Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-26
Shows Big Saving to the
Government Would be
the Result
NATION Is FAR BEHIND
Only One in World, President
Says, That Does Not Have
Definite Program.


Taft today sent to congress his much
discussed budget" message. He rec
commended the adoption of a budget
system of relating proposed exDendi-
lures to expected revenues and de-
clared that congress would be greatly
benefited by having before it such a
statement before it began the annual
grind upon appropriation bills. The
United States. the president wrote. was
the only great nation in the world
which did not use the budget system
and in consequence it may be said
to be without plan or program" He
indicated that owing to the late day
at which he was able to transmit his
message he expected little legislation
on the topic from the present con-
gress
The president took full responsible
ity for the message upon himself.
Congress in the last sundry civil bill
directed the secretary of the treasury
to submit estimates hereafter in the
old way. Mr. Taft pointed out, how
ever, that he had directed the secre-
tary of the treasury to agree with the
directions of congress and also to send
him information for budget message.
He referred congress also to the por-
ton of the constitution which requires
him from time to time to recommend
such measures as he shall deem neces-
sary anq eXpeaient.
Y ADVANTAGES SHOWN.
! Some of the advantages of the bud
get system as pointed out by the
/ president were:
A means of locating responsibility
fer estimates in keeping with reve-
nues.
! a means of allowing congress to see
how much gross it will have to spend
before it begins appropriating for each
department or detail Of government
machinery.
Because it would furnish congress
and the public with ready reference to
reports and the detailed records of
account
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 s
future needs.
To aid in working with a well de
fined purpose in many bureaus hither
to organized but directed under an in
consistent and ill-defined program.
To cancel the nations debt, through
a sinking fund and to eliminate the
deficit, which is slowly growing.
To carry out the budget plan, to re
duce the deficit and the fixed charges
against the government the president
proposed:
To create a sinking fund commits
sion to consist of the chairman of tht
finance committee of the senate; the
chairman of the house ways and means
committee; the attorney general ant
the secretary of the treasury, will
the comptroller of the treasury as an
nual auditor OF the sinking fund &C
count. Legislation which would wip,
out the national debt in 20 years af
ter July l, 1914, congress should Sc
aside S45, 100000 annually for that pur
pose. That would be $4,000 600 a yea
, less than the present amount requirel
= by law. That fund should be invested
, in per cent government bonds an,
in 20 years the $1,160,OO0 900 debt, tn,
, president says, would be retired.
; FOR DEFINITE THEORY.
The adoption of a definite theory
recommended for future proposals 70
! internal improvements so that sue
improvements would be in accor
with we'll thought out plan. In tha
connection the president suggested tn
\ saving of the rent paid in Washing
, ton for buildings used by the govern
ment through the construction of ne,
: buildings to cost about 500, ,O00, ,0Ot
;. TO be paid for through a period of 2
! years
e Briefly stated" wrote the presiden
$ my suggestion is that the govern
Il ment first plan for its land purchase
buildings, and public works, then DO
row money TO acquire and to construC
them, proportioning the cost over
period Of 20 years, and making th
, bonds issued to meet the cost payabl
). out Of an adequate sinking fund"
q OF reduction Of the salary roll
the government, amounting to aboI
s6,500,000 annually, two-thirds, II
president declared. would be saved /
: adopting his scheme TO classify VIII
4 are now presidential appointment
h Almost 100000 annually could /
L kept in government Golfers throug
y postofice department changes tt
sum of 100000 would be cut fro