The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-05-21
Wise Economy

with plans perfected for financing federal relief
without dipping into the federal treasury, with the
last Of the annual appropriation bills out OF the way
IN the house Of representatives, and with the senate
making substantial progress toward further reducing
the amount Of the appropriation bills, balanced
operating budget is If sight at last.
Tariffs alone block the way, and make it uncer-
tain whether the vitality necessary tax bill shall be
passed within two weeks. much later.
When that problem is disposed Of only agreement
BY congress upon specific items Of the revenue Dill
and the federal economy and appropriation bills VIII
stand between the people and the assurance they
seek Of the countrys financial stability And those
should present great difficulties.
Savings already accomplished almost equal the
amount needed together with the tax bill, to bal
ance the budget The house has cut $l50000OO0 from
the annual supply bills The senate already has cut
another s1747l 000 The minimum amount TO be
saved under the house economy bill s3OOOoOOO These
add to a total Of approximately S2OO0OOOOO and the
treasury department asked for economies OF only
s24l 100000 to balance the budget.
In addition the senate now has under considera-
ton plan to take all public works proposed for 1888
out Of the annual supply bills and to finance them
by means Of bonds. This proposal, II 1t IS enacted
will cut current expenses about s25OOOOOOO; and IL
the senate also continues with its 10 per cent cuts
Of the government viii mount to something Ike three
quarters Of a billion dollars
Probably the most important point still at issue
concerns the kind Of economies to be made
The house failed to cut the military services to
the extent the civil services have been cut Gaping
this disappointing performance by insisting that
summer camps shall be conducted for college r. 0.
T c. boys and c. NJ. T. C. boys, even though essen
tial services Of the government crippled to make
these possible.
The senate should enforce upon the military the
same hardships that civilian branches OF the govern
ment are being called on to bear. For the army to
escape with cut Of 10 per cent under 1892 expendi-
lures while the interior department cut "a per cent
Is ridiculous and unsouud.
Neither branch Of congress has given sufficient at
tention to eecting economies in the s5OOoO0OO set
aside in the budget for choking prohibition down the
Threats OF the people small cut in the prohibit
ton bureau allotment is being protested.
Nothing has been done to cut the miioGs spent
by the coast guard the border patrol, the of
industrial alcohol in futile attempts to enforce dry
Laws.
Subsidies paid to steamship companies and air
plane companies, under the guise Of mail contracts
should be among the first items to fall before the
economy ak 1t is indefensible at a time like this
to collect from burdened taxpayers than
s5000O00 for the administration to pass out to these
lines OF business.
The President is trying to block consolidation of
the war and navy departments which would not
cripple defense but would save upward of hundred
million dollars by eliminating overhead charges and
overlapping functions and by mass purchase of
supplies
The economy program viii not be complete until
this is done.
If the economy pruning knife is applied wisely
the structure Of the federal government need not be
damaged. It may be improved definitely.