Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-08-31

c.al who has wasted ,he public money
for that does nor .rl- back the
m.H.. pa.l. JIG is sometimes harmful
O. r...y a public contract even
ta.--a .N---Fa-l,. and M--.etAl Tor
ra.- waF l..t .F ,-rHy Improvement
u $50. Wly .s g. ..-ss more dam
.z. tt.- --- r.-a- loss o- carry ns
. ... Ana when taxes have been
levied .. ....r noe -. a- estimate
.r. plan, made ,-- spending those
-.EHs 30 --.-.r-s --.. and expert la
..r -. DISCOVER -ra many leaks ana
che '--E.rE at t.uos that conceal
tr. r... r4rr-. .t -Npsdtare, which
private. citizens cannot give.
The People should know.
j. hos been said that the most I'M
pal..Lt day .u 't- yearly history OF
,h- ci-y is budget day, the day on
which the city officials adopt their
estimate for the years eXpenses. This
Is the day on which the citizens
should most carefully watch the ac-
ton Of their agents, But in orddr TO
watch iutelnecutly, in order 20 de
termine whether or not tRs budget
as adopted should stand, it Is neces-
eary that they should understand
what that budget contains. There
should be nothing mysterious In the
years estimate OF expense. There
should be nothing which the people
cannot r0mpreheud. For Instance, II
is estimated that so much money will
uu required TO maintain the engineer
ing department during the next fiscal
year obviously, If the citizens do not
| understand what work the engineer
ing department has done during the
past year, and Just what the city got
for that work, they cannot intelligent
| Iv determine whether the estimate for
| the coming year is just Neither can
| they so determine If they do not un-
| derstand the plans made for the work
of the coming year.
| Now, the average intelligence OF
| the city can understand the plan pro-
posed, as well as the city officials.
| Likewise they can comprehend a
plain statement of work accomplished
| and cost entailed during the preced-
| ing year. OF course. the technical
| work Of the department has moth
| ing to do with financial plan Of pro
7, viding the means of doing IT, The
people can Judge, however If the
general plan Of operation is what
they want and If the amount II win
cost is what they are willing TO pay.
And these things they should know.
In order 10 make this plain, each Of
fiCial should strive to simplify his
estimate. should strive TO make II tell
its message as plainly as possible. Ihe
sentiment now developing in favor of
uniform city budgets and bin sheets,
I'm favor of the preservation of cost
statistics Is an evidence that the peo-
pie are demanding this intormatlo
Iind when the stltisticl Information OF
many cities is availsbe for the use
Of all real progress can lie made.
The work of the Bureau of MuRic-
llpal Research in New York is a stnk-
ing example of the awakening Of
public interest in financial admins
tration OF the city's affairs.
They Learn Too Late.
A budget which does not show In
detail how each dollar Of the taXpay-
er's money is 10 be spent is Of little
value. and a report which either does
not show how that money was spent
or which concc3ls the real facts Is
worse than useless. Sometimes
through imperfect buEetary estimates
and through inaccurate reports, n city
may go for years without a real un-
dcrsi rnihng on the part Of the tax
PAYERS as TO how the money Is spent
until the clty's credit IS gone or =
finds itscif involved In debt witt
luthinC 10 show for the money spent
Public Efficiency.
Besides the great questions Of fis
eel adm inist, alton and control ol
lpublic utilities. there IS another func
ton of city government which IS, per
haps more Important than either
rhst IL the preservation. the consor-
walton OF public effIconcy We have
been went 60 consider that the city
had discharged its duty when II wa!
rlccassful in keeping out epidemics
, fevers and contagious diseases suct
As IN former times devastated whole
nations, and ran their course more
terrible than any var. But today &
, new conception Is coming into th'
minds Of the people. The world is be
ginning 60 realize that the city mus
not only keep It's people out Of tbs
, hospital. but that II must keep then
W 10 standard Of efficiency tina
will make them strong and service
able members Of the industrial body.
, | Tho most spectacular example O.
, the ignorance of this function Is sect
in the cases OF Tulsa on the one hand
and It's realization is seen in the case
: Of England and Germany on the other
Fighting an Industrial Battle.
Twenty-Five years ago England wa
the acknowledged leader of the In
i Lustrial world As English ships rule'
/ the ocean. so English merchant
r ruled the markets of the world. Bu
about that time a change came owe
- Industrial life. In the acceleratini
A development OF the fsctory system
{ the sources Of supply came to b.
massed In certain great centers
Leaving this development entirely t.
private initiative and with no gov
| eminent supervision over the growtl
i II these great centers, the slums o
- the cities have SO lowered the stand
i ard Of efficiency that England toda'
r f. fighting. not for commercial su
. urouacy, fcV sire has lost that, tU
; | Ter her very Industrial life And sh
5 has. thrOuEh senli-socialist minis
81 try. adopted @ budget that strives {,
g adapt the plans which Germany ha
. g. long and successfully worked cut
/ lu'Germany. on the other hama.
q policy was forced on the Bisrarcl
b administration after the Franco
- prussiau war. which has resulted u
To- building up trade mat Is the msf.o
] If the modern world. Germany ha
- done this throush constructive poi
- icy I'm city building. She realizes tia
I decent homes and healthful cOndi