Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
Economy.

Economy in governmental operations.
with q deficit ranging above $500 OOO,-
nm facing the Treasury Department is
I. not only common sense but imperative.
n Is one thing to spend money wisely
in the matter OF public construction
during times OF depression in order to
provide as fer as possible for taking up
the slack Of unemployment. 1t is an
other thing to waste money by useless
overhead charges in the administration
ot any branch Of the Government
President Hoover not long ago made
public figures which showed that out of
total expenditure Of about - 0OO, O0O,-
600 a year. the Government was spend
ing more than $4,000, 000, 900 on past
wars and national defense. It Ia not sur
prising. under ell the circumstances thst
the commander in chief OF the Army and
the Navy should wish To scrutiniSe the
administration of military affsirs. or
that he should have called q confer
ence IT. his fishing camp over the week
end to consider with the Secretary of
wsr. the chief of stan of the Army end
other oficisls the possibility of making
savings in the War Department.
The Army Of the United States hes
been curtailed to the limit of national
safety. All the talk OF arms limita-
ton. In which the American Govern
rent and the American people have
heeR greatly interested. has never con-
tenplated cuts In the compa re lively d.
nnjnutive Army Of this country. It
numbers now $4,000 officers and en-
listed personnel. It. is said upon high
authority that President Hoover has
not proposed q reduction in the per-
nnnnel Of the Army in his economy pro-
grsm. But what he does insist upon is
the saving OF unnecessary expen futures
II such saving can be brought about
No one should quarrel with such
proposal, no matter how strongly that
person may feel the need Of maintain
ing adequate national defense.
Reorga IMITATION OF bureaus, elfmina-
ton Of ell kinds Of duplication Of work,
me consolidation Of Army posts now
scattered throughout the country are
possible avenues of attack upon the
expenditures of the War Department.
The consolidation Of Army posts might
well not only result In eliminating costs
but also add to the efficiency Of the
Army ITSELF by making It possible for
larger units of the combatant forces to
be trained together With the rapid
means Of transpoFta ton. the vanishing
Of frontiers in this country. the need
for many widely scattered Army posts
has been eliminated. Talk Of the elimi-
nation Of Army posts, however, has
invariably raised loud protests from the
localities In which the posts are To-
Gated. Members of Congress represent
ing these districts have been insisteDt
that the posts shall remain.
The expenditures annually today for
Fast and future wars when analysed
are found to be very largely for past
wars. war debts and the payment Of
millions upon millions In pensions.
bonuses and hospitshss tion. However,
the scrutiny of the expenditures for the
Army by the Chief Executive can do no
harm and may possibly result IN worth
while savings. Nor is the Executive
likely TO stop with the Army and the
Navy In his efforts toward economy.
All other branches Of the Government
and their expenditures may be exam
ined with good result The time for
wasteful expenditures. II it ever existed,
certainly Is not today. The money used
By the Government comes from one
source alone. the pockets of the Amer
tcen people.