Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-08

govern honestly; second, TO govern
wisely: third. 10 govern efficiently
Upon the whole. the people have gov
erned honestly. In the main the people
have acted wisely, so far as they have
acted at all II remains to inquire
whether or not we have governed eff,
| ficiently.
The great epoch-making events oi
the last two and half years make
this question very pertinent one nj
| the present time. We realize now.
more thoroughly than ever before,
that democracy must function better
in the future than II has in the past.
The problems OF government are be.
coming more difficult because more
complex, all the time. The old DAYS
OF laissez-faire have gene. never to
return. The State. everywhere. has
taken on new functions which II will
not relinduish. With the utilization
OF steam power in industry. strict in.
dividualism was doomed An indus
trial age. whether we desire II or not
imposes new obligations upon the
State. To meet these obligations.
democracy must show constantly
increasing efficiency In government.
That is tho test which We now must
meet. and II we do not meet il. dem.
ocracy Is doomed. For there In law
older than any that man has written.
under the operation OF which no hu.
man institution can endure unless II
renders real service to mankind
shall therefore now address my.
self 10 those matters which have 10
do with increased efficiency in our
State Government
Need for a Budget.
Our present method of appropria.
tions Is vicious one The head of
each Office board. or commission pre-.
pares his own estimate Of appropri,
ations, His responsibility ~ limHoa
and his outlook is narrow. He IA not
required TO see beyond his own as.
par'ment. which he Is ambitious 10
extend. He is not likely to b. spa
ing in his requests He very often
asks for more than enough and me
Usually gets IT, His estimate is made
without reference 10 the necessities OF
other departments and without refer.
cnce 10 the income OF the State.
The estimate is referred 10 the mp
preparations committee. which grants
a hearing. That committee is with
out the time. means. or opportunity
for adequate investigation, 1t exer
cises its best Judgment. but IL must. Of
necessity. usually take the estimate
OF the officer, and generally passes his
appropriation. which may be too much
as compared with the necessities 81
other departments or with the income
OF the State,
| am in sascr II budget system,
This system means Intelligent. STATE
wide planning, II calls t0r SIZE cryS.
sSea az snares department ~ ne
State GSevsr--ss. TIE esd& q MS
department sscsz& have he sews- ss
establish a lErser-1 sTss%r. &c aaas-
fss9A1r Ill. 90 gIcre-a laa tnt 1stassss
sarr sI3sazsssss sE -Etrw tIsnst nj ~
>yaa. Et s.fnlli IL --arul'st m ,iiTn.
Gfana vIara Ellt fE,1-trIit;Hlns unt TIT
liltslnGr Er ts,1saisse nli.r 1 nutigsr
gtHli& H. rr-'HIH~st ant IN. ttnvn-i,ns
sni3ft summit M sGnt .4sNIm-h 4HaHninr
II.r narsisr IN. ,Hg- InItztH III eiis differ
an itDn~-ni,nlSh nlr --ifrNt ,sE-fniigEa
affair Gt.r nat pam r@llrnt IN -it
--1f.uyis.itr minimum II, vrnlift '1iilF
IL Ita, STR III. ia-Tr -Ina Hirtn. @ls
ie.sssrasr sf rrr 3russsrr TunHfrr-iF,n
10 es-cgr va "a. p.rsrgr ls-t;raa ulr,.
6a.a Lat Sc Hi. az 4tr Fr.1n -u,rs,'s.
r1@ns NJ szrs -srrEs- laaa.s-r- -rfae..e
estimates ~ re ar-sr--- - -,sr-eT -
gnived 10 D. ysises. tF taxssar- far al
p1rpcsas" Tro tz-esnS--s1 p-a-e8-
pies are involved II She making IF Z
State bg1xet TIE first IN t.as -As
tGtge- E1Es. BE- made By the executive,
Who IL ehzrEeable with The sryer1f
f-rsr 81 TIE government, and me sec
ord "a that /. Nus, be 70 made az N
sr me responsibility for increased
erp@ncitgres After the Governor sub
r-I's 70 the General Assembly his bud
gs,. he responsibility for Increase In
tired gpor The Legislature
Consolidation Of Administrative
Agencies.
One ot our grayest problems IN the
consrantly increasing cost Of govern.
ment. This fact In causing thoughtful
citizens 10 pause and reflect. They
are beginning to ask themselves the
reason for this rapid increase. Some
OF the increase Is Inevitable. Popula.
ton and wealth have vastly increased.
But the State has become more
complex. It's sphere OF action has
been increased Latent powers have
been invoked, and It has assumed
larger functions. The police power
has been extended, and State regula.
ton and control OF matters pertaining
TO the public health. welfare and safe.
ty has assumed wide and extensive
proportions. Possibly there has been
an excess OF regulation. No occupa.
ton, trade or employment has cscap.
ed. great mass OF legislation, much
OF 1t ill.considered. has been enacted.
The time has come TO take an inyen-