North Dakota Law Review/Volume 1/Number 3/Coolidge and Economy

COOLIDGE AND ECONOMY

Speaking to the members of the Government’s business organization on the 26th of last month, President Coolidge said, among other things:

“As I am pledged to economy in my requests for funds, so you are pledged to economy in the expenditure of the funds which may be granted by Congress. No longer are the funds appropriated by Congress regarded as the minimum amount which is to be expended. Every dollar that is saved by careful administration adds to the amount by which taxes may be reduced in the future. It is practical economy which I have in mind and which we must practice. I had rather talk of saving pennies and save them than theorize in millions and save nothing … We cannot look to a reduction in pay to effect a reduction in the Government payroll. What we are looking for is a reduction in the number of employees. Let me remind you that the Government pay roll for 1924 reached the staggering total of $1,680,000,000. … It is an unpleasant and difficult task to separate people from the Federal service. But it can be done. It will be done. … If the practice of economy is not popular, the results of it are viewed with tremendous satisfaction.”

General Lord, Director of the Budget, on that same occasion, made use of the following terse sentence:

“Travel less, buy less, ship less, build less, employ less, write less, print less, use less, waste nothing.”