The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-01-19

pie a definite annual program OF bud
ness to be financed. IL should be
the nature Of prospectus both
revenues and expenditures 1t shou
comprehend every relation of the 20
ernment to the people. whether viii
reference to the raising OF revenues
the rendering OF service.
In many foreign countries th, Il
nual budget program is discussed wi
special reference to the revenue to |
raised. the thought being that the raj
ing of revenue bears more direct rel
ton to welfare than does Covcrnmet
expenditure. Around questions
source Of revenue politicak partit
have been organized. and on sud
questions voters in the United StateN
have taken sides since the first re
enue law was proposed.
Citizens Interest In Expenditures.
In political controversy it has bed
assumed generally that the individu
citizen has little interest in what Il
government spends. In my opin!oI
this has been a serious mistake, OH
which is becoming more serious eac
year. Now that population has b
come more dense, that large citi
have developed, that people are
quired to live in congested centers. tn |
the national resources frequently
the subject Of private ownership al
private control and that transportatid1
and other public service facilities n 4
held and operated by large corpora
tions. what the government does viii
nearly S1,O0O000,O00 each year is of i
much concern TO the average citizen i
is the manner of obtaining this amoull
of money for public use. In the preI
ent inquiry special attention has bed
given to the expenditure side.
We want economy and efficiency. WI
want saving and saving for a purpos
We want to save money to enable ii
government to go into some of I'll
beneficial projects which we are ID
barred from taking up now becauI
we cannot increase our expenditure
Projects affecting the public healtt
new public works and other beneficii
activities of government can be full
thered If we are able to get a dollar a
value for every dollar Of the goverI
ment's money which we expend.
Continuance of the Commission.
l ask the continuance Of this corl
mission on economy and efficiency I'D
cause Of the excellent beginning whic|
has been made toward the reorganizd
tion of the machinery of this goverI
ment on business principles. | ask
because its work is entirely nonpa|
tisan in character and ought to apDI
to every citizen who wishes to giI
effectiveness to popular government
In which we feel a just pride. Thi
work further commends itself for I'll
reason that the cost of Organization
and work has been carefully considej
ed at every point. Three month
were taken in consideration Of plan
before the inquiry was begun; si
months were then spent in prcliminar
Investigations before the commission
was organized. Before March 3. 1911
when l asked for a continuation d
the original appropriation for the cui
rent year, only $4,000 had been spen
1t Is a matter of public record tina
the three largest insurance companie
In New York when under legis!ativ
Investigation spent more than 800
900 for expert services to assist tn
administration to put the business O
modern basis, but the economies III
| first year were more than tenfclG III
cost. l am informed that New Yorl
I Chicago, Boston, st. Louis. Cincinnati
Milwaukee and other cities are pros,
/ cutting inquiries the cost OF wiiah
largely disproportiOnate to the cost 1,
CURED by the federal governmen
Furthermore, these inquiries have til
vigorous support aud direct cooper;
tion of citizen agencies which alon
are spending not less than $4,000
per annum.
| sincerely hope that congress wi
not in its anxiety TO reduce exrcud
lures economize by cutting Off an NJ
preparation which is likely to onC
greater opportunity for real economy
the future than any other estimate
, for.
As has been said, the changes whic
have already been made are resultin
in economies greater than the cost ,
the Inquiry. Reports in my hand
with recommendations, estimate III
proximately S2,OOOOOO Of possible al
nual economies. Other subjects undC
investigation indicate much larger n
suits. These represent only few {
the many services which should be sui
jected to a like painstaking inquiry.
this is done it is beyond question thG
many millions Of savings may be rea
I lied. Over ana above the economy al
increased efficiency which may he SAY
to result from the work of the cOmmi,
sion as such is an indirect result thi
cannot well be measured. | refer [
the influence which a vigorous, tho
oughgoing executive inquiry has o
each Of the administrative units.
In this relation it may be said tbs
the expenditure for the inquiry duriu
the present fiscal year is at the rate
| Sl30OOO, The mass of informati0
which p1uct no anIIactad 1{.ro.s-l -,