The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-17

ticket most often used between such
points as New York, Philadelphia and
Washington was the single trip first
class ticket In two departments def
mite tests have been made in the use
of mileage books, and in each prac-
tically the same result has been re-
portedZviz, an average saving of a lit
tie over one half of l cent per mile.
i One Of the results or byproducts of
this inquiry into travel expenses was
the recommendation that the jurat OF
affidavit which is now required by or
der of the comptroller be, discontinued.
The jurat does not add to the value of
the return. involves persons travelling
4 in much annoyance and trouble in GO
ing before an officer competent TO adj
minister oaths, while every discipline
4 nv result is obtained through certifca-
/ ton under the law prescribing pen
atty for the Justification of accounts.
A discontinuance Of the jurat In all
! cases would result In a direct saving
of about 100000 per annum.
| Other Expenditures to Be Investigated.
/ Before economy IN government trad
/ ing can be adequately covered such
| subjects as the following must be sys-
/ tematically inquired into--yiZ: Subsist-
enee and support of persons; subsist-
/ ence and care for animals and the stor-
| age and care of vehicles; telephone,
| telegraph and commercial messenger
/ service; printing. engraving, lltho-
1 graphing and binding: advertising and
| the publication of notices; heat, light,
power and electricity purchased; re-
pairs by contract and open market or
der; building and other materials:
drafting, scientific and stationery sup
plies; fuel; mechanics, engineering and
electricians supplies; cleaning and
toilet supplies; wearing apparel and
hand sewing supplies; forage and 9th
er supplies for animals; provisions; ex-
plosives and pyrotechnic supplies; heat,
light, power and electrical equipment;
hive stock: furniture and furnishings;
educational and scientific equipment
From what has been already ascertain
ed concerning certain of these differ
ent objects of government expenditure
suit from such an examination.
Reports at Present Required by Con-
eress.
The commission has made study of
the present requirements of law relat-
ing to reports which are in whole or
In part financial in character from the
various departments and establish
ments There are more than ninety
acts of congress which annually re-
quire reports of this character. These
requirements of the law result in near
ly 200 printed reports relating to finan- |
cial matters. which must be submitted |
annually 10 the congress by the vari- /
Gus departments and establishments. I
Studies of these reports and compari- /
sons of the classification of expendi I
lures as set forth therein have been
made by the commission to the end /
that so far as practicable, uniformity /
Of classification Of objects of expendi- !
ture may be recommended and identi' {
cal Technology adopted.
In due time / shall transmit to the 4
congress such recommendations for (
changes In the present laws relating to .
these annual reports as appear to be /
pertinent and necessary.
No National Budget.
The United States is the only great +
nation whose government is operated /
without a budget This fact seems to
be more striking when 1t is consid-
cred that budgets and budget proce
dures are the outgrowth of democratic
doctrines and have had an important
part in the development of modern
constitutional rights The American
commonwealth has suffered much
from responsibility on the part of its
governing agencies Unconstitutional
purpose of budget is TO make gov
eminent responsive to public opinion
and responsible for It's acts.
A budget should be the means for
getting before the legislative. branch
before the press Pud before the peo-
pie definite annual program OF busf-
ness to be financed. II should be in
the nature of prospectus both or
revenues and expenditures. 1t should
every Va thS EOfN j
eminent to the people, whether with
reference TO the raising of revenues or
the rendering of service.
In many foreign countries the an
nual budget program is discussed with
special reference to the revenue to be
raised. the thought being that the rails
ing of revenue bears more direct rela-
ton to welfare than does government
expenditure. Around questions of
source OF revenue political parties
have been organized. and on such
questions voters In the United States
have taken sides since the first rev.
enue law was proposed.
Citizens Interest In Expenditures.
In political controversy it has been
assumed generally that the individual
citizen has little interest in what the
government spends. In my opinion,
this has been serious mistake, one
which is becoming more serious each
year Now that. population has be-
come more dense, that large cities
have developed. that people are re-
quired to live in congested centers that
the national resources frequently are
the subject OF private ownership and