Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-14
TO URGE ABUDGET
AND TARIFF BOARD
Chamber of Commerce of U. S.
Launches Campaign for
National Reforms.
NEW CONDITIONS ARISING
FROM EUROPEAN CONFLICT
President Wilson Expected to Sup
port Movement for the
Budget System.

Inc Adoption OF n national budget
and the establishment of a permanent
tariff commission will be strongly
urged in a countrywide campaign
which was begun today by IT,, Cham
Der of Commerce OF the United States.
The chamber is taking action with the
full knowledge that q majority of it's
members, composed of more than 700
commercial bodies representing every
state in the Union, heartily in
favor of both propositions. 1t is we'll
known also that President Wilson is
much interested in the matter of ma
tional budget and that he will take IL
up with Congress al the coming ses-
sion.
To assist in getting results on the
chambers attitude the permanent
tariff commission and to ASCERTAIN the
Industrial and commercial Facts neces-
sary for accurate tariff legislation, the
directors have authorized John H.
Fahey of Boston, president of the ma
tional chamber, to appoint a special
committee of men to represent all
parts of the country. Every CONNER
cial organization affiliated with the
national chambe is to be requested
by Secretary Elliot H. Goodwin 10 APP
point a small committee of three to
five business men to cooperate with
the special committee.
Economic Changes Coming.
Il am confident that. with the many
changes now taking place as result
Of the present war, which are bound
to affect the commerce of the United
States, and with the changes that are
inevitable at the close of the conflict,
you will agree that the time has surely
come when We should take the tariff
out of politics SO far it is possible
do and provide for its considera-
ton In the future from an economic
standpoint SAYS President Fancy in
an appeal to the commercial organiza-
lions of the United States. 1T is APP
parent that the subject will he an i'm
>portant one in the forthcoming Con-
gress and surely the business men of
the United States are much concerned
in its proper solution. ] will partcu-
larly appreciate it if you will let me
hear from you on this subject as soon
as convenient"
The kind of a tariff commission for
which the organizations in the member
ship of the national chamber voted on
referendum is very concrete. Its
members are to be nominated by the
President and confirmed by the Senate.
In order that it may be an efficient ad-
ministrative body the number OF COM
missioners is to be limited. preferably
to Ave, and for the sake of continuity
IN effort and results the commissioners
are to serve sufficiently long to guar
antee a degree of stability. preferably
about six years. That political bias
may be eliminated to the greatest ex-
tent possible no more than a mere ma
jority of the commissioners may belong
to the same party. Such tarfn COM
mission is not intended to be a body
which will encroach upon the powers
of Congress- but 1t would have author
ity to ascertain facts, reporting them
to the executive and Congress as
basis for any proposed new legislation
statement made public today by
the chamber in reference to rational
budget says:
What Budget Means.
"summeJi up, the idea involved in a
national budget is simple. 1t means
that the President and his cabinet shall
answer to themselves and to the coun-
try three prime questions regarding the
nations business:
"1-How much money will be needed
for the conduct of the government dur
ing the fiscal year?
De- What money is on hand. ana
from what sources shall the balance be
raised?
"3-What shall be the amount appro-
priated to each function performed ID!
the government?
STATED in the above manner every
business man, no matter how small ms
affairs every farmer VINO plans ane a.
every man in any way charged with the
care of funds for others, will at once per
ceive that national budget must DC
desired by ali citizens who wish business
like methods applied to one OF the Dig
businesses of the nation-the government
Furthermore, they will perceive that II a
little business needs system, tnen pig
business. involving s1,o0o.o0o,oo0 ex-
penditures a year needs 1t still more
From the moment the first national
budget is presented to Congress the citi-
zens Of the whole nation can know as
much 40 tfeir congressman as to the
at h.. dc of
congressman will know exactly what their
own committees are called upon TO CON
Sider in tho way of appropriations
knoAledge that has heretofore been i'm
possible on the part of either the pubic
or Congress q. whole
"a portrayal or picture of income and
outgo has been difficult. or practically I'M
possible, under prevalent methods OF
Congress, because heads Of departments
and establishments report estimates direct
TO Congress through the Secretary Of the
Treasury, which are thereupon arbitrarily
assigned TO as many as nine committees.
Tho President as executive head of the
nations business has not been made d.
rectly responsible 90 the nation for the
efficiency of tho departments subordinate
70 him. Appropriation bills are not con-
sidered related to each other or to
the anticipated amount of public income.
Minor officials in departments can APP
proach committees directly for special
favors. for bureaus. or special legislation
introduced In an appropriation bill.
President for Budget.
Not long ago. when a committee of
the national chamber. composed of r.
q. Rhett. president of the Peoples Ma
tional Bank OF Charleston. $. c.; Har-
vey 4. Chase, the ell known economist
of Boston. and Frank J. Goodnow
president of Johns Hopkins University.
called at the White House, President
Wilson expressed interest in the sub
tect of budget In fact, the President
expects to go into the budget matter
thoroughly, before Congress convenes
with a special committee named by the
House caucus. Possibly the best idea