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Show r i s, ;v' .J ? rv.,-' . Me r THK PAYTON rilKftN'C1 ' Civil War !ptrs Ilvvietr of Current Eronis SAMOAN CLIPPER National Topics Interpreted by William Bruckart Prm Butldlnx Wahlnton, Washington Some seventeen or eighteen years ago when I was a staff writer for the n Terms of Associated Press, specializing in fBillions inance, I was called uoon to write the "lead or general story about the annual estimates of expendi'ures sent to congress that diy The late L. C. Probert was my chief. He read my story and ordered me to rewrite the first paragraph, saying: "You ought to stress that total more; make it read something to the effect that billion dolShow lar congress has arrived. where these government expenditures are heading The circumstance impressed me for some reason. I can recall the Incident an vividly as though it were The era of billion dol yesterday: lar congresses appears to be upon us but it was one of those incidents that was Just a good story to a Little did I realize then writer. what it would mean when viewed from the perspective, say, of 1938, for only the other day President Roosevelt submitted the annual estimates, now called the budget, for the next fiscal year. The call was for $0,8(19,043,000. That was not all. He said there likely would be additional requests for money later and he added a most significant expression or observation that probably we can expect the annual federal budget to run around seven billion dollars In the future. In truth, where are these government expenses heading? And what do they mean in the lives of present and future citizens and taxpayers? What does it mean In taxation and especially when one considers that besides this list of scheduled expenditures, there is a little matter of thirty-eigh- t billion dollars in national debt? Then, we ought to remember there has been a deficit for nine successive years nine years during which the government has spent more than it received in income, and there probably will be at least one more. As the figures were approved by the President and sent to the capitol, the government will spend $539,000,- 000 (its deficit) more during the fiscal year that starts next July 1 than taxes will bring into the treasury. That means, of course, more borrowing and more borrowing means an increase in the public Or debt. Onward and upwardl should we say it in a revised form: upward and upwardl Most of the newspapers made headlines out of several items because they were huge, immense. Attention was called to the fact that the appropriation for national defense the army, the navy, the maThat rine corps was $991,000,000 was the greatest peacetime total m history. They also referred at length to a billion dollar appropriation for relief, and to an item of $976 in interest on the public debt, and to $.i3!l 000 000 for pensions to veterans of wars These are startling in their size occasion comment They should Sometimes I think it requires stag Siring totals to cause people to stop and think a bit Maybe these will But in any event, the do that. budget just submitted to me seems to carry some additional significance, matters that deserve more thought than the size of those items mentioned I refer to the general trend as exemplified by the President's rematk that we may expect seven billion dollar budgets m the futuie As to that indication, is it not about time to call a halt Throughout the nearly twelve hundred pages of figures in the budget, as printed, every whoie one can point to new items or expansion of old ones. When I say new items, I refer to expenditures that have come along in the last six or eight years. Scores of them have bobbed up in the last four or five years In the great war on the depression; others have just bobbed up 000,-00- I prefer, therefore, to call tion to these scads of little that, like so V here holes in a 0 atten- items many tank. IS LOST Is "'53 C It is made to appear that we cannot avoid such expenditures as those for national defense, those for veterans who have served their country well, those in payment of interest on a debt that ought not to be so great. There is not much chance, therefore, to effect economy in that direction. Thus, it seems that if the President is sincere about reducing government expenditures and if the politicians in congress have any courage, they had better start looking at the children that are growing up. I mean the children of older government agencies as well as the new children whose parents are politicians. In this connection, let us advert to that budget mentioned at the opening of this discussion. The Department of Commerce that year was getting something like seven million dollars, as I recall. In this year's budget the appropriation is for $14,710,000. Now, I assume some one will point out that the functions of the Department of Commerce have expanded immeasureably. That is true. The development of aviation has added many millions to the required exgovernment penditure of that agency. In other words, the federal government has to meet new conditions just like its citizens must meet new conditions. But the point I am trying to make is this: there are enough of those necessary expenditures, outgo that cannot be avoided because they represent real governmental functions, without adding a lot of trick schemes, visionary ideas, theoretical possibilities to the functions of the federal government. There is not space here to list them, but every one of the older agencies has been guilty of biting off new appropriations through the medium of a new child pr two or three of its own every few years. I am not suggesting, therefore, that those established agencies, those that have proved necessary, are to be cut out. I am only proposing they be restricted. I have authority, too, for terming many of these expenditures waste. The authority is Wanton comptroller of the general Waste United States. The comptroller general sent his annual report to congress recently. In it he charged there had been wanton waste of government money by most of the federal agencies. He did not charge dishonesty just something like weak minds in the way they planned and spent and the not keep books to show exactly what had happened. The comptroller general, R. N. Elliott, told congress that there was a regular campaign going on among what is usually called the spending agencies of the government to get did control their spending without checkups by the general accounting ofiice There are continued efforts, he said, "to secure for spending agencies legislation making further surrender by the legislative branch (congress) of its right and authority to direct by law the use of public funds Of course, Mr Elliott made no reference to the President's repeated demands of congress for what is called "blank check appropriations. There were few persons, however, who failed to connect the two. The report singled out the Department of Justice, the War and Navy departments and a whole flock of the independent children as agencies that are getting out of line in keeping track of what they do with their appropriations. From these facts, it may be apparent to every one that a real need exists for a tight grip by congress on appropriations and an absolute cessation of the great game of starting new agencies. of And here Is a story about one teeny, weeny item of government expenditures. It is Here t s a a story that seems to belie the discus Sfory sion above about waste by the government agencies. The fact is that the story shows how niggardly the government is in some instances when we all know how wanton waste and recklessness allowing pubDanger Lies are lic money to flow away without trace or benefit. That is why I think there should be a characterize larger spending. good deal of attention paid to the Brig. Gen. Harold C. Reismger, general heading in the budget "independent units." Because, tucked of the marine corps, is being on a charge that he "padaway In the list is where the danded his personal expense account gers lie. The total for the independent units by $77.35. That Is to say the general may be dishonorably disof tlie federal government is in excess of $1,825,000,000 Each of the charged after a useful life and pervarious agencies therein has its haps even jailed because the claim "necessary expenditures to keep is made that he did not spend as a and good many of them, much money as his voucher showed. going, about half a dozen, certainly have The point of this story, however, their value to the country as a does not involve General Reisinger whole. But the new children in that at all. It was by mere coincidence are family growing up. They are that his trial started as It did durfunny looking children in some ing the closing days of the extra cases What they will grow out to session of congress that session, be their proud parents surely canyou will recall, that met November not forecast. Who knows whether 15 and adjourned December 22 withthey will develop their ow clan and out having passed a single major become rooted as a permanent piece of legislation. The legislation drain on the taxpacrs. Unless hisacted on favorably by that session tory is changed, quite a number of included passage of one appropriathem will have children of their own tion bill. It appropriated $225,000 in the shape of row bureaus and to be paid to representatives and new duties as the politicians find new senators as "mileage. 4 Western Newspaper Union. wajs of spending money. court-martiale- d in C.I.O. of the C. JOHN L LEWIS, head who Dubinskv, David and I O lieutenchief his of has been one reached the partants, seem to have have been lamand ing of the ways in public withother each basting chief of Dubinsky, out restraint. GarLadies the big International ment Workers union, addressing members of his executive 1 200 to blame for boards, said Lewis was of negotiations peace the collapse the A. F. between the C I. O. and man had of L , and declared no one movement. labor on the a mortgage of He also denounced the infiltration Communists into the C. I O. To this Lewis retorted with what and the Dubinsky called wisecracks, latter said: "I venture to say that, or without distinction as to group cf masses the laboring formation, America are hungering and prayis my belief, ing for peace and it conMr. Lewis wisecracking to the J Boat Captain Musick and Six Others Die as Flying Destroyed Near Pago Pago, Samoa t. 1 ?j J' 3i 0ther Have Jhlmkd about Butchery by Air. he" she y i saidffvj Wordsworth-a- nd What chance three TEXAS. SAN ANTONIO, the example of ning? II Duce and that son of his, who wrote a brave book describing the joy of sir-mind- la iK. other blokJ r itav la ed high words bombing undefended mud mistress before of women and full villages ' ,,n. i locked7 jedena, children, one of the leading room and slipped tLeScs T statesmen of Italy has deliv- Plied the girl. o )H of Jute ered a speech declaring war e psS1 I )f. dont mind is the most glorious, most intrary notwithstanding, that they spiring, most beautiful thing '"you," wailedtft husband; "I do 5t 0f N !' treats will not be denied such peace for on earth. Inquiry discloses long. s of the that this cheery patron is a short rt hero in his own right. As an wo More for Franco President Franklin D. Roosevelt, right, shakes hands with the speaker of the house, William B. Bankhead of Alabama, left, as Vice President John Nance Garner looks on, at the Jackson Day dinner in Washington. HIEF officials of Austria and after a conference Hungary, with Italian Foreign Minister Ciano, announced their governments would of recognize the Spanish regime Franco. Francisco Gen. The two powers, linked with Italy by the Rome pact, expressed symRome-Berliaxis pathy with the and a determination to fight Communist propaganda, but did not follow Italy into the pact with Germany and Japan. n SUMMARIZES THE WORLDS WEEK $ Western Newspaper Union. Big Flying Boat Destroyed SAMOAN CLIPPER, huge flying Airthe ocean Pacific Into the fell ways, near Samoa, carrying the seven of the members crew to their deaths. There were no passengers, for the ship was maklg one of its pioneering flights on the newly established route across the Pacific. It was on the way from Pago Pago harbor, American Samoa, to t. Auckland, New Edwin C. ian(ji an(j had turned Musick back toward Pago Pago because of an oil leak. Presumably it was dumping gasoline to facilitate landing and the fuel exploded, destroying the plane. First in the list of victims was Capt. Edwin C. Musick, considered the most experienced ocean flyer in the world and chief pilot of the PaHe cific division of was one of the most conservative of flyers and officials of the company said he and his flight crew were entirely blameless for the disaster. Those who perished with Musick were First Officer Cecil G. Sellers, Junior Flight Officer Paul S. Brunk, F. J. MacLean, J. W. Stickrod, J. A. Brooks and J. T. Findlay. n 5 Zea-Cap- Plane Crashes in Rockies ONE of Northwest Airlines' new Zephyr passenger planes, flying from Seattle to Chid peak cago, struck a of the Rocky mountains near Bozeman, Mont., and was smashed and burned. All aboard, including eight passengers and two pilots, were killed, their charred bodies being found by a party that made its way through a raging blizzard to the scene of the accident. Officials of the company could not explain the disaster but said all ships of the new type were grounded pending investigation. snow-covere- Blow for La Fol'ette Supreme WISCONSIN'S court blow to the La Follette program for public ownership of utilities when it declared the Wisconsin development authority act unconstitutional, being an illegal delegation of the states sovereign governmental power to a private corporation. By knocking out the WDA the court also sounded the death knell for the Wisconsin agricultural authority act, court attaches said. - Budget Message Summary ORE vitally important than his 1 annual message on the state of the nation was President Roosevelt's budget message to congress. In it he forecast a deficit of 0 for the current fiscal year which ends on June 30, and a deficit of $949,606,000 for the 1939 fiscal $1,088,-129,60- a decrease of $841,356,000 from the present fiscal year. The deficit will be financed through Social Security and other trust funds and not through public 304.000, borrowing. The deficit estimate for the fiscal year which ends June 30 has been raised from $695,000,000 to $1,088,- 100.000, because of the business recession. Expenditures for new highways, new rivers and harbors projects, new public buildings, new reclamation projects and other new public works will be reduced sharply. The public debt will reach a record high of $38,528,200,000 on June Japanese Too Arrogant BRITAIN'S government, GREAT to dispatches from London, has finally been driven by Japanese arrogance at Shanghai to the point of resistance. The invaders have been demanding full control of the captured city, to the virtual exclusion of other foreign interests, and their troops there have treated British policemen in the international settlement 30, 1939. very roughly. Minister Prime Neville Chamberlain More G.O.P. Programs has taken personal command of a T5ERTRAND SNELL, minority British program designed to curb leader in the house, and Col. the of power, Japanese Frank Knox, Republican candidate and is keepingexpansion and Washington for the vice presidency m 1936, have Paris fully informed of his plans set forth programs and actions. Also he has been in for the G. O. P. and telephonic conversation other opponents of frequent with Foreign Minister Eden, vacathe New Deal. tioning at Cannes. Mr. Snell in a raA high government official in Londio address prohad resolved to restore don said Chamberlain posed not to stand for Japanese use of confidence to the inin the present vesting public and military superiority to force concessions in revive business ac- emergency It was made plain that Shanghai. tivity by stopping Britain would act only in harmony wasteful expendiwith the United States and France. the tures, balancing That the Japanese are not afraid budget and liquidatof Great Britain was indicated by a ing Roosevelt social and economic statement by Rear Admiral Tanet-sug- a experiments that he said have inSosa, retired, maintaining that spired distrust of the government and fears of the destruction of the it would be easy for the Japanese navy to reduce the British strongcapitalist system. holds at Hongkong and Singapore Colonel Knox, speaking at a dinner in Cleveland, declared that the before the British main fleet could get there. Sosa said the only thing Republican party must turn away from the high protective tariff, that could save Britain was to draw the United States into the war. which it has championed for decades, and recognize that the time has come to reduce tariffs to meet Naval Building Race changing conditions. C'RANCES reply to the recent an- Protect wage standards, yes! nouncement that Italy would he said. Continue to protect mo- build two 35,000 ton battleships is nopoly, no! the decision to construct two battleships of 42,000 tons each, exceeded in size only by the British battle War Vote Plan Killed cruiser Hood. The navy committee D EPRESENTATIVE LOUIS LUD of the chamber of deputies was preLOWS war referendum resoluto ask Minister of Finance paring tion will not be acted on at present, Bonnet to supplement the for the house, by a vote of 209 to Georges 1938 naval budget by 2,000,000,000 left 188, it in committee for the francs from the sorely pressed remainder of the session. treasury to keep ahead of MussoThis was a victory for the admin linis forces at sea. istration forces and was brought about after President Roosevelt himself had taken a hand in the Marriage Mills Stopped controversy. Through a letter to T NDIANAS notorious marriage Speaker Bankhead the President 1 mills were given a death blow had warned congress that adoption when the State Supreme court upof the resolution would hamper any held a statute enacted 86 years ago chief executive in the conduct of for- forbidding county clerks to issue eign relations and would lead other marriage licenses to women who nations to believe they could violate are not residents of the county in American rights with impunity which the license is issued. Jackson Day Feasts T EMOCRATS who partook L Jackson day banquets in varl ous large cities paid about $250,000 into the purse of the party's na tional committee. At the dinner ir year. President Roosevelt There was no promise that the Washington budget would be balanced in the pleaded with the nation to under near future, the national revenue es- stand that his administration be timates being reduced because of lieves it is helping and not hurting business by the drive against mothe depression. Nearly a billion dollars was asked nopolistic practices. His talk was rather conciliatory. He promised by the President for national defense because of "world conditions fight, but he called it a cheerful over which this nation has no confight on his part, against a mere trol, and more may be called for handful of the total business men and bankers and industrialists who soon for the same purpose. the President's can be expected to "fight to the Summarized, last ditch to retain such autocratic budget statement said: Revenues for the next fiscal year control over the industry and will total $5,919,400,000, a decrease finances of the country as they now of $401,076,000 from the present fispossess " cal year. At the New York banquet Jim Expenditures, exclusive of debt Farley staged the debut of Robert retirements, w.ll total $6,896,000,000, IL Jackson, assistant gena decrease of $539,600,000 from the eral, as a candidate for attorney the governorpresent fiscal year. of ship the Empire state. The young National defense appropriations lawyer, who has attracted public will total $991,300,000, an increase of tention recently by attacks on $34,300,000. Later the President may business, was the principal speaker! ask for additional funds to construct At a luncheon party he admitted several extra naval vessels. would be the Democratic nominee Relief expenditures for the next for governor "if the party wants fiscal year will total roughly $1,138,- - me. The decision was hailed by officials of states that have raised their marital standards by enacting hygienic laws regulating issuance of marriage licenses. Civil Service Lags CONGRESS was told by the civil service commission that its failure to place employees of newly created government agencies was bea matter of coming grave public concern " In its annual report the commission said there was no eximportant tension cf the civil service during the fiscal year of 1937. "Wholesale exemptions such have been permitted In the last as year must cease if the merit system is to prevail, the commission said. Wheeler Hits I.C.C. SEer LM B,URT0N K- WHEEL. - chairman of the senate railroad finance investigat-in- g committee, charged in a statement that the interstate commerce commission is using "trick rabbits in solving carrier problems Wheeler's ire was aroused by conditions surrounding a loan n $6,000,000 by the RFC to the Erie railroad and an $8,000,000 Ob SE S: - he enthusiastically participated in the retreat from Caporetta. officer, Caporetta was the place where all ranks of an entire army, with victory against the enemy right around the corner, suddenly remembered they had sworn to die in the last ditch and started for the extreme rear to look Or it may for it. have been that everybody just simultaneously felt homesick. Anyhow, it was months before some of them caught up with their panting. So its possible this blood-thirstorator has confused the science of warfare with the sport of fev Jfcial ase. Competition to the Returning icr. rheur her runaway match, said to an old gardener 1 tg suppose my a nine days It g and cort eW wonder?' would ave plied the !r.is, , been, h1 jjr og ch hai radio v 'gal rr- -. old fellow, j potentialrr Pha gd, 2 WAY FOR TIE REL lave Absi G. Pota ment is ray ye result MISER has be of s on it fee to 4 srough ir y ary to of n it a not to the m but ra The Meaning of Words. DISTINGUISHED gentleman, who never admitted the Eighteenth amendment was a failure, is said to be comforting the drys with words of wisdom, his attitude in effect being this: The causes of sanity and safety suffer because certain distillers and many local retailers indiscriminately sell an unnecessarily product, the results being lawbreaking, property damage; danger and personal injury and untold suffering for innocent parties; homicides, mutilations, often a horrid death for the purchaser of the article in question. To extend the argument further, let us change just three words: Certain automobile manufacturers and many local agents indiscrimd inately sell an unnecessarily- product, the results being property damage; danger and personal injury and untold suffering for innocent parties; homicides, mutilations, often a horrid death for the purchaser of the article in question. Now then, when the aforesaid gentleman kindly proves that, in selling cars capable of traveling 130 miles an hour or even faster, for use on highways having a speed limit of 60 miles an hour, or less, he is promoting the causes of sanity and safety. Ill turn prohibitionist with him. ; A ate free olecule Produce exact k Practical Joke,s. 'T'HREE city sportsmen drove into the Kerrville country in Texas. Everywhere the lands were posted. But one of the party knew an old rancher whose acres bordered the highway. Leaving his mates at the road, he went to ask permission to hunt deer on the property. "Sure, said the owner. "Bust right in my place Is full of bucks, I never gun em myself. Now do me a favor. As you turn Into the lot, youll see an old, crippled, sick white mare. She oughter be dead, but I aint got the heart to kill any living creature. Put her out of her misery, will you? The gratified huntsman had a waggish idea. As he opened the pasture gate, he let out a terrific absoi of the se :e rgans c parts (nent.ng iiered high-powere- d "... the mi the "tai Tokt 2 BAYER ASPIRIN tafckki drink a full glau of wilt, lg tratmnt In 2 houn, If throat It tort froa fc ( crush and stir 3 BAYER tablet! in V3 glasi of wotn, twice. Thit taiot throat nw and toraneu almost Instep hating t that is Pot nave g corres abso ol All it usually costs to rdiw misery of a cold today-- nil on is relief for the period cold 15 to 25. Hence Mia need neglect even minis lat now artincia colds. Here is what to do: Til BAYER tablets when you cold coming on with aEi of water. Then repeat, if dks according to directions b package. Relief comes raji The Bayer method of colds is the way many te approve. You take BayerAss then if yoasij for relief improved promptly, you family doctor, ndv vail 0 1 'ingior ball a' back ate p es N, know bac a r ed in ml ion arra feu'd 2 FULL DOZEN 25 -- 1 cent at Virtually A rc 5 be cr cu sapo Be True To God, thy country, W triend be true.-He- nry of .1 eier skul b:en 'aurs aur's e I than eeougt 'ir ell Bt t nevei pas: I r do yell. "I feel so good Ive gov to shoot he whooped. "Believe something! Ill shoot a horse to start with. With that, he hauled off and blasted dow-- the feeble old nag where she leaned against the fence. "And now, as he turned on his horrified companions, I believe Ill shoot me a couple of He waved his rifle in their direction. The next instant one had vaulted out of the car and had him down, choking him until his tongue stuck out like a pink plush necktie They were halfway back to town, with a large man sitting on his head and another driving like mad to find a lunatic asylum or a stout jail, before the humorist succeeded in convincing them it was all just clean, boyish fun. Now the rest of Texas is wondering whom the jokes on. IRVIN S. COBB. WNU Service. Copyright. W es Slain Foes honey coy sweetest The foes we slay. irac' Are You All Wj Colw'i'Al Colo. Kl) CuaiLti -- y Dr. n o 0 a! P1 nd better jot 0 for liquid drug itor $1 Liquid A J fr fed jef bco True Resignation The famous Thoreau was unread at the beginning of his writing ca rey, and when Thoreau received back from his publishers almost the whole of the edition of his "Week on the Concord and Merrimack RiV' ers, he melancholically carried them upstairs to his study, remarking, as he tells in his diary, "I have now a library of nearly 900 volumes, over 700 of which I wrote myselt i rj |