Evening star., 1932-11-20

ice, he said, would save about $780,
100000 year" He recalled that this
economy proposal, which would make
what Postmaster General Brown esti-
mated he could make-had been op-
posed last year by the administration.
Would Back Sales Tax.
with all the economies we effect.
however" said Chairman Byrns, II
don't see how we can balance the budget
without additional revenue" He de-
clared his opposition in principle to the
manufacturers sales tax, but said that
in the present emergency he would be
willing to support it. Il would vote
for sales tax" he declared with vigor
I'VE can't continue to operate in
definitely on an unbalanced budget"
Chairman McDuff1e of the special
committee that drafted the economy
bill after lengthy hearings and confer
ences with the President, said he
would go along with the Presidents
program to cut the budget hard" He
insisted that the only way to reduce
the tax burden of the country is to cut
the cost of government. The only
way I know is to cut he said. 1T
is highly important that we balance
the budget If such a thing is at all
possible it must be done for the welfare
of the country. If the expenditures
continue to be heavy it certainly means
additional taxes, which We all would
regret.
Il don't want to see the curtailment
interfere with the efficient operation of
our Government Mr.. McDuffie pro-
tested, but I am ready to back any
reasonable cut that may be necessary
in the light of the present situation
and the condition of the Treasury so
as to help the people"
Tinkham for Reduction.
Representative George Holden Tink-
ham, Republican, of Massachusetts,
who under the seniority rule will be-
come the ranking Republican on the
Appropriations Committee in the new
Congress. said last night, apropos OF
the White House conference: 1T is
imperative that Government eXpendi-
lures be reduced to a minimum. How
ever, looked at i'll the aggregate, there
can be no radical reduction unless the
Federal Government returns to the
States and to the individuals the bur-
dens which rightfully belong to them
and which it has been gradually as
suming since the beginning OF the
present century. 1t is well for the
Republic that the general public at
last demands economy"
Representative Ross Collins of Mis-
SiSsippi, chairman of the subcommittee
handling the Army appropriation bill,
hearings On which start this week, was
not pleased with the budget estimates
that have been informally submitted
Representative Collins said: THE bud
get figures l have noticed indicate that
the President is trying to play politics
rather than to give relief to the people
by bringing about savings i'll Govern
ment expenditures" While he declined
to explain just what he had reference
to, it was understood that in the War
Department estimates there is little or
no reduction in military establishment
figures, but the reductions are mostly on
military items, such as rivers and
harbors improvements, flood control and
such public works as would give en-
ployment.
FavOrs Work on Rivers.
Representative Collins declared that
the big ports of the country must not
be closed and that development of the
Mississippi River and its tributariec
must not be stopped THE reductions
l have noticed" he continued "are just
such slaSheS as you would expect from
blind man and fail to show any seri-
GUS thought or any investigation to see
whether the work is essential or not
They are such reductions as the PreSi-
cent himself would want to vote against
There is a scientific way that Gov
| eminent expenses an be redued," Mr.
Collins argued There are many
activities that are useless and should be
stopped, and other Government activi-
| ties that are necessary and should b.
carried on. Some discretion should be
exercised in making reductions so as to
! eliminate the bad and preserve the good
| The Budget seems to have reduced ex-
| penditures without any investigation
| or thought as to the merits or de-
merits of the activities. I would say
| some one is merely trying to play poll
| tics"
Padio 1irapeac in Erpot PrifoiYo NON