The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-04-07
Time to Keep Within Bounds

Rich as is the nation In wealth and resources and
vast as GRE its revenues. there is always a limit at which
to draw the line on governmental expenditures. Presi-
dent Hoover has been giving congress its biennial warm
Ing that there is such a step as going too far in the mat
ter of appropriations and that it is possible to raise the
specter OF a deficit by such prodigality as the lawmak-
es have under way.
There used to be a time when appropriations were
made in a spirit OF dread. That was up to the time when
the late Tom Reed had to defend the appropriations
Of his speakcrship, with the epigrammatic statement
that this was "a billion dollar country which was his
answer to the political cry that congress had been extra
VACANT in its appropriations. The stage at which the
nation passed into the billion dollar expanding class was
a brief period Of awe. People did not know whether to
be proud of such prestige as being able to afford SO great
q budget or whether to be dumbfounded by the temerity
Of the step.
Now bilion-dollar expenditures have lost their power
to amaze or intimidate the taxpayers. The force of Reeds
epigram has become q trite realization in this country.
The fact that the United States threw almost q billion
dollars into the World war has deadened the ~taxpaying
nerve of the nation. People expect big things of the
executive and legislative departments of the federal gov
ernment. There Is Q tendency, therefore. for congress
to plunge In the setting Of the annual appropriations,
leaving it to trim them when 1t comes to enacting the
money bills II they be found over the limit Of prospec-
tive revenue.
Congress is approaching another Of these stages in
drawing on the treasury. That Is why President Hoover
has lifted an admonishtng finger. He has been checking
up and he finds the lawmakers apparently taking too
much for granted. uumindful Of the $o5 900 900 reduction
in income taxes enacted by resolution Of this congress
and needless Of q booming decrease Of $40.000000 in
customs duties.
1T is impossible at this early date to estimate with
accuracy the situation In the next fiscal year that end
ing June 80, 1881" President Hoover said. THE budget
Indicated after the tax reduction which has since been
enacted . surplus Of $47oooooo for the next fiscal year.
On the revenue side the treasury sees no occasion to
make any substantial revision Of its estimates.
Since the budget figures were submitted. legislation
enacted at the present session Of congress has imposed
. burden Of additional expenditures amounting to $780,
100000 during the next fiscal year.
THE major difficulty in prospect, however, arises from
the fact that bills already ~favorably reported by con-
gressional committees. II enacted into law. would entail
IN additional expenditure of nearly 800 million dollars
next fiscal year and, as far as we can see today. inevitably
result in a deficit. The situation clearly calls for most
rigid economy and deferment Of even otherwise ju~stifiable
expenditures by both the legislative and executive de-
partments."
The president is right in serving warning on congress.
The specter Of a possible deficit Is not calculated to
boost business, which already has suffered sufficiently
from the i'll effects Of last falls stock debacle.