The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1912-01-20

| found not only IN the possibility Of vsry
| materially reducing the direct cost Of gov
| ernment trading. but also in insuring -
the service materials. supplies and equip
| ment which are better adapted TO it8
| purposes. One OF the results OF indean-
| iteness OF specifications IL to impose con-
| tract conditions which make II extra hA-
| sarcous for persons to enter into oon-
tractual relations. This not only dsprives
the government OF the advantage OF
| broad competition. but causes II to pay
| an added margin In price TO vendors who
| must carry the risk
| Excessive Cost Of Travel.
| Ono Of the nrst steps taken toward
| constructive work was the recIassiaca-
| ton Of the expenditures for the year 1919
| by objects The foundation was thus
| made for the investigation OF government
| trading practices. While IL was recog-
| niHed that this large neld could not bs
covered within . year except At enormous
| cost. the subjects OF Transportation of
| persons" and Subsistence while in travel
| status" were taken concrete examples.
| The annual cost OF travel to the govern
ment was found to be about IL. 00o. 600 II
was also found that the government en-
ployees were travelling in practically ev-
cry way that was open TO the public: II
was further found that although the gov
ernment was the largest user OF trans
portation. II was buying railroad tickets
on q less favorable basis than would be
possible IL the subject OF travelling ex-
penditures were systematically handled
from the point of view OF the government
as whole. The form Of ticket most Oft
en- used between such points A. New
York. Philadelphia and Washington was
the singie-trip, nrst-class ticket In two
departments definite tests have been
made IN the OF mileage boks and in
each practically the same result has been
reported. viz. an average saving OF
little over one-hak OF one cent per mile
Better Methods for Purchasing.
Through a long period of years and by
numberous laws and orders there has
grown up a procedure governing public
advertising and contracting that Is more
burdensome and expensive in some cases
than Is necessary. The procedure is not
uniform in the various departments: Il 10
not uniform in many cases for the dif-
ferent services in the samo department
To make uniform the requirements so far
as practicable will be in the interest OF
economy and efficiency and bring about
that simplicity that viii secure the larg
est opportunity for contractors to bid for
government work. and will secure for tho
government the most favorable prices OBJ
tanned by any purchaser.
Tho Budget.
The United States is the only great ma
ton whose government IL operated with
out budget. This fact seems to be more
striking when II IL 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 rights The
American commonwealth has suffered
much from irresponsibility on tho part OF
its governing agencies The constitution
al purpose OF a budget IL to make gov
ernment responsive to public opinion and
responsible for Its acts.
The Budget a. an Annual Program.
A budget should be tho means for get
ting before the legislative branch. before
the press and before the people a definite
annual program of business to be tnan
ced; 1t should be IN the nature OF a pros
pectus both of revenues and expendi-
lures: II should comprehend every rela-
tion OF the government to the people.
whether with reference to the raising OF
revenues the rendering of service.
In many foreign countries tho annual
budget program is discussed with special
reference TO the revenue to be raised. tho
thought being that the raising of revenue
| bears more direct relation to welnsgS 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 proposed
PubIIc-Weifare Questions.
The principal government objects i1
| 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; tn. promotion
| of agriculture, fisheries. forestry and min
/ ing; the promotion of manufacturing.
| commerce, and banking: the promotion OF
transportation and communication: tho
postal service. including postal savings
and parcels post: the care for and utili-
zaton 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 public-welfare questions In
| which l assume every citizen has vital
| interest. l believe that every member of
| congress- as an official represen tative OF
| the people, each editor. a non-ofncial
| 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
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
| economically spent and whether each OIL
| vision or offce mas Deen eIHcieltiy run
| This Is the information which should be
available each year in the form OF
budget and in detail accounts and reports
| supporting the budget
Continuance Of the Commission.
ask the continuance of this commits
| sion on economy and efficiency because
| of the excellent beginning which has been
made toward the reorganization Of tho
| machinery OF this government on busi-
mes. principles. ask It because its work
Is entirely non-partsan in character and
| ought to apply to every citizen who
wishes to give effectiveness to popular
government in which we feel a Just pride.
The work further commends itself Tor
the reason that the cost OF ORGANISATION
and work has been carefully considered
at every point Three months were taken
| In consideration of plans before the In