The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-20

blOnAl ncGuSS anu mo- cAPAuStDh
of Government activities should
be authorized unless the neces-
Sity for such expansion has been
definitely determined and funds
are available to defray the cost.
In other words, II new legiSla-
ton imposes any substantial in
crease in expenditures either an
the expansion of existing or the
creation of new activities, 1t be-
comes a matter of sound policy
simultaneously to provide new
revenue sufficient to meet the
additional cost"
I propose to use every means
at my command to eliminate
this deficit during the coming
fiscal year. 1 expect to accom-
plish this by taking definite
action at the beginning of the
next fiscal year % owithhold
from apportionment for eXpendi-
ture in so far as possible with
due regard to proper function
ing of the executive departments
and agencies substantial per-
centage of the funds available
for that year, and CD to IN
crease the receipts Of the Treas
ury through the liquidation Of
assets of certain Of the emer-
gency agencies.
I regard it is extremely 1mpor-
tant that we should achieve a
balance of actual income and
Outgo for the fiscal year 1888,
and I appeal to you to join me
in a determined effort to bring
about that result.
What 1 have said is predicated
on two highely important condl-
tionS. The first is the extension
of existing taxes which expire
this year. The second is the
maintenance of appropriations
made at this session within the
total of the budget estimates. An
increase in appropriations would
of course, nullify our efforts to
prevent deficit in 1888.
Bills being pressed for enact
ment during the present session
would commit the Government
to early expenditures Of more
than 5000 ,O00, 900. About So
900, 00O, 900 of these authorize
lions are for the construction OF
additional public works, even
though there are existing author
iZationS of almost 1000 ,000, 900
for this purpose. In the budget
for the past three years I have
set up a program for general pub
lie works and have often said
that such q program should be
kept within the limit Of $500, 0OO,-
900 a year. An annual program
Of this size should meet normal
needs for highway, flood control,
rivers and harborS, reclamation,
Federal buildings and other pub
lie works.
FLOOD CONTROL
I recognize the need for flood
prevention and control, but it
should be realized that to finance
such large immediate expendi-
lures as are contemplated by the
majority Of the flood control bills
now pending in the Congress
would impose an unjustifiable
burden upon the Federal
Treasury.
Bills involving additional au-
thoriZations of more than $780,
100000 for highways have been
introduced despite the fact that
expenditures for this purpose
during the last four years have
exceeded one billion dollars and
that there are existing authori-
cations for expenditures during
the next two years of nearly
$3.50. 000, 900.
The maintenance OF q sound
fiscal policy requires the care
full planning Of authorizations as
well as appropriations. 1t is i'm
possible to maintain the proper
balance between revenues and
expenditures unless restraint is
exercised with respect to authori-
cations of appropriations. 1t is
a matter of concern to you and
to me who are working for a
balanced budget that SO many
special groups exert the strong
est pressure to bring about in
creases in Government expendi-
lures. They pay little attention