Evening star., 1932-09-04
CAPPER SEES NEW
ERA OF ECONOMY
WITH BIG BENEFIT
Depression to Evolve Lower
Taxes and Greater Eff
cheney, Says Senator.
"PUBLEC EXPENSES
MUST COME DOWN"
Extravaganza and Shifting Of
Burden to Federal Govern
ment Are Assailed.
BY ARTHUR CAPPER,
Uaased States Senator from Kansas.

o1 AnA ShA Ekks
Ualsed States Senator from Kansas.
Pubic expenditures, regardless of the
source or taxes, must be brought within
the range of the people to meet the
cost without burden to themselves or tc
their business and industry. This ne
cessity faces every governmental unit
whether national or local.
I believe that out of this depression
will evolve not only lower taxes for the
people, but greater efficiency and prac-
tical service in every unit Of the Gov
eminent. think we may look for q
new day, both in governmental costs
and in efficiency and capacity for serv-
ice.
This, unquestionably. will be one OF
the beneficial results that will come to
the country from its narrowing and
painful experience of depression.
The Federal Government is the most
usual and frequent target Of demands
for lessened public expenditures, because
1t spreads over all Of the country and
its activities are larger and more CLAM
orous than those of other units OF gos-
eminent.
Every One Concerned.
It comes into contact with all OF the
people; its functions and services In
some form reach every one. None Is
immune from its benefits; in fact, every
person Is dependent upon 1t In some
way. a..
structure from the present proportions,
is carried out, is Of paramount impor-
tance to the whole county.
The necessity for readjustment afforos
a great opportunity for constructive and
intelligent realignment to the eno tnat
its efficiency in function and capacity
for service may be not only preserved
but fitted more closely to the changing
and future needs Of the country.
The need for tax reduction every
where is pressing and absolute. Taxes
simply have to come down, which means
that the structure of government must
be brought down, too. But 1t should be
done carefully and intelligently, with
every safeguard to the actual ana po-
tential interests of the people.
Destructive readjustment can only be
costly and in the end futile.
Taxes and Public Spending.
No tax system, however perfect, will
of itself. or can by any magic process
lower tax rates. The problem Is directly
associated with the regulation ana re-
duction of public spending.
This country has learned to STUDY
private business problems with an open
mind and q willingness to take fresh
viewpoint. The same thing should pe
true In the study of public business
problems. Especially should it be true
in relation to the reorganization OF the
Federal Government.
It is both practicable and feasible te
reorganize the Federal Government r
Ats functions along lines which VIII re-
duce its costs and at the same TIME
enlarge its capacity for service and mor'
closely fit its functions to the growing
needs and demands of the Nation.
This task should be carried through
in a thorough and unbiased study OF al
of its phases and branches. with re
classification of its functions and witt
merger or elimination wherever there L
duplication.
1t seems practicable and feasible, ant
in fact, has been demonstrated thai
many Of its branches and divisions car
be merged and co-ordinated. But ]
stands to reason also that some II 1t!
features can be eliminated or great!
curtailed, because, under present condi'
tions and the need for lower taxes, the!
are distinctly "luxuries in Government.
There are approximately ITS tnde'
pendent boards, commissions and ou
reaus outside Of the 10 established gov
ernmental departments. In so far a.
can be done without absolute injury u
the public service, these units should b.
brought within the departments, or dis
pensed with altogether.
Their number should be brought dowr
to the irreducible minimum OF what /
essential to the people under any ane
all conditions
The war promoted a great expansion
in governmental activity. and the Fed
eral Government has never got back T.
what might be described as a natura
condition either in its structure or II
its functions.
Blame on Extraysgance.
Probably &c One In particular is +
A!arne for this condition. We have a.
been on a spending debauch. We hav
indulged in eXtravagances, frills an
ornamental expenses which did no
easy to pay but in season OF har
time, are bitterly and painfully costl!
In the gradual process OF reducln
and readjusting the Federal Govern
ment,, sensibly and logically carried ou
care should be taken to forestal tn
need for expansion In the future whic
may lead again into the difficulties an
troubles through which it has struggle
in the last two or three years.
AS the costs Of local government ha'
increased there has been growing ten
dency to partially or entirely transft
many Of their functions to the FEEDERS
Government. This feature OF expanslo
in the National Government should
studied in its broadest aspects, an
those functions returned to the Sta
and logical governments which they al
manifestly best equipped to perform.
A great deal has been cut from II
running expenses Of the National Go
ernment; as much, I think, as could
done intelligently within the limits
time Of the last session Of Congres
The task required consultation wit
governmental officials, and judicio
thought, for, needless to say task
this magnitude could not and cannot
accomplished without the wholehearts
cooperation Of officials Of the Cover
ment.
we should be able to cut hundreds
millions of dollars more from the Fe
eral running expenses. 1t just has to
done. whether We like 1t or not and
matter who is stepped on before the
IL completed.
Governments are not sources Of q
haustless wealth. So long as there
public expenditures some one must +
them. while diversified taxes may M
widely distribute the burden, the fl
solution of the problem is bound up
the reduction of the expenditures the
selves.
Copyright. 1889, by North American Ne
pape. Alliance, Incl