Evening star., 1940-01-04

tional needs. I submit summary
for the fiscal year 1941 of approx
mate expenditures required to meet
these needs.
National defense 81 300 ,OOO,O
Work relief
programs - 1900 100000
Agriculture
programs ---- 9OO,OOO,OO
Public works and in
vestments ---- 100000, 900
Pensions, retire.
ments, and assist
ance ---------- 100000 900
Interest on the pub
lie debt -- 1,1OO,OOO,OOO
Regular operating 100000, 900
Total ------ $8,4OO, 900, 900
| This table presents in a simple
form which any layman can under
stand the principal divisions into
which Government expenditures
fall. I constantly marvel at the glib
generalities to the effect that if one
has but the will to do so anybody
can reduce Government expendi-
lures by vast sums sufficient imme-
/ dlately to balance the budget" It
costs nothing to make such state
| ments and they can be decorated to
fit into the applause of many audi
ences.
/ But it is the old, old story of the
man who loves to utter generalities
and changes the subject abruptly
when he is pinned down to hard
facts.
In these headings, for example,
do not believe that the majority of
the people in this country want to
reduce the budgeted estimate of ST.
300, ,000, 900 for national defense. This
is an increase, of course, over the
current year, but it is far less than
many experts on national defense
think should be spent, though it is
in my judgment a sufficient amount
for the coming year.
I do not believe that the majority
of people in this country want to
see the work relief programs for
the coming year reduced below ST.
300,000,000. This sum, in itself,
covering the activities of the Work
Projects Administration, the Ma
tional Youth Administration, the
Civilian Conservation Corps and
grants of the Farm Security Ad-
ministrat ton, represents d large
perhaps too large-reductio of cur
rent expenditures.
do not believe that the majority
of people feel that the agricultural
program should be reduced below
the figure of S9O0O0O,0OO because
this figure, in itself large reduc-
ton below the current year, will be
barely sufficient to carry out soil
protection and surplus removal
operations.
do not believe that the majority
of people think the item for public
works and investments of $1,100,-
100000 can be further reduced be-
cause this amount contains practi-
cally no money for new projects in
any part of the country.
OO 1lOU OCllCtC VIC 1Cy
of people feel that the Government
can possibly reduce, by any SUBJ
stantial sum, the figure of $780,
100000 for pensions, retirements,
and assistance of many kinds, in
Guiding public-health work, aid for
dependent children and the blind,
and veterans benefits.
The item of $1,l00,000, 900 for in
terest on the public debt cannot,
of course, be reduced at all and we
should remember that the rate of
interest paid by the Government is
today one-third lower than it was
in 1929.
All of these items amount to
estimated expenditures of $7,400,-
100000 and there remains only one
other item of $1,000 900 ,000-12 per
cent of the total-for the operat-
ing costs of the regular depart
ments of the Government. These
are down to the bedrock of the
activities and functions ordered by
the Congress. If further savings
are to be made in these operat-
ing costs, the Congress will have to
direct by statute the. elimination
of many functions. And even if
they should do so, the amount saved
in this budget could only be small
percentage of the total.
Therefore, those who call for
further cuts should have the cour-
age and the honesty to specify
where they should be made.
National Defense. - These esti-
mates represent expenditures needed
to develop and maintain our nor
NAL defense preparations. They
also include, in view of the cur
rent world situation, the emer-
| gency expenditures required for