Atlanta Georgian., 1913-03-01
BUDGET NEEDED,
ASSERTSFORBES
U. S. Government Worst Man
aged Business Concern, and
Should Be SyStematized.
Bv 3. c. FORBES.

Eu SldNeS Is AHe INisH states govern
ment. Instead Of being the best man
aged il is the worst managed concern in
the whole country. Were any private
corporation run on as slipshod, hap
hazard, bhndfold, extravagant a basis
II would degenerate into bankruptcy in
short order. The handling Of our
finances is a disgrace to an enlightened
nation
The need for budget, as recon-
mended by President Taft in message
outlined a few days ago, is pressing.
7E1e task of running America VIII. in
the nature of things, become more COM
plex year by year We are constantly
clamoring for more government. for
more governmental regulation and su-
pervision OF private enterprise. AL
ready the railroads have been brought
under strict regulation and there is an
unmistakable drift toward a similar
measure of regulation of industrial cor
porations. Whether we like It or not,
whether we favor as little or as much
government as possible, the trend is
clear, strong and straight We are
headed toward wholesale governmental
regulation Of business Whether regu-
lation will in time give place to govern
ment ownership is not, to say the least,
a preposterous question
Looking ahead. it is essential that the
government put its business on a bust
mess footing. Heretofore we have blum
dered along blindly, conscious and con-
fident that the taxpayer would fool all
bills no matter how uncalled for
Says President Taft on this head:
Not only have we been without ade-
quate information, but, as a result.
this great institution, with its multi
piled activities and with expenditures
that within the last 1913 years have
mounted up from less than $4,000 900
to more than 81 600. 900, 900 each
year, may be said to be without a
plan or program
Although we are annually spending
$500 ,000, 900 for military purposes in
cluding pensions. we have never had
a comprehensive or consistent mill
tary policy. Nor have we as a ma
tion had any plan for developing the
many services which have been
erected to provide for the economic
and social welfare Bureau after bu
reau. service after service has been
organized. but neither the executive
branch nor the congress has been
consciously working to a consistent,
well-defined purpose
Not only have we not had a definite
program for determining each year
what welfare work should be under
taken. or what should be the next step
in promoting or conserving economic
and social interests but there has
been the same lack of program In re-
gard 10 our national finances and pro-
posed expenditures
The president recommends the es
Establishment OF "a bureau of central ad-
ministrative control with a controller
at the head who would be responsible
10 the president and to congress" He
suggests to congress. with much hest
tation," that budget committee be es-
tablished las a final clearing house
through which all the recommendations
OF the committees having to do with
revenues and expenditures shall pass
before they take the form of a definite
bill The special reason which ] have
for urging such a committee is that at
present the administration is seriously
Handicapped by not being able to take
mp proposals or constructive measures
affecting any particular department
with any one body or committee which
will undertake to consider them in all
their aspects"
The United States government Is en-
tering the field as a business physi-
clan physician, heal thyself." is an
admonition 1t should act upon before 1t
widens it's practice ON other people. II
the worst conducted business in the
land can become the best conducted
then its orders viii be less offensive to
other well managed concerns
AT this stage of our national devel-
ppment we can withstand the grossest
governmental extravaganza. Being a
young, vigorous fertile country, we can
bear up against a needlessly heavy load
pf taxation But il may not be ever
thus. A time may come when we shall
need the dollars now so light -heartedly
wasted. In the worlds markets the
prizes are likely to go to competitors
least handicapped-and burdensome
saxtion is a grlevous handicap. Be
cause we seem to be able to afford
reckless expenditures now, that is no
reason why reckless expenditures
Should be incurred by the million every
time congress enters upon a session
and by various departments all the year
round.
We pride ourselves on being busi-
ness nation. Very Wen let US at once
run the nation ON business lines.
national budget, such as every 9TH
er civilized country complies will bring
us nearer business basis.