The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1912-04-04
WOULD BLOCK
REAL ECONOMY

ing or its appropriations. In n recent
appeal to congress for funds to con
tinue the great work il has begun
winch all thinking men and women
Will approve. President Taft pointed
out that the people of the country as
Whole are interested chiefly in the
Following governmental objects: The
national defense. the protection of per
sons and property. the promotion of
friendly relations and the protection OF
American interests abroad. the reguia.
uon or commerce and industry. the
promotion of agriculture. fisheries for
estry and mining. the promotion of
manufacturing, commerce and bank.
Ing, the promotion of transportation
and communication. the postal service.
including postal savings banks and
parcels post; the care and utilization of
the public domain. the promotion of
education. art and science and recrea
ton; the promotion of public health
and the care and education of the In
dams and other wards of the nation
There are many other public questions.
of course, but these are the vital and
comprehensive ones, and the budget
Is proposed for the purpose of giving
information as to the needs of these
matters. The president, in order that
his policy of economy and efficiency
may be concluded and become one Of
the greatest achievements of his ad
ministration-that Of placing the gov
eminent on business basis-wants
congress to appropriate $4,000 more
doing that work.
The economy and efficiency commits
sion has already saved to the taxpay
ers of the country more than $4,000, 900
annually by its suggestions and by the
time 1t has completed its work it is be-
neved ten times this sum can be saved
annually to the taxpayers. In the mat
ter of railroad fare for government Off
Gals alone 1t has found that $12.O0O,0OO
was expended in single year at the
highest prevailing railroad rates. At
least fourth Of this can be. saved by
the application Of business methods
such as President Taft has applied and
departments Of the government
By law the secretary of the treasury
is called upon every year to submit to
congress In December the estimates"
of governmental expenditures for the
next fiscal year. beginning the follow
ing July l. As congress has to pro-
vide the money to run the government.
the money has to be appropriated for
specific purposes before it can be ex-
pended, and If this were not done be-
fore the beginning of the fiscal year
the machinery of government would
stop unless emergency provision could
be made.
How Estimates Are Made.
! The estimates" are prepared by the
executive departments of which each
member of the cabinet is a head. The
cabinet officers get the estimates" in
their respective departments from their
chiefs of bureaus and then combine
them as the estimates for the depart
ment The estimates" from all de-
partments are then sent to the secre-
tary of the treasury to be submitted
to congress. and they then become the
Estimates" for the cost Of running the
entire government during the next ifs
cal year Upon these figures congress
makes the greater part if it's appropria
lions, amounting to more than $1,000
600 1000 annually.
Until 1908 more or less lax method
Of making estimates for the annual
appropriations obtained throughout the
government The figures sent to con
gress each year, instead of showing
indications Of careful pruning" all
along the line. showed there was
among the departments to
vie with each other in getting as large
as possible without con-
whether or not the money de-
could be advantageously ex-
pended during the coming year. There
was no standardization of supplies. and
the various departments were paying
varying prices for the same article
What President Taft Did.
As soon as President Taft took Office
this system ceased. At the outset Pres
dent Taft impressed upon his cabinet
officials the absolute necessity of econ
Dmy and efficiency In their depart
ments. He admonished them that not |
4 dollar beyond what was necessary to |
run the government efficiently In their |
including a fair margin |
for progress. which Is part of efficien-
~ in the program Of President Taft. |
should be asked Of congress. The ef-
iect was Immediate Every depart
nent began work at once to invest-
gate its own expenditures and to de-
wise ways and means of curtailing ex- |
The result was that con-
gress received the lowest estimates it |
had seen in years. This was followed |
by reduction in appropriations to cor.
always allowing for the nat
nral growth of the governments ac-
dvities. which represented a net saw
Ing to the taxpayers Of the country.
President Taft was not. however,
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