The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-02-27
CONGRESS- GETS
BUDGET MESSAGE
f<rssidsnt Taft urrss Businsssnfe
Hsthods OF Handling Nations
Affairs

WASHINGTON. Feb. s6.-For the
first time in the history OF the Ameri-
can government a budget message was
ecutlve OF the United States when Pres
ident Taft to-day sent 10 the senate
statement. in budget form. ON the imam.
cial conditions OF the various govern
ment department. together with recon-
and expenditures.
This departure from precedent. the
ence and commOn sense" and was sup
ported by the judgment and experience
that has obtained IN the management o.
vate- in which the executive head an
nually sets forth what has been done
during the past year and what Il as pro-
Though President Taft did not charge
a century 90 issue a budget from the
puble's money. he at least charged
his soxefnnsns' witt, whee exp PEE stld he ~
more than one Thousand million dollars
each year" may be said ITO be Without
says Advsntagss Ars AppArsnt.
The President said that the advantage
20 congrsss Of a budget submitted by, the
must be apparent. inasmuch as IL would
greatly facilitate the work Of that body
IN making appropriations.
After reviewing. with tables OF stalls
tics. tho various departments OF the
financial side OF the government, the
President concluded his message with "A
number Of recommendations.
He repeated his previous recommended
ton TO effect an economy by putting
%claring that the result would be a saw
ing Of ss.5i2.Ooo.
The sinking fund act. he said. had "be-
come a dead letter" and should he re-
A recommendation. with which he
dealt at length. was that the govern
- - l.. L.ul - ..- -
public buildings which should be built
in such manner rs 20 conform TO a gen
eral plan OF public buildings for the gov
eminent within the city and he pro-
posed that 81 would be well 20 spend
from SIS. 900. 600 to t2O.OOO.C0O within
the rext two years TO carry OUT the pro-
paid TO the District Of Columbia. which
would he affected by such a progrgan;.
the Preslden, SAID; oo would 0Sn warrant the
The President proposed that bonds
should lie issued and money borrowed
thereon for the vernmen lard pur-
the cost proportional over n period ~
twenty years. and with the bonds pay
able out OF a sinking fund.
Pnvors Administrative Bureau
In order that the government might he
more efficiently administered the f-csi-
dent recommended that a bureau OF ad-
ministrative control should he estah-
lished. which really would be a ronsoli-
dalton OF the 81 Xauditors' offices and
the comptroller OF the currency ana the
other central accounting offices. INTO
one executive bureau.
Endorsement was given 70 tho PROPOSE
ton OF certain congressmen that n Jud-
get committee should be established as
a Anal clearing house.
Following are some OF the Presidents
most important recommendations.
on the sinking fund. he said;
II recommend that the present law he
amended w as to adapt the annual
charge against the revenues 10 the actual
requirements and that the book balance
be Cancelled. To provide gold with which
90 retire the ~greenbacks. l recommend
that authority be given TO transfer the
$50. 600. 900 general fund gold reserve 20
the sinking FUND as well ~ the $751;
o 10000 advanced for the Isthmian Canal
from the general fund. the latter amount
r. he obtained by issue OF 2O-year bonds
CT the national government.
And TO insure the Independence OF
the administration OF the sinking FUND
law In the future 80 Is also recommend
ed that the chairman Of the finance com
mittee OF the Senate. the chairman 81
the WAYS and means committee OF the
General. and thu Secretary - the Treas
Lry be made e~N-oftcip "a sinking fund
commission. and that the Comptroller
shall he required each year q" audit and
state the sinking fInd account 70 the
President and the Congress
Sees Economy in Planning.
The President. summarizing hts re-
c~ommendation on Expenditures for pub
&c buildings and similar improvements
said
"Prioflv stated. nv suggestion lis that
the government FIRST plan for it, land
Purchases. buildings. and public WORKS.
then borrow money 20 acquire and to
construct thcm. prOportioriug the cost
over n period ~ 20 years and makfug
TIE bonds issued 90 meet the cost nay
able oIt - an adequate sinking fund.
Following these FugEsstiuus. NOT
ouIy question the deslrability Of continI-
i1R 20 appropriate Tor new projects
without % definite plan and before defn-
ite provision o. made FOR financing them
. ther bv Increased revenues OF bond L.
sues. huf. further. that without e. plan
ih1r" - NECESSARILY "a large amount "
waste