Evening star., 1932-06-07

pend1ture OF SlZo,VVV,VVv' 4uSt 1SS
policy but cannot help but think
more real good would be done II we
used this money, or . substantial part
of it. for Q few years in cooperation
With counties or the States In making
better the local or feeder roads. This
would help communities to get their
products to market, rather than simply
aid outside people to pass through. This
kind Of road program would help the
farmers to and from market, In addi-
ton to providing good post roads, which
are badly needed, especially IN some
sections OF our country.
Indicate Difficulties.
Those are few examples that show
why our appropriations have increased
from sl,02l ,S49, 900 In 1918 to S4,674,-
073917 In 1892. They may indicate
where or how some reductions can be
made, If the people are willing-they
indicate, too, how difficult it will be to
make substantial reductions. These
difficulties are many and exceedingly
hard to overcome. The ambition Of our
people is, justly, great Their cumula-
tive demands, through their representa-
tives, are tremendous. In a forward
looking country, such as ours, 1t IS easier
to accede to this pressure than to cur
tail Federal activities by cutting the
total appropriations.
do away with bureaus commissions,
and other governmental bodies, we are
told. Probably we can dispose with
some. How many, and what are they?
Will they be abandoned? II not, who
will perform their functions? These are
questions that are never answered. We
are effecting one or two changes along
these lines by our economy BILL but we
are told it will bring little, If any, econ
omy. We are going to give the Presi-
dent authority to abolish some, conson-
date some, and submit plans to Con-
gress for other reorganizations. We will
have to wait and see what economies
are are, effected Effect d. under ssrv that authority We
Il need not say that we have to do
many things we do not like to do. That
comes to all of us. do not want to cut
any ones wages. We have to do 1t.
however, in one way or another, but We
are going to make it as easy and for as
short time as possible. I earnestly
hope it will not need to be extended.
Study Of Bills Cited.
LET me tell you how carefully our
appropriation bills are studied, SO that
no unnecessary or undesirable item may
be included. The executive departments
and independent governmental estab-
lishments first present their needs to
the Bureau Of the Budget. Hearings
are held there and every demand
scrupulously examined with view to
excluding those estimates lacking in
merit. Those estimates are submitted
to the President. This year. I under
stand, he made an arbitrary cut OF S
per centum. The Budget Office, through
the President, then sends these esti-
mates to Congress for its consideration.
The Appropriations Committee Of the
House holds extensive hearings on each
bill, examining each item and reducing
or striking out sums as 1t deems wise.
This year it has followed the rule Of
increasing no item above the budget
estimate. The bill then undergoes the
scrutiny of the whole committee, Is re-
ported to the House, and is considered
item by item before passage. After
passing the House the bill goes through
the same process in the Senate, al
though not in SO much detail. What
additions or changes are made there go
to conference and are most carefully
studied and worked out by the repre-
sentatives of the two houses. This year
the DllS, tIluS ldI, lLdNc DOSlA NuI AL
the Senate arbitrarily 10 per centum
In the aggregate below the House fig
ures. and these cuts are generally &C
cepted. Is it possible to use more care?
AS a matter of fact, I am afraid we
have cut too deep, but these are times
that require extreme economy.
II want to say to our people we are
making an earnest effort to economic.
I have never known q more determined
or more honest attempt to reduce ap-
propriations than has been put forth
during the first session Of the Seventy
second Congress. We know the condi-
tions throughout the country. We ap-
preciate the difficulties our people face.
We want to help all we can.
do the Best We Can"
II am not complaining, nor am I
scolding, but when I got strong let
ter from constituent urging propo-
sition and then. in the same mail. an
equally strong letter from a second con-
stituent earnestly opposing the Identical
proposition, what am I to do? Let me