Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-02-26
IAFT'S. BUDGET P||.AN
NfAR[N[|lk MESSAGE.
PaEs,osnT unoEs ccNeRess 70
REoRoAM,zE ITS FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT.
WANTS COMMISSION TO
Ss'"' DETERMINE NEEDED FUNDS

Proposal and Shows Whore Money
Could Be Saved Thru Various
eooom;s.-s -sa,ary2 Waste.
Washington, Feb 26.-President Taft
today sent 20 congress his MUCK dis
oussed budget" message. He recon-
mended the adoption ot Duasst sys-
tenn Of relating proposed expenditures
to expected revenues and declared that
congress would be greatly benefited by
having before 1t such a statement be-
fore 1t began the annual grind upon
approl ration bills. The United States;
the president wrote. was the only
great nation in the world which lid.
not use the budget system and lin con-
sequence it may be said to bs.without
plan or program" He indicated that
owing to the late day at which he was
able to transmit his message she ex-
pected little legislation on the topic:
from the present congress. a
The president took full responsibili-s
ty for the message upon himself.
Congress in the. last snndry civil bill
directed the secretary. OF the treasury
to submit estimates hereafter in the
old way. Mr.. Taft pointed out how
ever. that ne had directed the secre-.
tary OF the treasury to agree with the
directions OF congress and also to send
to him Information for a budget mes
sage. He referred congress also TO tho;
portion Of the constitution which res
quires him from time to time to rec,
ommend such measures as he shall
deem necessary and expedient.
Advantage - Seen BY President.
Some Of the advantages Of the bud
get system as pointed out by the pres
ident were: So
a means Of locating responsibility
fur+estlinates In keeping with reNenues.
"A means OF allowing tcongresg to see
how much lsToss.lit will have to spend
before Ii begins propriating for each
depaftment or detail Of government
machinery. I.
Because. It would furnish congress
and the public with ready reference to
reports and detailed records aof ac-l
count.
Because it would produce an ade-
quate organization for assembling and
classifying information to be used in
telling the country what has been done
and Of the governments g future needs.
To aid in working with we'll de-:
fined purpose in many bureaus hither-,
to organized but directed under an in
consistent and ill-denned program. i,
To cancel the nations debt, thru a,
sinking fund and to eliminate the de-'
felt, which is slowly growing.
Commission 10 Proposed. -
To carry out the budget plan, to re-
duce the deficit and the fixed charges
against the government the president;
proposed: t#
To create a sinking fund commission
to consist of the chairman Of the
finance committee Of the senate; the
chairman Of the house ways and means
the attorney general and
the secretary of the treasury. with the,
comptroller of the treasury as annual
auditor Of the sinking fund account.
Legislation which would wipe out the
national debt in twenty-yearss ( after
July l, 1914, congress should set aside
$45,000,0O0 annually for that purpose.
That would be $15,00O.000 year less
than the present amount required by
law. That fund should be invested In
3 per cent government bonds and In
twenty years the $1,1s0,000,0OO debt.
the pre- sident says would be retired.
New Buildings Favored.
The adoption Of a definite theory iss
recommended for future proposals for
internal Improvements go that such
Improvements would be in accord wifi,
a well thought out plan. In that cons,
nection the president suggested the
saving of the rent paid In Washfn gtone
for buildings used by the government
thru the construction OF new buildings
to cost about 800. 100000 TO. he paid FOL
thru a period of twenty years u
Briefly stated wrote the president.
my suggestion is that the govefnmen.
first plan for It's land purchases, buiid-
inxs. and public works then Dor row
them. proportioning the! cost .oEer q
bonds issued to meet the cext payable
out of an adequate sinking fund.-
Would Reduce Salaries. 4.
a OF a reduction of the salary roll of
the government amounting to about
$O,0UV,VVU duHudHS, eWO.tHIIrS, tho
president declared, would be saved by
adopting his scheme to classify what
are now presidential appointments. Al,
most 81. 100000 annually could be. kept
in government Golfers thru postoffice
department changes. The sum Of So
0O0, 900 would be cut from the pay roll
Mr.. Taft continued, II there were
executive reclassification Aof
civil service employees. Under this head
the president wrote: 5f
I'm the present situation many mei,
at the bottom are receiving larger sai-s
aries than would be obtained for simi..
lar work in outside employment,
men in higher positidns.cArfy.
ing great responsibility and the success
of whose performance depends on
training and long experience, are In
adequately paid. From the viewpoint
Of the rank and file there. - little hope
Of reward for merit. The founda tiopg
for reclassification OF salaries alfeadx
has been laid. In my cpinion.ftrwnuids!
enable the government to pay hikh6
salaries to those Of whom expef5enk
ssssss1s Sc d q 81.