Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-18
tie over one. half Of i cent Der mile.

N.As" shSSssV AhtO CAVCADNO VssO
the recommendation that the jurat or
affidavit which is now required by or
der OF the comptroller be discontinued.
The jurst does not add to the value OF
the return, involves persons travelling
IN much annoyance and trouble In go.
Ing before an officer competent to ad.
minister oaths. while every discipline.
~ result Is obtained through certi6ca-
tion under the law prescribing a pen
atty for the faisihcation Of accounts.
A discontinuance Of the jurat In all
cases would result in direct saving
Of about 100000 per snnum.
Other Expenditures 70 0s lovsstis stsd.
Before economy in government trad
ing can be adequately covered such
subjects as the following must lie sys-
tematically inquired into--viz: subsist-
ence and support Of persons; subsist'
ence and care for animals and the stor-
age and care Of vehicles; telephone,
telegraph aud commercial messenger
service; printing. engraving. ntho-
graphing and binding; advertising ana
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; mocha MICS, engineering and
electricians supplies; cleaning ana
toilet supplies: wearing apparel ana
hand sewing supplies: forage and 9TH
er supplies for animals: provisions; ex-
plosives and pyrotechnic supplies; neat
light. power and electrical equipment;
live stock: furniture and furnishings;
educational and scientific equipment.
From what has been already ascertain.
cd concerning certain Of these diner
ent objects of government expenditure
1t is evident that large savings will re
suit from such an examination.
Reports at Present Required by Con.
sress.
The commission has made study of
the present requirements OF law relat-
ing To reports which are In whole OF
in part financial in character from the
various depa rtments and establish
ments There are moro than ninety
acts of congress which annually re-
Quire reports of this character. These
requirements Of the law result In near
" 200 printed reports relating to finan
cial matters. which must he submitted
annually to the congress by the cari
Gus departments and establishments
Studies OF these reports and compare
sons of the classification Of expendi
lures as set forth therein have been
made by the commission to the end
that. 50 far as practicable. uniformity
Of classification Of objects Of expendi
ture may be recommended and identi
cal Technology adopted
In due time I shall transmit to the
congress such recommendations for
changes in the present laws relating &c
these annual reports as appear to be
pertinent and necessary.
No National Budget.
The United States is the only great
nation whose government Ia operated
without n budget. This fact seems Il
be more striking when 1t is consid
cred that budgets and budget proce
dures are the outgrowth of democratic
doctrines and have had an impOrtan nj
pnrt In the development Of modern
constitutional rights. The American
commonwealth has suffered much
from irresponsibility on the part Of it.
governing agencies. The constitutions
purpose Of budget is to make gov
eminent responsive to public opinion
and responsible for its acts.
A budget should be the means fol-
getting before the legislative branch
before the press and before the PEG
Pile definite annual program OF bust
ness to be financed. 1t should be IL
the nature Of Il prospectus both o.
revenues and expenditures. 1t shoult
comprehend every relation Of the gov
eminent to the people. whether wit!
reference to the raising Of revenues o.
the rendering of service.
J In many foreign countries the an
nual budget program is discussed will
special reference to the revenue to b.
raised, the thought being that the rails
ing OF revenue bears more direct reln
ton to welfare than does government
expenditure. Around questions o
source Of revenue political partie
have been organized. and on sucl
questions voters IN the United State
have taken sides since the first rev
J enue law wins prOpOsed.
Citizens Interest In Expenditure.
! In political controversy 1t has bee
assumed generally that the individua
citizen has little interest in what tn
: government spends. In my opinion
this has been serious mistake. on
which Is becoming more serious eac
year. Now that population has bt
come more dense. that large cite
have developed. that people IRE r.
Quired to live In cOngested centers. tina
the national resources frequently ar
the subject OF private ownership an
private control and that transporta ito
and other public service facilities ar
held and operated by large corpora
tons, what the government does wit
nearly $l.MO.OOO 900 each year Is Of a
much concern to the average citizen a
IL the manner OF obtaining this amour
of money for public use. Ir the pre-!
ent inquiry special attention has bee
given to the expenditure side.
We want economy and efficiency. v
want saving and saving for n purpose
We want to save money to enable tn
government to go into some Of tn