Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1935-11-14


on BUDGET they go into a huddle
about the finances Of
the government, about the needs for
money Of the various governmental
agencies who must pay their employees
and the other expenses to which they
are put and in addition they discuss
general questions Of policy. 1t is, as I
said, an annual affair that presages a
new tempo in the movement of &C.
tivities in Washington because it &C.
ours some weeks in advance of the
reconvening of congress. Congress, un-
der the Constitution, must appropriate
the money which is spent by all
branches of government
Well, the annual huddle has just
been held by President Roosevelt and
Daniel W. Bell, acting director Of the
bureau Of the budget, and Mr.. Bell has
gone back to his Office in the treasury
with instructions to begin formulation
of budget estimates, for submission to
congress.
OF course, budget making goes on
throughout the year. The huge staff Of
experts and accountants who work un-
der Mr.. Bells direction are busy the
year round examining the proposed re-
quirements of the various agencies and
arriving at conclusions as to what
their needs reasonably should be. The
White House conference, therefore,
represents the second step because
those were the figures that formed the
basis of the discussion between the
President and his budget director.
In drafting the budget for submission
to the next session of congress, the ad-
ministration is con-
problems fronted with a vari-
to SolUe ETY. Of problems, not
the least of which Is
the political phase. It Is to be remem-
bered that the budget now under con-
sideration covers money that will be
appropriated for use after July 1, 1886,
and the succeeding II month period.
Therefore, half Of the Presidential
campaign next year. indeed, the heat
ed part Of that campaign, will take
place after governmental agencies have
begun to use the new appropriations.
It Is easy to see, therefore, that poll
tics can hardly be kept out Of the
forthcoming budget In some form or
other even though every President says
politics does not influence budget max
ing. Nevertheless, New Deal spending
and future taxation constitute ques-
lions which the President cannot over
look and Is not overlooking because
those things are vital to every man,
woman and child in the nation.
1t seems to be pretty we'll settled
now that the Republicans are going
to make spending and taxation their
major ammunition against Mr.. Roose-
Welt and his New Deal. In fact, 1t
seems reasonably sure that the Re-
publican slogan will be "Throw the
Spendthrifts Out" That being the case,
Mr.. Roosevelt obviously must have in
the back of his head considerable con-
Germ over the current budget making.
Knowing DANNY" Bell as I have
known him for nearly 20 years, dur
ing which time he has grown up in
the treasury service, I think 1t ought
to be said in his favor that politics
Is farthest from his thoughts. He Is as
nearly a human figuring machine as
any man l have known in my Wash.
ington career except possibly the man
under whom he was trained, namely,
the late Robert Hand. His chief con.
Germ is and always has been deter
minatlon to have accurate statistics,
accurate conclusions and recommends
tons based as nearly as may be upon
sound judgment.
But in saying these things about
Mr.. Bell l am not saying that bulge
tary plans are not subject to manipu-
lation. It has been true In previous
administrations and it is true in this
one. The vast totals Of figures with
their minlma of explanations are never
easy to understand. This Is one way
of saying that they can be made to
conceal a great deal more than they
reveal.
I mentioned the issues of spending
and taxation. The American Liberty
League which has
Spending, consistently warned
To,of;on about the possibility
of future heavy taxa
tion has not been silent since the Pres
ident some weeks ago made public a
pre-budgetary summation. The League
insists that while present tax rates
soon will provide enough money to
meet what the President terms as "or-
binary" expenditures Of the govern
ment. the rates are insufficient to meet
the spending which Mr.. Roosevelt calls
extraordinary in that 1t covers relief.
Further, the League, In statement the
other day, asserted It's belief that the
present tax level was high enough to
meet Legitimate relief II present I'M
sound spending policies are aban-
doned." But 1t is emphasized by the
league that even "lf unsound spending
nolleIes are abandoned" the present
tax levels are insufficient to make pos
sible any appreclable retirement OF the
gigantic debt that has been built up