Ashland Man Presents One Point
On View of Federal Budget Size
Editor's note: The suthnr nf the
following article, C. L. Williams of
Ashland, Is a former employee of
the Pott Office department in Wash
ington. D.C, where be assisted In
preparation of Port Office budget
estimates. From 1954 to 1356, he
aerved as secretary of a national
organization of retired civil em
ployees. His article presents one
point of view on the size of the fed
eral budget, and of what citizens
can do to keep check on it.)
By C. L. WILLIAMS
Why doesnt Congress put a
stop to governmental waste and
extravagance?
.We all know it isn't doing so,
and if we want confirmation
the best obtainable we can get
it from a 1952 report of one of
the most powerful of all Con
gressional standing committees,
the House Committee on Rules
That report says in part:
"The Congress under the pres
ent set-up is virtually at the
mercy of the executive branch
and its various bureaus."
"The result is that many mil
lions of dollars have been appro
priated in excess of the amounts
actually nejded properly to car
ry on the functions of the Fed
eral Government."
Imbalance Cittd
While the second-quoted para
graph mentions "the Federal
Government," the first one leav
es no doubt that the executive
branch is the target. Still more
Impressive evidence of the exist
ing imbalance among the three
branches of government can be
found in the President's 1958
Budget Message. It reveals that
of all appropriated funds ex
pended in 1956, the executive
branch spent almost 99.8 per
cent. The legislative and judicial
branches together shared the re
maining .2 of 1 per cent.
Nor can the difficulties of
those in Congress who have to
pass on requests for funds be
adequately told by figures alone.
To the increased size of such re
quests has been added a greatly
enlarged complexity created by
the expansion of the executive
branch into a bewildering vari
ety of technological fields. This
expansion has brought to the
government payrolls technical
and professional experts by the
thousands; and, inevitably, the
requests for funds of these ex
perts are couched in the techni
cal terms of their particular spe
cialties, in language with which
the layman is all too often un
familiar. The result is that the
Congressman on an appropria
tions committee is not infrequ
ently placed in the unhappy po
sition of having to pass on the ,
need for funds to initiate or
maintain a project beyond the
cope of his knowledge, argued
for in terms he does not fully
comprehend.
The dilemna of the appropria
tions committee members is well
expressed in the House Rules
Committee report, previously
referred to:
"... the various Federal agen
cies are staffed with literally
thousands of technical and fiscal
experts. In contrast the Appro
priations Committees (of the
House and Senate) . . . are staff
ed with a mere handful of peo
ple, most of whom are necessari
ly limited to the performance of
clerical duties."
"The Federal Government has
grown so rapidly and has become
so enormous and complex that
it is impossible for the Congress,
particularly in the field of appro
priations, to operate efficiently
with the same machinery that
was set up at the beginning of
the Republic ... It is impossible
for the Congress to operate in
the atomic age with ox-cart ma
chinery." What To Do?
Faced with the prospect of a
continued waste of his dollars,
what then can the taxpayer do?
He can, of course, always insist
that his national legislators shar
pen up the Congressional paring
knives and lop off the fat from
appropriation requests. But, in
the light of what has been said,
can he be sure that the Congress
will always be able to distin
guish the fat from the lean?
Across-the-board percentage cuts
have been tried, also, but they
don't work well, either. To quote
again from the Rules Committee
report:
"Flat percentage cuts improp
erly affect in the same degree
two entirely different kinds of
agencies: (a) those whose offic
ials are conducting constructive
and useful activities in efficient,
economical fashion, as against
(b) those who are making no ef
fort to do a good job."
It seems, then, quite useless to
hope that the problem can ,be
solved with a Congressional
meataxe.
"Real Source"
Isn't it about time some thought
was given to attacking the real
source of the difficulty? Why not
bring some pressure to bear up
on the waster himself? He has
to render an accounting for the
money he spends, an accounting
that is spread upon the public
records for all to read who care
to do so. It is a curious fact that
we Americans seem little dis
posed to hold the head of an ex
ecutive department (or indepen
dent agency) directly responsible
for unwise spending. Instead, we
prefer to lay the blame upon our
Senators and Represenatives.
The truth is that most of us
know very little about how our
tax money is being spent. Once
we have met the tax collector's
demands, we're glad to forget
the whole unpleasant business.
And what could be sweeter for
the waster?
There is not need for us to re
main in ignorance of Federal
government spending and oper
ations. Government bulletins,
manuals, treatises, reports, pam
phlets and documents of all
kinds flow from the presses of
the Government Printing Office
in an unending stream; and there
are few aspects, indeed, of the
national government that they
do not tell about in great detail.
If we'd spend on these docu
ments a small share of the time
we devote to the sports pages
of our favorite newspaper, we
could pinpoint the waster and
blast him from office.
Anybody got a better idea?
Partial Eclipse Will Be
Visible in Area April 29
Bt FAY BONTLEY
The continued cloudiness of
recent weeks has been more
than a bit disappointing. I had
hoped so much for clear skies
during Mercury's sojourn in the
western heavens but though the
day might be sunny, by early
evening, clouds invariably
shrouded the location of the
"winged messenger."
Through breaks in the sky's
dark covering, Mercury was vis
ible on three different evenings
and although I've observed it
many times in the past, this was
the brightest appearance it has
been my privilege to enjoy.
Having the smallest and the
largest planet, in the sky at the
same time proved an interesting
feature. Though Mercury was
obscured there would sometimes
be a clear or nearly clear patch
of sky in the southeast and Jupi
ter, mightiest of all the planets,
would shine with a non-twinkling,
steady light.
Too Near Sun
Mercury is now too near the
sun for observation, but Jupiter
jvill be visible (given clear
skies) during the weeks of
spring and summer.
By 8 p.m., it is high in the
southeastern heavens, but is
gradually moving westward. By
the first of June it will be high
in the southwest at 8 p.m. and
by July 1, darkness will reveal
the "king of planets" to be in
the southwest about midway be
head point
On the celestial agenda for
April in addition to stars, plan
ets, and a comet, there is an
eclipse of the sun. On April 29,
the earth's nearest neighbor in
the havens reaches the new
moon phase or "dark of the
moon" as it is sometimes called,
and will travel directly between
the earth and the sun producing
a solar eclipse.
Partial Eclipso
However, only a p ar t i a 1
eclipse will be visible in north
western North America. Ap
proximately one-tenth of the
sun's area is all that will be
darkened by the moon's shadow,
even at mid-eclipse. But, even
so, this will prove interesting
to many observers.
The black "bite" will begin
to show at 5:15 p.m. (PST) when
the shadow of the moon starts
encroaching on the face of the
sun, and will continue to grow
until 5:43 p.m. when it will have
attained maximum size, cover
ing about one-tenth of the sun's
disc.
From that moment the shadow
will begin to recede as the moon
moves on its orbit. The "bite"
will grow smaller and smaller,
disappearing entirely about 6:10
p.m.
Serious Injury
Looking directly into the sun
may result in serious injury to
the eyes and great caution
snoum arways be exercised in
Sunday, April 28, 1957
MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE ELEVEN
negatives may be used to sub
due the sun's glare.
A shade over a window with
a western exposure may be
pierced with a small hole caus
ing a pinhole image of the sun
to be shown on the wall opposite
the window. The dark shadow
or "bite" can be observed in the
reflection on the wall.
If a white screen is placed
behind the eyepiece of a tele
scope fixed on the sun, the solar
image will appear on the screen,
thus enabling a number of peo
ple to observe the phenomenon
at the same time.
During the year of 1957 there
will be four eclipses; two of the
moon and two of the sun. Dis
appointing enough, only the par
tial solar eclipse of April 29,
and the beginning of the lunar
eclipse listed for the early morn
ing of Nov. 7, 1957, will be vis
ible from this part of the world.
NEEDS A LIFT
Atlanta (U.P.) Fifteen min
utes late for an appointment,
city elevator inspector Nelson
T. Yancey explained he had been
trapped in a stalled, self-service
elevator.
SCENE NOT HEARD
Pittsburgh U.PJ Five-year-old
Ruth Ann Fuchs slipped out
of the house for a stroll Friday
without a stitch of clothing.
Ruth Ann lives on Plainview
Street. ,
The University of South Da
kota now has 17 third genera
tion students.
The Family Council
Editor's not: The Family Council consists of a Judge, a psychiatrist,
three clergymen, a newspaper editor, a women's editor and two writers. Each
article Is a summary of an actual report. The Family ConncU does not give
advice; It merely reports on problems that have been dealt with by responsible
agencies ana counselors.
MONEY
At Crater Finance you may
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purpose on your
FURNITURE - AUTO
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and repay in monthly install
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up to 24 months.
Loans may be paid in ad
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Crater Finance
CORPORATION
135 Pine St. Central Point
Phono NO 4-1273
Frank Wilkinson, Mgr.
Convenient Parking
Patricia D. I am investing in
our lifetime home
Clifford D. She is trying to
keep up with her rich sister.
Patricia D. My husband and
I are both in our mid-20s and
have been married three years,
We have no children yet.
When we were first married.
we had very little money and
started out in a furnished apart
ment. We could just about man
age our food and rent bills.
Since then, we've both been
quite lucky in going on to bet
ter jobs and are making good
pay. There is every reason to
believe that our income will
greatly Increase in the next ten
years.
.. I have been buying some good
clothes and fine things for our
home. I never had these things
a a child, but I have good taste
and I like expensive things. My
nusband says I am splurging
and wants me "to go easy on
the money." He thinks we ought
to save, but I feel I am invest
ing in our lifetime home. We
have had very bitter arguments
ebout the whole thing and I am
beginning to think we just don't
share the same values.
Clifford D. We used to be so
much happier before we had any
money. The only recreation we
could afford was walking and
tlking together and that was
fun. Now I never really see Pat.
She is always busy shopping and
all she ever talks about is
clothes and what she is going
to buy next.
I feel that Pat is trying to
keep up with her rich sister.
After every visit to her sister's
home, she comes back depressed
and brooding. Then she goes out
: and buys a fantastically expen
sive lamp or piece oi silver.
We'll never have the kind of
money her sister and brother-in-law
have because they are
in business and we only have
our jobs to depend on. When we
have children, Pat's job will be
gone and there will only be my
salary.
Pat thinks I'm just a boor and
don't appreciate the finer things
in life, but I don't see any sense
(easy)
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CLEANS
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v5v
in training your eyes to be big
ger than your pocketbook.
e
The Council: Nobody can tell
Pat and Clifford how much they
ought to spend on clothes and
home furnishings. Only they can
judge the potentialities of their
income and only they can de
cide what things are most im
portant to them. Pat's expensive
lamp may bring her more hap
piness than a vacation trip, but
she should realize that her hus
band is right about the fact that
a salaried person must impose
limitations on himself, and she
will have to make sacrifices for
her "good taste." Pat should also
realize that good taste does not
always require a high financial
outlay. With effort and imagina
tion it is possible to indulge in
good taste without emptying the
cupboard. From Clifford's ac
count, it would appear that Pat
has made the common mistake
of seeing beauty in only the ex
pensive. There is no end to this
"conspicuous consumption" and
if Pat continues to use her sis
ter's buying as her guide, she
cooms herself to frustration.
Pat should also depend less
on material things for her hap
piness. It may be that it is she,
rather than Clifford, who lacks
appreciation for "the finer things
in life."
On the other hand, Clifford
should realize things that may
seem extravagant to a man may
be almost a necessity to a wom
an. A woman s clothes and her
home are usually the main ex
pressions of her personality and
he should not impose more re
strictions on her than necessary.
(Copyright 1957,
General Feature Corp.)
4
CLUB
NEWS
Eagle Point Outdoor
Living, Cooking Club
The meeting of the Eagle
Point Outdoor Living and Cook
ing club was held April 20 at
the home of James Wert. Pres
ident Ann Higday took charge
of the meeting.
The club s April 26 pie social
was the discussion topic. George
Barr of Alber's Feed and Seed
was suggested as auctioneer for
the event.
Jim Ackerman,
Acting Reporter.
A LENGTHY 'VISIT'
Chicago (U.R) Anthony Mc
Gauley, 55, is convinced his wife
is never coming back. McGauley
sued for divorce Thursday on
the ground that he has waited
long enough for the return of
his bride who never came back
from a "visit" to Scotland 29
years ago.
Daily's U-Drive
Medford Airport
tween the horizon and the over- this matter, bark glasses or old
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22 Years in Business
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X t It tt. . . -
t i unca upon a time, mere was a w
,man who bought a great, big.
dinosaur. That's what he called
it. Actually, it was a great, big :.e
automobile. It was so hTcr it
wouldn't fit into his garage; J
JSo he had to rebuild the garage
so the car would fit
'When the man drove the car on
the road, it guzzled gas like an
intercontinental bomber. He '
was known as the gas station's
best friend.
And when his wife went to the
grocery store, or the drug store,
or the beauty parlor, she spent
half her time trying to park that
big, Jong juggernaut of a car.
ii; II
ks m - m t-i 1
Finally, the man and his wife flipped
their lids. "We've had enough of "
this nonsense" they said. "Let'jv
get an economical European car."'
So they looked at one but it '
wouldn't hold all their family
M
i - jibii j ii s.iiiwB'ps'ijji; W'twymm wgww,"'f 'f wmrrfT''-m Mf mtmv!9kmiMP'W-i j'wi niiwu i miminwu i-m mint 1
t:J Recent V. the man and his wife , M Thpv fnnnrl thpir Ramhler hart rnst wmf
TM - t XI !ir l i TM
1 t,. at,... I..I..J .1 1L- I.. ? 4
ou wen mey luureu ai we umy car JPW
mat nas Dig-car roominess and comfort, f
plus European-car maneuverability,
and economy. It was a Rambler. It
was as pretty as a speckled pup.
It fitted in their garage and left i
room for them to go in aijd out, too.
When they loaded up the family,
'there was room for five kids and
three dogs, and them, too. And '
they had more fun on trips, with
beds to cap te Juds"
And when they drove up to the gas
station, their old friend the manager
gave them sour looks. "You're k
only usin' half as much gas," he
groused. "What are you gettm',
30 miles to the gallon?" ... ,
&
Recently, the man and his wife ,
decided to trade their '56 Rambler
in on the new 1957 Economy 6
' model. They found that Rambler
has the highest trade-in valueof
all low-priced cars. So they
started figuring... ""
1
They found their Rambler had cost
less than half as much to own as
their old "dinosaur". Now they ,
could afford to own two Ramblers.
Were they happy! So they bought
a new 1957 Rambler 6 and a new
.Rambler V-8, too.
Hhey got lowest-priced All-Season'
Air Conditioning that adds so much
to resale value it may repay its
full cost when you trade again.
And they got Airliner Reclining
Seats that make Twin Travel Beds,
';. .' mil .11
aagLi'v'iiMsl'Miiiirsw
If I
fT 1
If you're tired of feeding a
dinosaur, try Rambler. Prove to
yourself you can own two smarter
new Ramblers for the cost of one
big gas-guzzler. And Rambler's
lots more fun to drive.
Pi
1
"I ebTHfairyTnvite you're
come in and road test
Ramble? V8 or G
America's loWSIt priced,
smartest car. See for yourself
why this car wiTl fif your
motoring needs bVtfer than
any car built today"
Paul Lea
HUDSON
TT T"D A lUTmnTPmTTDCsJ metropolitan
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