Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-02-04
Economy And Efficiency Commits
sion Report.

| SION Report.
Governor Harrington on Thursday after
noon of last week received from DR.. F. J.
Goodnow. chairman of the Economy and
Efficiency Commission appointed by the
Democratic State convention. bill to sub
NIT to the people an amendment to the
State Constitution designed to put into
effect budget plan such as was promised
in the Democratic platform.
The platform of the party to which this
commission owes its existence provided,
among other things. as follows:
I'VE pledge the adoption of what is known
as the budget system. The basis of this
system shall be a report made either by
the Governor or by the Board Of Public
Works to the Legislature of the estimated
income of the State during the succeeding
two years, together with recommendations
as to the appropriations Of expenditures
to be made for all purposes during the
same period of time. The Legislature may
reduce or eliminate the items for appro-
priations or expenditures Except when
this would affect the States outstanding
obligations) but shall not increase the same.
and no appropriations shall be expended
for any purpose other than the purpose
specified in the budget. Proper provision
shall be made for emergencies or contin-
gencies.
Until the budget system can be made
effective, we pledge the Democratic men,
bers of the Legislature to keep the ex-
penses of the State within the income Of
the State. and the Governor to exercise his
veto power for the same purpose.
IN connection with the budget system,
we favor the adoption of uniform fiscal
year for all State officers and departments
and for all institutions receiving State aid.
We recommend that all continuing appro-
priations be repealed and that hereafter
all appropriations shall be included in two
general appropriation bills, one for each
of the two fiscal years intervening between
the adjournment Of one Legislature and
the converting of the next.
THE commission created by the first
plank of this platform shall be charged
with the duty of devisins and recommend
ing detailed plan for the budget system"
1t will be noted that the platform pro-
vides for budget system prepared by the
Governor or the Board Of Public Works,
the items of which can be reduced or
eliminated but not increased by the Leg
islature.
This limitation is fundamental, in our
judgment for a sound budget system. 1t
has its counterpart in the budget system
of governments most advanced in their
fiscal management. 1t also has its coun-
terpart in the budget systems of num-
been pointed out by the Mayor of Balti-
more city. one-half the population of the
State of Maryland has become accustomed
to this system in its municipal affairs and
would not think for a moment Of going
back to the old system.
Such a change, however, as is pledged
in the Democratic platform. requires con-
stitutional amendment in this State.
A mere statutory provision that the
Governor or other State officers should
submit to the Legislature at the opening
of its session estimates of the revenues
and expenditures Of the State. cannot in
our judgment produce the reform in State
finance which is demanded by the people
and voiced in the Democratic platform.
A provision of this character has been,
indeed, for long time in the Maryland
Constitution. This is Article vi. Section
2, which imposes upon the Comptroller the
duty of preparing and reporting estimates
of the revenue and expenditures of the
State" This provision of our State Con-
stitution has not been interpreted as vest
ing the Comptroller with the power to re-
wise the estimates submitted to him. He
has, as a rule, sent to the Legislature es-
Inmates of expenditures which have not,
at any rate in recent years. controlled the
action Of the Legislature in making the
appropriations.
The attempt has also been made in this
State, through the establishment Of the
Board of State Aid and Charities. to assist
the Legislature in its appropriation of State
moneys to the many State-aided private
institutions. The board has done great
deal of painstaking and valuable work.
But. for one reason or another. the Legis-
lature has not paid sufficient attention TO
the boards recommendations to justify us
in reaching the conclusion that the pur-
pose Of the establishment OF the board has
been completely realized. II is still true
that the estimates of State money needed
by the State-aided institutions have not
been subjected to an effective administra-
tive upervision-effective at any rate. in
the sense that the recommendations of
the Board of State Aid and Charities have
been persuasive in controlling legislative
action.
1t may. therefore, be said that the meth
DDS already resorted TO in this State to
place before the Legislature complete
picture of the State financial resources and
needs have not been successful. The pres
ent excess Of expenditures over receipts.
which has resulted in the large accumu-
lated deficit is ample proof Of the propo-
sition that the methods Of making appro-
priations now in force are defective.
II will also be noted that the party plat
form in providing for the commission linn
tied its choice in determining the respon-
sibility for making the final estimates for
submission to the Legislature to the Board
Of Public Works. on the one hand, and TO
the Governor, on the other. We have con-
cluded that this responsibility should be
placed upon the Governor. We have felt
that to make use Of the Board Of Public
Works as a budget commission would have
the disadvantage Of dissipatine personal
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