Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-05-01

OF lump sum appropriations. There
are two methods by which the public
funds may be appropriated. In ap-
propriating for department the lam
guage may simply state for such a
Department. $4,000. This leaves
the matter entirely in the control of
the head of that department as to
how the fund shall be spent. The
other method is what is known as
specific appropriation. Under this
plan the $4,000, used as an example, |
would be apportioned out for the var
ious purposes which to the law max |
ing body would seem good. For ex-
ample so much would be appropriat- |
ed for clerk hire, for the purpose of |
employing so many clerks at so much |
per annum. A stated amount would |
be set aside for travelling expenses at |
fixed rate, etc. So that the total |
amount would be specifically set
aside for definite purposes. This
in general, is the difference between
the system of lump sum appropria-
tion and specific appropriations. In
this connection it becomes interest
ing to know what Jefferson's view
was with reference to appropriation.
Here is what he said in part in his
first annual message in 1901 when
the revenues of the national admin
stration were substantially identical
in amount to the present revenues of
Ohio. Here are Jeffersons words.
"In our care of the public contribu-
ton entrusted to our direction, it
would be prudent to multiply bar
riers against their dissipation by ap-
propriating specific sums to every
specific purpose susceptible to defini-
ton; by dis-allowing all applications
of money varying from the appro-
priation in object or transcending it
in amount; by reducing the field of
contingencies and thereby circum-
scribing discretionary powers over
money, where the examination may
be prompt, efficacious and uniform"
Jefferson then verify believed in the
necessity and efficiency of specific ap-
preparations. The constitution of
Ohio says upon this subject: "No
money shall be drawn from the trea-
sury except to pursuance of a speci-
fic appropriation made by law and no
appropriation shall be made for a
longer period than two years." The
| federal government in its practice,
especially in its practice in recent
years, under the able leadership of
the appropriation committee under
the present governor of the state
when he was a member of Congress
followed distinctly and strenuously
the plans of insisting upon specific
appropriations. The governor at that
time was not trying to build poll
tical machine but when he became
chief executive of Ohio he found as a
aid to machine building that lump
sum appropriations became very use
full. Consequently we find our chief
executive abandoning the teachings
of the Committee and insisting that
in Ohio appropriations shall be made
upon the lump sum plan. To their
credit it should be remembered that
the legislature of the state declined
to accept this plan in full, yet the
policy of the governor is neverthe-
less evident from an examination of
the attempt. which was made and
which was in part successful. For
Example it was provided in the In
surance Department as follows:
Salaries of chief clerk, examiners,
statisticians, warden, bookeeper, cor
|respondence clerk and so on $22,-
650." AS the Auditor of State sug-
gests there should be specific
amount appropriated for each of
these clerks enumerated in this ap-
lpropriation. And there is no reason
able excuse for not doing so. To
leave it otherwise permits the chief
executive to use funds of the state to
compel political activity on the part
of the employees of the state. AS long
as the governor or the head of a de-
lpartment has the authority to fix
salaries any clerk is subject political
lily to the beck and call of his super
ior, knowing that if he declines to
do as requested his salary is likely to
be reduced or entirely cut off. Take
for example the Public Service Com
mission. In the appropriation bill is
the following provision: Salaries of
Commissioners, salaries, expenses
uses and purposes of Commission
$i43, ,00O." 1t is further provided
that the Commission may appoint a
4 secretary and such number of as
examiners, inspectors and steno-
graphers as in its own opinion may
be necessary and fix their compensa-
q tion. But causal examination of
this practice shows its inevitable
tendency. 1t gives this Commission
unlimited authority in the disposi-
ton of the public funds and it fur
ther enables the governor and his
agents to control the political activi-
ties of those in the public service
Anyone cannot conceive of a more
convenient aid to machine building
than this system of appropriation
Jefferson forsaw this and opposed it.
But the present governor is strongly
in favor of it or at any rate has be-
come so since he was elevated to the
high position of governor of Ohio
In this connection the Auditor of
State calls attention to another in
eresing matter. The Civil Service
Commission has an appropriation OF
$4,000 to spend. No bonds are re-
quired Of its members whereas a
town constable is required to give a
5000, bond. In the Department of
Building and Loan Associations an
examiner is sent out over the state to
examine a building and loan concern
and count the cash yet not one of
these examiners appears to be under
bond. The Tax Commission of Ohio,
which has almost unlimited authority
under the Warnes law, is not requir-
ed to give bond at all but the asses
sor which it appoints, in theory, is
compelled by law to furnish bond of
900.
In his letter to William Ludlow
Jefferson said: II think, myself,
that we have more machinery of gov
erment than is necessary, too many
parasites living on the labor of the
Industrious. l believe it might be
much simplified to the relief Of those
who maintain it." This is what JEFF
ierson said and thought. Yet under
legislation which was put Though
the General Assembly of the state
under whip and spur there is a vast
army of state employees holding their
positions directly under the authori-
W of the governor. According to the
report of the Auditor if State 4,500
of these employees were on the pay
| roll II, 1919 FNho nrosopt y,11p,bny. ic