The Oskaloosa herald., 1913-02-27
PRESIDENT URGES
BUDGET SYSTEM
In Special Message Taft Sets
Forth Its Advantages.
IS BASED ON COMMON SENSE
BureaJ Of Central Administrative Con-
troll and Congressional Budget
Committees Recommended by
the Chief Executive.

L r
senate message which included
concise statement OF hpancial condi'
items and results, and urged the adop'
ron of budget system.
The fact that ours is the only
great nation whose government is do
ing business without budget, said
me president, has not been a doml'
nant reason FOR departure from l2S
years of precedent. Such procedure
is based on common experience and
common sense IL is supported by The
best judgment and experience that has
obtained In the management of cor
porate bodies, both public and private
While officers of private corporations
are not ordinarily limited BY law IN
such manner as TO make II necessary
for them to act under formal appro'
priations, Il is the ordinary method
of transacting business to have the
president of corporation lay before
its board at it's annual meeting re-
port which ia also made available TO
all persons who may be interested; IT
is common experience for the presi-
dent, as the responsible head OF the
executive branch, to set forth what
has been done during the past year
and what IL is proposed that the cor
poration shall do during the next
year; It is common experience for the
president as the head OF the admins
tration to accompany his proposals
with estimate; it is common expert
ence for the president. as the respon'
sible head Of the executive branch, TO
set forth what has been done during
the past year and what it is proposed
that the corporation shall do during
the next year; il is common expert
ence for the president as the head OF
the administration to accompany his
proposals with estimates; II is com
mon experience for the president as
the head of the executive branch to
submit estimates with recommenda-
tons as to how proposed expenditures
shall be financed"
Advantages TO Congress.
The message continues. in part:
The advantage 10 the congress Of
getting before il definite concrete
statement and proposal. one which Is
submitted by the responsible. head OF
the administration, must also be ap.
parent Such a statement will greatly
facilitate the adoption OF a procedure
by the deliberating branch Of the gov
eminent whereby the gross amounts
70 be appropriated may be determined
in advance OF decision as, to what
amount will be allowed for each detail
Of the governments business. rather
than To leave the relations Of income
End outgo 10 be computed after action
had been taken on the many matters
which are brought before the con,
gress for discrimination.
Notwithstanding the breadth and
scope of the many: sided business
which iE transacted by the govern
nlent, legislative and executive officers
have been required to make decisions
without having before them the essen
tial facts. Not only have We been
without adequate Information but as
a result, this great institution. with it,
multiplied activities and with eIpendi.
lures that within the last l23 years
have mounted up from less than three
millions TO more than one thousand
million dollars each year, may be said
to be without plan or program"
Form Of Budget Submitted.
Sample forms for the budget. pre-
pared by the secretary OF the treas.
ury. are submitted by the president
and the purpose of the several sum.
mares comprising it are explained by
reference to existing conditions
In conclusion. MI Taft says:
First in the list of proposed
changes In law setting forth what leg
islation should be enacted in order to
enable the administration to trans
act the public business with greater
economy and efficiency is recommen.
dation for the establishment OF bu.
reau OF central administrative control
with a controller at the head who
would be responsible 10 the president
and TO congress. Concretely the pro.
posal Is to consolidate the six audi.
tors Offices as well as the oficc OF the
comptroller OF the treasury and the
other central accounting Offices Of the
government In one executive bureau.
While II is with much hesitation
that ] suggest any change in com.
mittee organization in congress, II
seems 70 me to be highly desirable to
have some provision such as has been
frequently suggested by members on
the floor, whereby budget commit
tee mag be established as final clear
ing house through which all the rec
concentrations OF the committees hay
ing 10 do with revenues and expesdi
lures shall pass before they take The
form OF definite bin"
Taft Urges Panama Be PAID.
Declaring that the republic OF Co
lombia. by fsiiing to ratfy the triaD
gular treaty between itself, this
United States and he republic OF Pan
ANA. relative 10 the Panama canal
has forfeited its right 70 $4,000 O9o
President Taft IN . special MESA "a
70 congress urged that Panama B,
paid Immediately the first instaimeu,
ai s2te.oee, which 10 aus today.