Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-13
TAFT URGES NECESSITY
OF NATIONAL BUDGET
Attributed to Lack. Of.
Such a3system.
REORGANIZATION is NEEDED
Wants More Power Vested In Presi-
dent-Refers to Revelations Of
Commission Appointed by Him to
Investigate Expenditures.
Especial to The Timcs-pispatch.l

Especial to The Times. .pispatch.]
NEW YORK. December 12-Enor-
nous waste and extravagance. amount
ing to millions OF dollars, annually. in
the conduct of the Federal govern
mcnt was attributed to lack of bud
get system by former President Will
liam Howard Taft to-day at recep-
tion and luncheon rendered him by the
Lawyers Club tSfI
Mr.. Taft acknowledged that any at
tempt to cut down. expenses under the
present organization OF the govern
lnent was IAN impossible task" but,
on the grounds, of efficiency and econ
omy. urged a reorganization, ~.
More power should be vested In the
President to keep his eye upon tho
expenditure of money In the various
Departmental, said Mr.. Taft. He
should have bureau reporting d.
rectly to him, continuing the auditors
and controllers"
Outlining his idea OF national
budget Mr. Taft said:
THAT Is why they have budgets in
all the countries of the world that
have respectable governments, except
our own. We have acted like. chill
dren. We have had so much money
available through taxation that we
have not been obliged to consult the
revenue side of the ledger. We are
now coming to the point where we
must, and we must pursue the policy
that all other governments have found
necessary In order to keep out Of
bankruptcy"
COMMISSION SHOWS
NECESSITY OF BUDGET
The necessity Of national budget.
said Mr.. Taft was shown by the rev.
~. 80 foo n r
ed by him to investigate the Federal
government expenditures.
ut was found there was much dupli-
cation and overlapping of work, he
continued, 'anG - N9'et $500 =
conflicts Of Jurisdiction. For example.
It was found the seven departments neT
side the Isthmian Canal Commission
were dealing with the subject of pro-
viding facilities for transportation;
that four. departments and three COM
missions were dealing with the sub
iect of regulation of commerce and
banking; thattwo departments and the
Library Of Congress were dealing with
the subjects Of copyrights and patents:
that fiyc departments were dealing
with subjects of agriculture. forestry,
fisheries and the care of the public
domain; that five departments were
dealing with the subject OF promotion
and protection of public health: that
six departments were dealing with the
subjects Of the care and education OF
the defective. dependent and delin-
-quent,
q "The commission recommended the
union, of the life-saving service, the
deep-sea rescue work and the light
house service, by which $1,000. 900
could be saved annually. They recon-
mended that the duties OF the revenue
marine be discharged by naval ves-
sels thus saving 81 100000.
.If we can make the executive de-
partment responsible for the protec-
tion Of n budget we shall approximate
n system which has yindicated Itself
In all the European governments OF
course. Congress may not agree with
the executive and his Cabinet officers
on the<foor OF the House. but if they
Responsible" 3