Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1912-01-19


materially reducing the direct cost OF gov
ernment trading. but also in insuring TO
the service materials, supplies and equip
ment which are better adapted to Its
purposes. Ono 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 OF the advantage OF
broad competition, but causes 1t to pay
an added margin in price to vendors who
must carry the riak.
Excessive Cost Of Travel.
One of the first steps taken toward
constructive work was the reclassfca-
ton of the expenditures for the year 1910
by objects. The foundation was thus
made for the investigation Of government
trading practices. While K was recog-
nized that this large field could not DO
covered within a 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 s12,000,000. II
was also found that the government en-
ployees were travelling in practically ev-
cry way that was open to the public; 1t
was further found that although the gov
ernment was the largest user of trans
portaton. 1t was buying railroad tickets
OH u less IdVOraDle DaSlS tndn WOulu Do
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 sngle-trip, first-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
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 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
ferent 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
tained by any purchaser.
The Budget.
The United States is the only great ma
out budget. This fact seems to be more
striking when 1t 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
Its governing agencies. The constitution
al purpose of a budget is to make gov
ernment responsive to public opinion and
responsible for its acts.
Tho 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; 1t should be in the nature of a pros
| pectus both of revenues and expendi-
| lures; 1t 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.
Public-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-
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 1 assume every citizen has Vita
interest. / believe that every member OF
| congress- as an official representative OF
the people. each editor. as a non-officia
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 a clear, we'll
digested statement showing In detail
whether moneys appropriated have beer
economically spent and whether each di
vision or office has been efficiently run
This s the information which should b
available each year in she form of {
budget and in detail accounts and reports
supporting the budget.
Continuance of tho Commission.
ask the continuance of this commits
sion on economy and efficiency becaus
of the excellent beginning which has beel
made toward the reorganization of tn
machinery of this government on bust
ness principles. 1 ask 1t because its worl
is entirely non-partisan In character an
ought to apply to every citizen VIII
wishes to give effectiveness to popula
government, in which we feel just pride
The work further commends itself 70
the reason that the cost of organizatio
and work has been carefully considere
at every point. Three months were take
in consideration of plans before the In
quiry was begun; six months were the
spent in preliminary Investigations befor
~ Nil haf