Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1912-01-19


the service maserials. supplies and equip
ment which ere better adapted to its
| purposes. One OF the results OF indefin-
iteness OF specifications Is to impose con-
tract conditions which make II extra ha-
| zardous for persons to enter into con-
| tractual relations. This not only deprives
the government cf 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.
One Of the first steps taken toward
| constructive work was the reclassifica-
| ton OF the expenditures for the year 1915
by objects The foundation was thus
| made for the investigation OF government
| trading practices While il was recog-
nized that this large field could not be
covered within year except at enormous
cost. the subjects of Transportation of
| persons and Subsistence while in travel
status were taken as concrete examples
| Inc annual cost of travel to the govern
ment was found to be about So 10000. 1t
| was also found that the government en-
| ployees were travelling in practically ev-
cry way that was open to the public IL
] was further found that although the gov
| eminent was the largest user of trans
| portation, IL was buying railroad tickets
on a less favorable basis than would be
possible II 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 as New
YORK, philadelphia and Washington was
the single-trip, flrst-class ticket In two
departments definite tests have been
made in the use of mileage boks and IN
each practically the same result has been
reported, viz, an average saving or a
little over one-half of one cent per mile.
Better Methods for Purchasing.
Through a 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 in some cases
than Is necessary. The procedure is not
uniform IN the various departments; it Is
not uniform in many cases for the diff
fereRt services in the same 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 the
government the most favorable prices OBJ.
tanned by any purchaser
Tho Budget.
The United States is the only great ma
ton whose government Is operated with
out a budget. This fact seems to be more +.
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 rights. The
American commonwealth has suffered
much from responsibility on the part of
It's governing agencies The constitution
al purpose of a budget is to make gov
eminent responsive to public opinion ana
responsible for its acts
The Budget as 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 finan-
ced; It should be in the nature of pros
pectus both of revenues and expendi-
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 the 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.
PubIic-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 ana education of the Indians /
and other wards of the nation.
These are public-welfare questions In
which assume every citizen has a vital |
interest l believe that every member of |
congress. as an official representative of !
the people, each editor, as non-offcial |
representative of public opinion each /
citizen, as a beneficiary of the trust Inn /
posed on officers of the government |
should be able readily to ascertain how I
much has been spent for each of these I
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 I
dlgested statement showing in detail |
whether moneys appropriated have been |
economically spent and whether each di-
vision or office has been efficiently run.
This is the information which should be /
available each year in the form of a /
budget and in detail accounts and reports
supporting the budget.
Continuance Of the Commission.
1 ask the continuance of this commits
sion on economy and efficiency because /
Of Ia hopippIglcr hiph has
made toward the reorganization of the |
machinery of this government on busi- !
ness principles. I ask 1t because its work I
is entirely non-partisan in character and /
ought to apply to every citizen who /
wishes to give effectiveness TO popular I
government. in which we feel a just pride. /
The work further commends itself for /
the reasnn that the cost of organization |