Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-11-10
Economy on fop

THE bureau of the budget has complied with request
of the Senate finance committee that it prepare
detailed schedule by which nondefense expenditures of
the federal government might be reduced
Tn bureau has in fact prepared TWO schedules,
to be used in the event Congress desires to effect reduc
tons amounting billion dollars, the other the
total reduction desired is two billion dollars
1t should be noted that recommendations accom-
pany the schedules.
The budget bureau simply asked to show HOW
one or two billion dollars could be eliminated from
defense spending, and it did So
THIS information was sought because the last
i bill approved by Congress included a provision
quiring investigation of the possibilities of eecting sub
stanal economies in federal expenditures not concerned
with national defense
Two things influenced the Congress to do this
One was that Senator Walsh of Massachusetts,, in
supporting enactment of the biggest tax bill in American
history to finance the defense program, said:
"The burdens of this bill should not be imposed
until substantial economies which can admittedly be
effected are compelled
The other was that Secretary of the Treasury Nor
genthau had blunty told Congress-:
1--WE simply cannot carry on business usual and
government usual from now on and still take
adequate of our defense needs
ut would be tragic error to assume that we can
continue to expand defense production colossal
scale and still go usual ways whether as govern
ment individuals.
ct would be folly to assume that we can continue
to spend now we did in normal times
EITHER of these expressions deferred the Congress
~ from imposing the heaviest tax burdens upon the
American people they had ever borne
But they did result in provision for INVESTIGATION
of the possibilities for nondefense which Sec
rotary Morgenthau had said should total at least one
billion dollars.
The budget bureau has shown that either one
or two billion dollars Congress may desire, CAN be
eliminated from non-defense expenditures, and has laid
out comprehensive and specific table for doing
Has the Congress of the United States with the con-
Of tho of rho
the patriotic sense of responsibility and the political
courage to relieve the American people of this grevous
and unnecessary burden?
1t will offend some of the most powerful influences
and interests in Washington and in whole national fe
IL it applies the spending reductions the budget bureau
outlines
1t will compel the national administration to forego
many favorite enterprises and especially many exrav
agant enterprises.
1t will deprive many influential interests and indi-
viduas within the administration of their OF
political power
going its usual ways" which ways of reckless and
runous waste of public funds for the acquisition of poti
cal power through patronage and purchase
ID UT it will also thus accomplish if it has the necessary
ID courage and patriotism the ulflment of what Sec
rotary Morgenthau and Senator Walsh and other
scenous American statesmen have called the essential
and honest conditions of tax bill taking adequate care
of our defense needs
The next federal budget will be submitted to Con-
gress in January.
1t will probably include higher expenditures for de-
Tense and higher taxes than before.
But unless it first eliminates WASTE from public
spending it will continue to ask patriotic sacrifice from
the people without GIVING patriotic example.