Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-21
by Oliver Owen Kuhn. ]

nj
Were you, Mr. Average Citizen. per-
lh1lted TO live 1000 years and, should
you scatter half million dollars each
twelve month for the greatest of lux
ur1es. sustenance and even riotous liy-
ing, you would not be able to spend in
al these centuries that amount Uncle
Sam disposes of in a single year for
the upkeep of his family. He spends
his money with free hand but in
everything he keeps the welfare of his
children in mind He sometimes is
called wasteful by his sharper critics,
put, as time fits by the people of the
nation become more and more i'm
pressed with the idea that the greatest
portion OF that more than thousand
millions OF dollars spent annually by
Uncle Sam is money wisely placed.
They but cite the wonderful growth Of
the country; its predominant position
In the council of nations and the ac-
complishments and advancem ent of it's
people.
Tho there is a general knowledge of
the amounts disposed of thru the me-
dunn OF their government in Washing
ron, people as whole have but slight
and hazy idea of the long routine thru
which every penny must go before
Uncle Sam IS permitted to dispose of
1t. Not once does his hand go into his
pocket for the disbursement Of moneys
but that he first finds out that such ex-
penditure is allowable under the LAWS
treated by his wards, for, after all, it
Is in reality his children who furnish
Uncle Sam with his fat purse, and who
demand strict accounting Of the pro-
dIgious sums dispensed for their COM
munity interests thru the medium Of
appropriation bills the estimates for
which have their inception in the va
rious executive departments of the
governm ent and then are approx ed by
congressional legislative enactm ent.
The course of any appropriation is long
and tedious. Not only are thousands
Of hours spent by officials in every
branch Of the government in framing
estimates Of expenses for the subse-
quent fiscal year. but weeks and even
mouths roll by before these estimates
are completely weighed in the balance,
trimmed. cast out or increased and
written into law by congress.
Law commands that all estimates for
expenditures in every branch Of the
government, excluding none, must be
submitted to the secretary Of the
treasury by Oct. Is each year, and by
him prepared and delivered to congress
on the opening day Of the session, tine
first Tuesday in December.
Some time in August, every year,
communication is addressed by the
secretary of the treasury to the heads
Of the various executive departments
and Independent bureaus and commits
al fLo q
each house Of the national legislature
warming them that the time grows
short in which to prepare their data
Each member of the cabinet discusses
with the president departmental neecs
and plans and prospective expenditures
before the estimates are Informed and
sent to the treasury. Occasionally a
department or bureau delays beyond
the stipulated time limit-the war and
navy departm ents being the most fire.
quent offenders-but this is never
charged to neglect, being usually due
to the fact that plans covering pros
pective expenditures are in that stage
OF developln ent which does not permit
OF exact estimate, which can only be
reached when such plans are complet-
ed. Officials generally, however, are
prompt for the law authorizes the sec
rotary of the treasury to prepare esti-
mates for any department or branch
Of the government where the estimates
have not been gotten up by the proper
ay authorized persons and submitted
to him on or before the 10th Of Octo-
Der. No secretary has yet been Obliged
to perform this duty for another de-
partment but should such situation
arise it is to be assumed that the one
way out would be to repeat the est
mates Of the preceding year Nv it'll GER
tain modification due to well-under-
stood changed conditions or in re-
Spouse to legislative demands, author
ization or exaction. Il
After the call has been issued from
the treasury there is furry in every
branch of the government Highest
officials and the lowliest ones entrust-
ed in the largest or smallest degree
with the responsibility of making rec
concentrations as to expenditures.
speed up their activities in preparing
the data on the financial needs Of their
respective departments, divisions or
bureaus These officials must assume
the role of seers and be 80 well able
to look into the future tina: every ex-
igency that might possibly arise in
their particular Dranch OF the govern
ment may be cared for by adequate
appropriation. The department. Of ag-
riculture may wish funds for the com
pletion or further investigation of some
farm research work; the bureau of
Indian affairs may wish to elevate tho
economic and educational standing Of
certain tribes; the department of jus
tice may wish to increase its investi-
cations in given direction. the de-
partment of commerce may wish to
broaden it's activities in foreign fields:
the interstate commerce commission
may need additional funds; the postal
service may require revamping and re-
organization in certain branches; the
Smithsonian institution may wish to
carry out or inaugurate new scientific
explorations; national labor conditions
may require large sums for their set
element and additional employees must
by necessity be arranged for in the de-
pHrtment. All these things, cited mere
~ as examples. must be accurately
gauged in advance and, as stated, even
the smallest expenditures in connection
with any matter must be anticipated
and provided for in the estimates.
As may De nnas iIistT inc mass OF
statistics pouring in ION the treasury
from every branch of the government
thru the heads of the various executive