi-
ture is always necessary. When public
expenditures become a burden on the
people some of the measures compelling
these expenditures become grief tt
the people rather than a blessing.
The House and Senate in dealing with
the annual supply bills have kept within
the budget figures, Senator Jones Of
Washington, chairman of the appro.
priations committee of the Upper House
has said. This is as it should be. Tc
the credit of the committees on appro.
priations it may be said that they guarc
faithfully against excessive expenditure:
of public funds. The danger usually Is
found In legislative proposals authoriS.
ing small and large expenditures. Once
they are written into law the appro.
priations committees are compelled X
give these proposals consideration.