The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-02-26
Saying United States Is the
Only Great Nation
Without System
IMPORTANT CHANGES
ARE PROPOSED TO-DAY
Government Really Is With
out Plan or Program,
He Said

Washington, D. c., Feb. 26.-Presiden
Taft to-day sent to congress his muc
discussed budget" message. He recon-
mended the adoption of budget system
of relating proposed expenditures to ex
pected revenues and declared that con
gress would be greatly benefited by hav
ing before it such statement before i
began the annual grind upon appropria
tion bills. The United States, the pres
ident 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 congress.
The president took full responsibility
for the message upon himself. Congress
in the last sundry civil bin directed the
secretary of the treasury to, submit es-
Inmates hereafter in the old way. Mr..
Taft pointed out however, that he had
directed the secretary of the treasury to
agree with the directions of congress and
also TO send to him information for a
budget message. He referred congress
also to the portion of the constitution
which requires him from time to time
to recommend such measures as he shall
deem necessary and expedient.
Some of the advantages of the budget
system as pointed out by the president
We're:
A means of locating responsibility for
estimates in keeping with revenues.
A means of allowing Congress to see
how much gross it viii have to spend
before it begins appropriating for each
department or detail of government ma
chinery.
Because it would furnish Congress and
the public with ready reference to re-
ports and detailed records of account,
Because it would produce an adequate
organization for assembling and classify
ing information to be used in telling the
country what has been done and OF the
governments future needs.
To aid in working with a well defined
purpose in many bureaus hitherto or |
ganized. but directed under an inconsst- |
ent illdefned program.
To cancel the nations debt, through |
a sinking fund and to eliminate the de-
fcit, which is slowly growing.
To Carry Out Plan
To carry out the budget plan, to re-
duce the deficit and the fixed charges /
against the government the president
To create sinking fund commission
to consist of the chairman of the finance
committee of the Senate; the chairman
OF the House ways and means commit
tee; the attorney general and the secre-
tary of the treasury, with the comptrol-
Ter of the treasury as annual auditor of
the sinking fund account. Legislation
which would wipe out the national debt
in twenty years after July l, 1914, Con-
gress should set aside S45 100000 annual
" for that purpose. That would be
sl5,0Q0,000 year less than the present
amount required by law. That fund
should be invested in three per cent
government bonds and in twenty years {
he Sl,l60000.000 debt, the president
,ays, would be retired.
The adoption of definite theory is l
recommended for future proposals for q
Internal improvements so that such i'm
'rovements would be in accord with I
veil thought out plan. In that eonnec- o
ion the president suggested the saw a
ug OF the rent paid in Washington for a
buildings used by the government 5
Trough the construction of new build /
ngs to cost about Sl00000000 to be \
aid for through period of 20 years. G.
Briefly stated wrote the president, P
my suggestion is that the government $
rst plan for its land purchases, build o
lgs, and public works, then borrow
loney to acquire and to construct them. "
roportioning the cost over a period of n
0 years, and making the bonds issued d
D meet the cost payable out of an ade- q
uate sinking fund" d
OF a reduction of the salary roll of 81
ne government amounting to about &c.
D0O0 annually, two-thirds, the presi- Sc
ant declared, would be saved by adopt Il
e his scheme to classify what are pres- a.
antial appointments. Almost S3.000.- vi
10, annually could be kept in govern e
ent Golfers through postoffiee depart u
ent changes. The sum of $1,000 900 al
ould be cut from the payroll Mr. Taft W
if there were a complete ex- q
utive reclassification of civil service Gu
nployees. Under this head the president te
rote: is
J.
the bottom are receiving larger sala- bo
Is than would be obtained for similar pc
ork in outside employment. whereas to
en- in higher positions carrying great on
sponsibility and the success Of whose IN
rformance depends on training and -
ng experience, are inadequately paid MI
ON the viewpoint of the rank and de
E there is little hope OF reward for M
arit. The foundation for reclassifica- an
IN OF salaries already has been laid. OF
my opinion il would enable the gov be
nment to pay higher salaries to those biI
whom experience. training and initia- ini
-e are required and make the saving Of sci
600 O00.'' m
of waste in the distribu- pr
N Of public documents; reduction of me
? number Of United States assay Off ms
and possibly the number Of mints br'
4 their consolidation into one, are o"
ler recommendations
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