The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-01-19


purposes. One of the results or ,,s "
iteness Of specifications is to irnnoa ,.lens
tract conditions which make It extr, eoa
zardous for persons to enter int ~
tractual relations. This not only dsn. SoA
the government of the advantaaa
broad competition. but causes II -
an added margin in price to vendors pay
must carry the risk. wy
Excessive Cost of Travel
One of the first steps taxen to
constructive work was the recIassio ~
ton of the expenditures for the year y.
by objects. The foundation was 1T
made for the investigation Of governr oa
trading practices. While 1t was raas
nized that this large field could mo, Y
covered within year except at enorrn.S'
cost the subjects of "Transpoi tation '.
persons" and Subsistence while in trav.,
status" were taken as concrete exemn,,.
The annual cost OF travel to the govar,
ment was found to be about $l2 600 CN ~
was also found that the government a.,
ployees were travelling in practically an
cry way that was open to the public,
was further found that although the o..
eminent was the largest user OF trar,
portation. 1t was buying railroad ttcko,,
on a less favorable basis than would l.
possible If the subject of travelling a.
penditures were systematically handl,,
from the point of view of the governma,,
as a whole. The form of ticket most ~ H
en- used between such points as Ner
York, Philadelphia and Washington VA,
the single-trip. frst-class ticket In twa
departments definite tests have hs.s
made in the use of mileage boks and h
each practically the same result has has"
reported viz, an average saving of
little over one-half OF one cent per mill
Better Methods for PURCHASING. .,
Through long period of years and Nv
numerous laws and orders there bs,
grown up a procedure governing pubIo
advertising and contracting that is NOR,
burdensome and expensive in some case,
than is necessary. The procedure ia m,
uniform in the various departments; II /.
not uniform in many cases for the an.
ferent services in the same department
To make uniform the requirements SO IA,
as practicable will be in the interest n,
economy and efficiency and bring ab,n,
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 ob
tained by any purchaser.
The Budget.
The United States is the only great na.
ton whose government is operated with.
out budget This fact seems to be mora
striking when it is considered that bud
gets and budget procedures are the out
growth of democratic doctrines and have
had an important part in the development,
of modern constitutional rigats. The
American commonwealth has suffered
much from responsibility on the part OF
its governing agencies. The constitution
al purpose of q budget is to make gov
eminent responsive 10 public opinion and
responsible for its acts.
The Budget as an Annual Program.
\ budget should he the means for get.
ting before the legislative branch. before
the press. and before the people definite
annual program of business TO be finan-
ced; it should be in the nature of a pros
pectus both of revenues and eNpendi-
lures it should comprehend every rela-
ton OF. the government to the people,
whether with reference to the raising Of
revenues or the rendering Of service.
In many foreign countries tn annual
budget program is discussed with special
reference to the revenue to be raised, the
thought being that the raising of revenue
bears more direct relation 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 revenue
law was proposed.
Public-Welfare Questions.
1'l,a ,,ri,,n;,,al ,-o,.ar,,r,zp, ohiac+e IN
which the people of the United States
are Interested include:
The national defense. the protection Of
persons and property, q promotion o!
friendly relations ami protection d
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; | promo
ton Of education. art, science and Tecre-
alton. the promotion of the public health;
the care and education of the Indians
and other wards Of the nation.
These are publlc-weifare questions in
which l assume every citizen has a vital
interest l believe that every member Of
congress. as an official representative Of
the people, each editor. as a non-ofacial
rs preventative 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
how much has been appropri-
ated for the current year; how much the
is asking for each OF these
purposes for the next fiscal year.
Furthermore each person interested
should have laid before him clear, we'll
digested statement showing in detail
whether moneys appropriated have been
spent and whether each d.
vision or office has been efficiently run
This is the information which should De
available each year in the form Of a
budget and in detail accounts and reports
supporting the budget.
Continuance of the Commission.
I ask the continuance of this commits
sion on economy and efficiency because
Of the excellent beginning which has been
made toward the reorganization q the
machinery OF this government or busi-
ness principles. ! ask il because its work
is entirely non-partissn in character and
uA-lE 10 Apply 10 ever N4N4AE.- WV
wishes 10 give effectiveness 70 popular
government. in which we feel 81 pride.
The work further commends hsef for
the reason mat the cost Of organ. eaton
and work has been carefully considered
az everv point Three months were taken
IN consideration OF plans before tie IN
Quiry was begun; six months were tnen
spent In preliminary investigations before
the commission was organized. before
March g. 1911. when I asked for CON
linuat!on OF the original Appropriation
sqent.
The expenditure for the inquiry during
the present fiscal year Is al the rate OF
S-Saea The mass OF information when
must be collected. digested and sumnar-
lied pertaining TO each subject Of inquiry
is enormous. From the results 90
tained Il is evident that every dollar