Evening star., 1933-12-18

Continued From First Page)
early announcement Of the Govern
ment's determination to accomplish
this result"
BY truly balanced budget" the
| petition said, I'VE mean that through
q reduction of future expenditures
especially emergency expenditures
and through such new taxes as may
be necessary after such reduction, all
the expenditures of the Federal Gov
eminent shall be kept within the re-
ceipts.
Ask Balance by 1885.
I'VE ask that the balance be struck in
the budget now in preparation for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1885, If that
still be practicable. Should the momen-
tum of expenditure under commitments
already made be too great to permit
this, then let the balance be struck
without fail in the year ending June 80,
1896. Balance there must be, sooner or
later, and every consideration Of pru-
dence dictates that the balance be
achieved soon.'
The league said, We are not unmind-
full Of the moral right and duty Of the
Federal Government to step In where
state ana local are CltdTly
unable to protect the victims of the de-
preston from actual hardship. In
making expenditures for relief the Fed
eral Government must do its part in
such circumstances At the same time.
the marked tendency Of State and local
communities to lie down on the Ma
tional Government must be firmly re-
sisted
The national debt, 1t was pointed out,
on November 80 was $23, ,534 116 900.
according to an official announcement
by the Treasury Department. or only
$3. .O60, ISL 900 below the World War
peak. To this. it is estimated, the petit
ton said, that during the remainder
of the current fiscal year another
So ,0000 600, 900 will be added, and still
another enormous increase during the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1885 is
threatened.
The petition stated it is mot surpris-
ing" that the status of the national
credit should come under discussion, and
that fears should be expressed OF an
uncontrolled infiation.' when the Gov
ernment may be forced to resort to the
printing of masses Of fiat money.
See Unsound Money on Way.
The petition declared the country's
danger does not lie in voluntary
adoption of unsound money, but rather
in q gradual creeping up Of the ma
tional debt to a point where the use
of unsound money is no longer pre-
ventable.
Five points are outlined as necessary
in balancing the budget. They are:
/. The debt service should be pro-
vided for.
2 The regular operating expenses,
including those for the national de-
fense and the established civil func-
tions should be held within the strict
est limits of economy, and in no event
should be permitted to exceed the ap-
preparations for the current fiscal year.
: Jove all, the still enormous expendi-
lures for veterans benefits should con-
form to the principles laid down by the
President in his address to the Ameri-
can Legion.
8. Such provision for the relief to
the unemployed should be made as IS
provision made by the States and
local communities. The primary obli-
CATION of the States and local COM
munities to care for their own people
should be insisted upon.
Wants Waste Eliminated.
L. The whole question Of the "emer-
gency'' expenses should be brought un-
der review, including the public works
expenditures. Those which are waste
full, relative to the results in directly
relieving distress, should be eliminated,
and the rest reduced to a point where
the total expenditure does not exceed
| the prospective receipts. including addi-
tional receipts from new taxation.
| S. After all practicable reductions
and expenditures are made, additional
taxes should be levied to cover the gap
between the reduced expenditures and
the anticipated receipts under present
laws. These new taxes will necessarily
be large.
1--WE believe" the petition concluded,
"that the people are willing to make
great sacrifices in submitting tor new
| taxation. on condition that future ex-
penditures are drastically cut and that
| thew are assured that their sacrifices