Semi-weekly herald., 1917-03-05

In previous article ! called atten-
tion TO the wastefuf, unbusiness-like
methods employed by the state gov
eminent in making biennial appro-
pirations of a sum that is now fast
approaching the $1,000, 10000 marx.
pointed out why the determination
Of the states financial policies should
not rest primarily with the legisIa-
ture as it now does; that under pres
ent methods the revenues of the state
| constitute sort of "grab-bagr for
] the departments and institutions hav-
ing the most pull"
In that article I intended no i'm
peachment Of the character or ability
# our legislators. Assuming that
all members were possessed Of
high degree of business aeumen. the
result could not be much better. for
the few months during which the
legislature is in session every two
years affords but the very slightest
opportunity for investigation and the
gathering and compiling of data ne
cessary to arrive fairly at the rel
ative Importance and actual needs OF
the numerous departments of our
complex state government.
But aside from these reasons.
formulating the money getting and
money spending program of the state
is an executive and administrative
and not a Legislative function. Funds
are spent on the voucher of the heads
of the different departments These
departments are part Of the exec
utive machinery and are supposed 10
operate in harmony with the policies
OF the chef executive. the governor.
The governor is held responsible by
the people for the economies or ex-
travagancies of his administration.
Obviously, therefore, it is unjust to
the governor and unconducive of the
best public service to hold him re-
sponsible and at the same time give
him no voice in formulating the IL
nancial or all important program of
these departments.
To place the responsibility where
it primarily belongs. and to free the
legislature Of burdensome, time
wasting and perplexing function, the
survey committee recomends the
adoption of the budget plan. and
Senator Elliott Of Colorado Springs
has introduced bill which If pass.
ed will make this a part of our sys-
tenn Of state government.
What is the budget system? 1t is
)art of every successful business; it
even finds analogy in the home. The
housewife plans how she may use the
family revenues to best advantage.
She sets aside certain portion for
the rent, a certain portion for the
grocer and butcher. certain portion
for the clothier. the insurance man,
and so on. She may not reduce
these calculations to paper and she
may have no particular system, but
where there is no thought of the best
use of family revenues in advance of
their expenditure, there is usually q
hame with confused and straighten-
ID circumstances.
Now the budget plan in state af-
fairs is simply a money getting and
spending program, for the biennial
period, formulated by the governor
and submitted to the legislature for
its approval.
In order that the finances of every
department and institution may be
under continuous investigation and
to relieve the governor of the tre-
mendous amount of detail work this
would entail and for which he has no
time, a budget and efficiency com
missioner is appointed. This officer
must be thoroughly grounded in the
science of public accounting and the
financial management of public af-
fairs. The selection Of commits
sioner Of undoubted qualifications is
the fundaental starting point Of the
system, and there need be little ap
governors self interest dictates the
appointment of the most competent
lerson available.
The budget and efficiency commits
sioner secures reports and estimates
If the needs and revenues of the diff
ferent departments and institutions.
When he has classified and compiled
hem they, with such recommendations
as he may care to make are submit !
ted to the governor for his considera-