Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-25

mands In many puiiuih6s the present
equipment 10 taxed to its limit and II
tho present methods are continued much
Of this wiring must be done over; In
many places employees are working at q
great physical disadvantage. duo to In
adequate and improper lighting, and
thereby with reduced efficiency. In every
place where the inquiry has been con-
Quoted II appears that there Is large
waste; that without the cost Of rewir-
ing, simply by giving proper attention to
location OF lights and the use Of proper
lamps and refectors. the light efficiency
at points where needed may be much In.
creased ana the cost Of current reduced
from 30 to % per cent. Other Inquiries
into the use which 10 being made Of prop.
critics and equipment are contemplated
which promise even larger results.
Lack Of Specifications.
The Importance Of establishing and
maintaining standard speoncations Is
found not only in the possibility OF very
materially reducing the direct cost of gov
eminent trading. but also In insuring to
the service materials. supplies and equip
ment which are better adapted to It's
purposes. One of the results Of indefin-
iteness of specifications 10 to impose con-
tract conditions which make II extra ha-
zardous for persons to enter into con-
tractusl relations. This not only deprives
tho government Of the advantage OF
broad competition. but causes It to pay
an added margin In price TO vendors who
must carry the risk.
Better Methods for Purchasing.
Through q long period Of years and By
numerous laws and orders there has
grown up a procedure governing public
advertising and contracting that Is more
burdensome and expensive n some cases
than Is necessary. The procedure 10 not
uniform In the various departments; II 10
not uniform In many cases Tor the diff
ferent services IN the same department.
To make uniform the requirements 30 far
a. practicable will be in the interest Of
economy and efficiency and bring about
that simplicity that will secure the larE-
est opportunity for contractors to bid for
government work. and will secure for the
government the most favorable prices OBJ
tained by any purchases.
Tho Budget.
The United States Is tho only great NO.
ton whose government Is operated with
out a budget. This fact seems to b more
striking when 1t Is considered thai bud
gets and budget procedures are thu out
growth OF democratic doctrines and have
had an important part In tho development
OF modern constitutional rights. The
American commonwealth has suffered
much from irresponsibility on the Part Of
Its governing agencies. The constitution
al purpose Of IA budget Is to make gov
rnmen responsive to public opinion and
responsible for its acts.
The Budget az an Annual Program.
A budget should be the means for get
ting before the legislative branch. before
the press, and before the people a definite
annual program OF business to be fnan-
ced; It should be In the nature OF a pros
pectus both OF revenues and expendi-
lures; II should comprehend every rela-
ton OF the government to tho people.
whether with reference to the raising Of
revenues or the rendering OF service.
PublIc-Welfare Questions.
The principal government objects in
which the people OF the United States
are interested include:
The national defense: the protection of
persons and property; the promotion of
friendly relations and the protection OF
American interests abroad; the regulation
OF commerce and industry; the promotion
Of agriculture. fisheries. forestry and min
Ing: the promotion Of manufacturing,
commerce.. and banking; the promotion of
transportation and communication the
postal service, including postal savings
and parcels post: the care for and utili-
cation OF the public domain: the promo
ton OF education, art. science and recre-
alton; the promotion Of the public health;
the care and education OF the Indians
and other wards OF the nation.
These are public welfare questions in
which l assume every citizen has a vital
interest. ] believe that every member OF
ongress, as an official representative OF
the people. each editor. as a non-ofhcial
representative OF public opinion. each
citizen, as a beneficiary Of the trust i'm
posed on officers OF the government.
should be able readily to ascertain how
much has been spent for each OF these
purposes: how much has been appropri-
ated for the current year: how much the
administration Is asking for each of these
| Durn0sea for the next fiscal wear.
Furthermore. each person interested
should have laid before him a clear. we'll
digested statement showing in detail
whether moneys appropriated have been
economically spent and whether each d.
vision or office has been efficiently run.
This Is the information which should DO
available each year In the form Of =
budget and In detail accounts and reports
supporting the budget,
Continuance Of tho Commission.
ask the continuance of this commits
sion on economy and efficiency because
OF the excellent beginning which has been
made toward the organization of the
machinery OF this government on busi-
ness principles. ] ask II because Its work
Is entirely non-partisan In character and
ought to apply to every citizen who
wishes to give effectiveness to popular
government, I'm which we feel a Just pride.
The work further commends itself for
the reason that the cost Of organization
and work has been carefully considered
at every point. Three months were taken
In consideration OF plans before the In
quiry was begun; six months were then
spent In preliminary Investigations before
the commission was organized: before
March 3. 1911. when ! asked for a con-
tinuati0n OF the original appropriation
for the current year. only 1900 had been
spent.
The expenditure for the inquiry during
the present fiscal year is at the rate of