The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-01-26
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National Topics Interpreted - fFTTYFTTf@
by William Bruckart sSpE=T13NF
by William Bruckart

80, the end of the current fiscal year,
as the President announced. The new
budget lists that amount for emer-
gency expenditure in the remainder OF
the fiscal year, and in addition con-
gress is asked to appropriate $685.
691,757 for the ordinary" running ex-
penses during the twelve months be-
ginning with next July 1. There is
the basis in those two items that has
given rise to the expression: "this is
a ten-billion-dollar congress-"
The budget lists the Ordinary" ex-
penditures as follows: Departmental
(the various executive departments),
$2,899, 116, 200; legislative, Congress
and its staff $17,718,5O0, and for in
dependent establishments, boards, bu-
reaus and commissions, $616,S57 ,067.
The category of independent establish
ments, of course, includes the heavy
spending veterans administration
which is scheduled to have $3.50, 210,-
091 for payment for compensation and
for the medical and hospital treatment
for veterans in the year beginning
July I. The veterans administration
has appropriations available in the
present year, or funds to use until
next June 80, of S6O2, 1873, 900, SO that
there has been a reduction, but not
the full 25 per cent. My information
is, however, that congress may boost
that total somewhat. The veterans
obviously will obtain more If any
group can do SO, for they always cause
cold chills to run up and down the
backs Of politicians, especially just
ahead of an election. So the veter-
ans funds can reasonably be expected
to be greater than the President pro-
posed.
In addition to the dissatisfaction at
seeing the proposed present reduction,
veterans are still
Veterans ranking under the
Still Sore sharp cut in funds
' 800 given them under
the so-called economy act last year.
1t was advertised as cut of 100000
600, but "readjustments,' reviews of
"border-line" cases and other methods
have been used in Strengthening out
the tangle resulting from an injudi-
cious application of the economy law
until the cut of $400,O00000 is said
now to represent actually cut In
total funds for the veterans Of less
than $2OO,OO0,OOO from the high-water
mark. What l am trying to say is
that a perpendicular slash was made
into the pile Of money hitherto voted
to the veterans, and administration
officials have been busy since that ac-
ton in putting it back, bit by bit. l
have heard no particular criticism of
the restoration of funds where they
are needed; the criticism seems to be
directed at the attempted Snowman
ship, instead of craftsmanship, en-
ployed at the expense of the veterans.
But, adverting to the emergency
or the 'capital expenditures section
of the budget, few Of the, officials of
the government are willing to admit
that they know how six and one-third
billions are going to be spent, or even
how they can be spent in the five
months remaining Of the fiscal year.
It is to be assumed that the President
has plans for the expenditures, and
that they will be disclosed in due
course.
The military. affairs committee of
the house has voted trip for itself.
The congressman de-
Plan Jsznket termined it is neces-
to Florida sary to go down to
Florida to inspect
Chapman field, an air base, with
view to making it Unto the first of
series Of army sea frontier defenses."
They are going in an army airplane.
IF one Is available" which, of course,
it will be, and how onerous the bur-
den Is going to be on them! My spies
on the fron4eier tell me that the base
is still there and that the congress
men will surely find it when they go
down to Florida, even though they will
arrive in balmy climate just at the
time the winter season" of the re-
sorts is in full swing. Besides. from
what hear one can go bathing down
there now and otherwise enjoy the de-
lights of summer In the midst of win
ter.
It is to be remembered that only a
short time ago, congressional com
mittee had to make the junket across
the continent to see whether the Pa
cific Notifications were still there.
They were still there; so the congress
men came back. It was only a year or
so ago also that senate committee
found it necessary to go down to Flor
ida to inspect the everglades. The
senator's found the everglades even
tually, | learn, but according to the
expense account that the committee
filed with the senate. the way they
proved that the everglades were still
intact was by hiring the best hotel
suites In the best and most fashions
49, .