The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-12-08

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flood control work.
1t is true, as he says, that funds appropriated and
not entirely spent in this year will remain in 1884.
SO that building will not stop entirely. But that
explanation only admits that the public works pro-
gram ordered by congress to put as many men to
work as possible has not been carried out at any
time by the executive.
In sharp contrast is the Hoover treatment of
the military services, which annually receive more
than half the sum set aside for cost Of operating the
government. To them is allotted $3.50, 447,00O, a total
net reduction of only $3.50 900, and this sum also
is made up almost entirely of cuts in job-giving con-
~struction work.
Minor reductions In the items for the national
guard and citizens military training camps are steps
in the right direction, but Intellectual steps. New
naval construction is to be continued to the extent
of $53, 100000 by transfer of funds, in spite of the
cut in the navy's total construction program.
Stun abatement or other productive construction
is better unemployment relief and more economical
than naval building. Hoover makes no real progress
in the work, so long desired by a tax-ridden people,
of permanently reducing the crushing burden of mil
itary activities.
The Presidents recommendation for curtailment
of veterans benefits deserves praise, small as it is.
In this respect, Mr.. Hoover has shown more compre-
VAN SoAAOASO VI Viz 11SCd1 SITUATION ana
the temper of the country than have members of the
congressional joint committee named to deal with
this subject.
But the Presidents proposed economies amount
TO only $127,00O,00 gross, a net saving of only $89 O0o-
600 in the billion-dollar bill for pensions, hospitaliza-
ton, disability payments, and other benefits annually
accorded veterans and their dependents.
1t has been estimated that $3.50, 900 900 fairly
might be cut from this total and if investigation
shows this to be true, the Hoover cut is far from
adequate.
That part OF the budget dealing with regulatory
functions OF the various departments will be re-
celved with less enthusiasm than any other. Max
ing a virtue of the petty amounts thus saved. Hoo
yer attempts to reduce drasticany the work of GER
tain bureaus laboring at present to protect the
public against abuses on the part of business.
Although congress rebuked him last year for try
ing to cut off funds for the utilities investigation
OF the federal trade commission, the President
again proposes a disproportionate reduction of the
commissions funds.
He again proposes to cut the valuation bureau
of the interstate commerce commission, the heart
of railroad rate regulation. He would cut the work
of making meat inspections, and of attempting to
enforce safety regulations in coal mines.
He reduces the ~pitifully inadequate funds al
@C"ON NONNNS@OA " hVAO4Ao d4l0 0Jo
once more the expenditures in behalf of Indians.
All these are trivial savings compared with the
tremendous army-navy OUTLAWS.
On the other hand, he asks congress for greater
subsidies for steamship and airplane companies and
more money to hunt out and deport aliens in this
country.
He provides the usual millions for enforcement
of prohibition, $~9,5OO,0OO directly and another
$35,oo0,O in courts, customs and coast guard and
other bureaus that assist enforcement-this in face
of the election mandate for repeal.
Instead of making most of the saving at the
expense of unemployment relief works, as the Presi-
dent proposes, his $5SO,OOO,OO of net saving can
come from veterans benefits and army-navy.
Additional savings can be made by eliminating
subsidies. consolidating bureaus, and cutting prohi-
bition enforcement funds. On top of that, $780,
100000 or more revenue can be obtained by beer
and wine taxes to help balance the budget.
Congress, with care, can do better than Hoover
proposes, in balancing the budget.