Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-01-24

] materially feulGinS me GlfEGt Cost OF Wv
/ eminent trading. but also in .azU-Ing &c
the service materials. supplies and equip
| neat which are better adapted 10 its
| purposes. One Of the results Of iucefn-
| itenesz y specifications Is 70 impose con
/ tract Conditions which make Il extra ha
zardous Tor persons 10 enter into con-
1 tractud relations. This not only dsprives
the government OF the advantage Of
broad competition. but causes II to pay
/ an added margin IA price 20 vendors VINO
| must carry the risk.
Excessive Cost Of Travel
One Of the nrst steps taken TOWARD
| constructive work was the feclassifica-
ton OF the expenditures for the year 1910
| 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,
The annual cost OF travel to the govern
ment was found to be about $1,000 COO. It
was also found that the government EN-
ployees were travelling In practically ev-
cry way that was open to the public: It
was further found that although the gov
eminent was the largest user OF trans
portation. II was buying railroad tickets
on less favorable basis than would be
BpSHibA% II the hugJegL Oh EFhFEllHE E&-
penditurss were systematically handled
from the point Of view OF the government
as whole. The form OF ticket most Off
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 of a
little over one-half of one cent per mile.
Better Methods for Purchasing.
Through 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; II is
not. uniform in many cases for the DIFF
feFent 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 will 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.
The Budget.
The United States is the only great ma
ton whose government Is operated with
DIA u gnAkfts Inns Adtt bNeEls 10 ne more
striking when II 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 irresponslbility on the part OF
its governing agencies The constitution
al purpose Of a budget Is to make gov
eminent responsive TO public opinion and
responsible for It's 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. Il should be in the nature of a 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
hears 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-WeIfare 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- |
zation 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 / assume every citizen has vital !
interest. / believe that every member OF
congress. as an official representative OF |
the people, each editor. as non-official |
representative OF public opinion, each |
citizen. as beneficiary OF the trust Inn |
posed on officers OF the government. /
should he able readily TO ascertain how |
much has beer spent for each OF these |
purposes. how 1duch 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 d. |
vision or office has been efficiently run. |
This Is the infcs maisan which SHOULD be /
available each year In the form Of o
budget and IN detail accounts and reports |
supporting tho budget.
Continuance of the COMMISSIONS
I ask the continuance of this commits
Aion on economy and efficiency because
OF the excellent beginning which has been
made toward the reorganization OF the
machinery OF this government on bust
ness principles ! ask II because its work
IA entirely non-partisan In character and
ought to apply TO every citizen who
wishes TO give effectiveness to popular
government. in which we feel 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
uuiry was begun, six months were then
spent In preliminary Investigations before
the commission was organized; before
March 8, 1911, when I asked for con-
tnuation OF the original appropriation
for the current year. only $4,000 had been
spent.
The expenditure for the inquiry during
the present fiscal year is at the rate OF
$4,000. The mass OF Information which
must be collected digested and s2mmar-
ICED pertaining 10 esch subject OF inquiry
Is enormous. From the results oh
tained Il Is evident that every dollar
which Is spent in the prosecution of tn
a