Evening star., 1937-04-21
A Heartening Message.

President Roosevelts announced de-
termination to stick to balanced budget
In the fiscal year 1888 is tremendously
hearten1ng. His plans for retrenchment,
discussed in his message on relief ap-
preparations delivered to Congress yes
terday. struck an immediate and re-
sponsive chord in Congress and in the
country. If there was any criticism 1t
was that the President had not gone
far enough-particularly in pairing down
the relief appropriations. Almost i'm
mediately notice was given by Senator
Byrnes OF South Carolina and others
that they would seek to reduce the re-
lief appropriation by $500 100000.
The Presidents main reliance on the
cutting OF governmental expenditures
hes at present in causing heads of Gov
srnment agencies not to spend many OF
the millions of dollars they are author
ICED to spend under the appropriations
and estimates made for the remainder
OF the present fiscal year and the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1888. To that he
adds plea that Congress refrain from
making appropriations outside of the
budget estimates he has submitted, It
should comply. And, further, Congress
should cut into these estimates and
render savings Immediately without
leaving 1t to the final discretion OF
executive officers to make the savings
that are so necessary In addition, the
President plans to bring money into the
Treasury by liquidating assets of emer-
gency agencies.
The tone of the Presidents message
was one OF frank warning that steps
must be taken now to bring the actual
outgo and income of the Government
within balance. Il regard 1t as ex-
tremely important" he said, that we
should achieve a balance of income and
outgo for the fiscal year 1885" He is
not putting off the day for a balanced
budget beyond the coming fiscal year.
He has given notice to those we'll
meaning persons who look upon the
resources of the Federal Government as
inexhausttble that the time has come
20 halt. The President, like others,
understands that there are many op-
portunities to Improve social and eco
nomic conditions through Federal ac-
tion"-which means through the ex-
penditure OF more millions Of dollars,
But he insists: II am convinced that the
success OF our whole program and the
permanent security of our people de-
mand that we adjust all expenditures
within the limits OF my budget esti-
mates"
Doubtless this attitude of the Presi-
dent will bring resentment on the part
OF those who have betterment plans
in mind. There are many special
groups, to whom the President referred.
who are unceasing In their demands for
more money. The people who, as a
whole. bear the tax burden, whether
the taxes be exposed or concealed, will
rejoice IN the determination Of the
President to yield no further to such
acquisitions.
The President demands one thing
that may irritate members OF Congress
who believe that the legislative branch
should hold the purse strings. He re-
quires that he alone shall say what
money shall be expended. His own
budget estimates must be adhered
to. 1t is to him that another lump sum
OF billion and half dollars is to be
turned over to use for relief, with none
OF this sum ear-marked. If the Presi-
dent will stick fast to his plans for
curtailment and economy, to a reduction
OF Government expenditures, the people
will forgive him that attitude, particu-
larly in view of the huge sums which
members of Congress are even today
asking to be appropriated for all kinds
OF projects.
The revelation by the President Of
the fact that the new and increased
taxes have failed to produce by hundreds
OF millions Of dollars the revenues ex-
pected OF them is not 50 ENCOURAGING,
However, this failure merely reflects .
misjudgment by the estimators rather
than anything wrong with the country.
The President clearly implies in his
message that new and additional taxes
may have to be levied-but not until
next year. If this is correct, the time
to prevent further tax increases Is now
and the way to prevent them is to cut
appropriations and authorizations.