Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-01-10
Horrible, Indeed!

taken q nose dive into the budget-bal-
ancing pool, find the water cool. indeed
frigid. They suggested that perhaps
after all the general manufacturers
excise or sales tax might be the remedy
most suited to take the Government
out of the red Immediately their
PreSident-elcct, Franklin D. Roosevelt,
was Mortified" That was that. So
the Democrats journeyed to New York
to discuss budget balancing with
Mr.. Roosevelt himself. After a three
hours conference they emerged with a
plan, definite, four-point program, to
put an end to the Treasury deficit. 1t
included an increase in the normal in
come tax rates and lowering of ex-
emptions SO as to bring in thousands
more taxpayers who are now free from
the Federal income tax. Mr.. Roosevelt
silently consented. This time it was the
people who were mortified" The re-
suit is that the Democratic leaders are
back at the starting point and the
budget is no nearer being balanced than
1t was several weeks ago. The income
tax boost for the people of moderate
means has been sidetracked along with
the manufacturers sales tax, at least
for the time.
udget-balancing plan, which was an
nounced so blithely after the New York
conference with Mr.. Roosevelt? The
Democrats still clutch to their bosom
the proposed tax on beer. Beyond that
they have nothing except an economy
program. They talk. too, of continuing
the Federal tax on gasoline. But that
tax is already on the statute books and
cannot be regarded as a new source of
revenue. Beer and economy today re-
main the hope Of the congressional
Democrats. 1t is quite obvious that
they cannot possibly balance the budget
with only beer tax and with cuts in
the expenditures of the Government.
And SO talk Of balancing the budget In
the present session of the old Congress
Is idle. The job will have to be tackled
by Mr.. Roosevelt and the Seventy-third
Congress after March 4.
When the Democrats talk of balanc-
ing the budget by giving Mr.. Roosevelt
unlimited powers to reorganize the
Government and to cut expenditures
they are less definite than ever. No
one suggests just where these billions
of dollars are to be saved. Yet S1,137,-
900 must go for interest and prin-
cipal on the national debt. It is i'm
possible to "reorganize" the national
debt, so that is out 80 far as the econ
omy program is concerned. The next
largest item of Government expendi-
ture Is for the veterans, $685., 900, 900.
The President and the party which
undertakes to lop from the veteran re-
Lief expenditures is in for tough time,
II all reports are correct, although
savings should and could be made with
Justice in this direction.
Out Of the total governmental expend-
itures, however, the money used for
the national debt and for the veterans
amounts to upward of 81, 900, 0oo, 900. To
this must be added $685., 100000 for the
Army, Navy and Marine Corps, the ma
tional defense. 1t seems unlikely that
the Democrats will undertake to ham
string the national defense by cuts
here. What, then, is left for the prun-
ing knife? The ordinary expenses of
the civil government and public works,
totaling, according to the budget, about
81. 100000. Is it possible that the
Democrats really believe they can knock
half billion or more dollars from these
governmental activities In order to bal
ance the budget?