Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-08
FOR BUDGET system
SENATOR KENYON STARTS FIGHT
TO HAVE UNITED STATES
ADOPT PLAN.
Will URGE JOINT
COMMISSION OF CONGRESS
Seeks to Have Financial Affairs OF
Nation Placed on Business Basis
Believes s1oo,ooo,o 900 Can Be Saved
Annually-Would Relieve Congress
of Much Needless Work.

Washington. Feb S.-Senator Ken
yon. of Iowa, announced Saturday that
he would make a fight in the new
congress for the creation Of joint
commission of the two houses to study
and report upon responsible budget
system for the national government.
He said he believed at least $780,
100000 annually could be saved to the
treasury and the time of congress
could be given to more important is
sues Of national legislation, if d budget
could be worked out by a competent
authority in the administrative branch
of the government before the appro-
priations were submitted to the law
making body.
For a Business Basis.
Il have determined to begin the fight
to put our handling of great national
appropriations on a sane business
basis" said Senator Kenyon. When
the new congress meets / shall submit
proposal that a joint committee
made up of not more than three mem
bers of each houSe-shall take up the
problem at once. No one thing 50 de-
moralizes our government as the con-
tinual scramble by the members of
the house and senate for appropriations
of funds for their respective consti-
tuencies.
Nobody appears to care what hap
pens to the needs of other sections I'M
til their own are attended to. The re-
suit must necessarily he chaotic and
injurious to every sense Of orderly de-
velopment of national interests.
1--WE must deal with this situation.
We must study the budget systems OF
other governments and the financial
methods available from all sources UNI
til we lind a plan of dealing with our
annual appropriations with business
like efficiency President Taft saw the
extravaganza and unftness Of the old
method and he appointed commission
to study economy and efficiency in the
public service, but that was not the
thing that most needed attention.
Task One For Congress.
Congress, which makes the appro-
priations. must itself dispose of the
method which these appropriations
shall come To il, and it must save its
own time by reducing the amount OF
discussion now given in the house and
senate 10 appropriation bills In other
words, it is wholly a matter for study
and legislation by congress.
mo man could do a bigger thing
during his term Of service here than
make the budget system a reality. II
would be patriotic service i i we're
now practicable for some one to 80 to
Europe and examine carefully the
means by which the finance ministers
of European governments are enabled
20 present the financial needs Of their
ministries, as a whole. We should be
Informed upon all the details OF the
British system, for instance.
Congress should be made to see that
the heads of the several administrative
departments can work out the esti-
mates for their departments with q
sense of full Responsibilities TO all OF the
other departments; that these depart
ment heads can then. in cabinet coun-
Gil, harmoniZe their estimates and agree
upon a general scheme of appropria
lions, to be presented by or member
of the cabinet.
Economy Will Be Shown.
Congress should be convinced after
that of the economy of Its own time
that will be effected by having Single
financial demand made upon 1T by the
administration for the various branche!
of the government. If that demonstra
ton is made by joint congressional
commission we shall get budget sys
TEN.
II will say, rather. that we have go
to have a responsible budget system
whether we want it or not. Look a
TIL, condition in the senate today. Herr
we have been wasting day after day il
fighting over a general measure o
legislation and all of the big suppl.
/ hills are held back The very passag
at this session is in danger. The worl
| OF the departments for the comint
wear can not be properly planned Will
the fate Of the appropriations is IL
| doubt.
Sees 500 100000 Saved Yearly.
"How much in money could be save
| to the government if we quit this pull
ing and hauling and grabbing for ap
preparations thru u dozen committee
| of congress? Well. / should say
would not be less than 800, 900
year. There are navy yards, for in
stance. where the water is too shallo1
for any use. We would soon get rid O
them. There are army posts In NOR
than one state utterly worthless to tn
military establishment of the country
When | mentioned that fact to on
senator n while ago he accused me c
II referring to an army post in his Ow
4 state in the far west. l agreed that
had that particular fort in mind. Fl
answered that there was fort in Iowa
too. / answered that the post in low
was no better-all of hat class wer
an extravaganza and oug"t to be- don
away with in order that the none
spent on them each year might be pu
to better purposes. That is merely a
illustration of what is true of man
departments.
I'VE shall get rid of this impossbl
system Of appropriations. l do nc
know how long it will take to do it, BIT
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