The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1917-03-17
Special Message on sudae. system.


system for its financial affairs.
With the senate holding the De-
Land-Roberts budget bill In commit
tee and the house holding in another
committee Rep. Foote'S bill for a
budget commission 10 study the sub
ject, Gov. Sleeper has come out in
favor OF a thorough study of the
budget problem and the passage OF a
law creating such system, based
on the report of investigators. He has
sent in special message to both
houses urging that commission of
inquiry be named.
Many OF the Legislators are OF the
opinion that they are just as compe-
tent now TO pass bill providing a
budget as they would be after hearing
from an investigating commission on
the subject
The governor has obtained from
Auditor General Fuller, who handles
most of the states financial matters,
a statement which backs up the gov
ernor's position and has incorporated
1t in his message to the legislature
on the subject In his statement, Mr..
Fuller says:
Il am in favor of adopting any poll
cy or system that would in any way
reduce tho cost OF the government
OF the state and not impair or inter
fere with the proper performance of
the several necessary functions of gov
eminent, and it may be that the bud
get system will reduce the amount ex-
pended each year. but as a budget
system would materially change the
present system of maintaining the
state institutions, departments, boards
and commissions, 1t will be necessary
to amend or repeal several OF the eX.
listing laws before a budget system
will be operative.
The budget system would neces.
sarily include a provision that funds
be drawn from the state treasury and
should remain in the treasury until
Such time as athey were needed for
the payment of claims. A clause in
the law to the effect that funds should
remain in the treasury until needed
would not be sufficient without spe-
officially comforting upon some official
the authority to determine the neces-
sity for drawing the funds. II the
funds were drawn from the treasury
as the law now provides, the object
Of the budget system would be de.
feated; therefore it will be necessary
to amend or repeal the present. account.
ing laws of the state
Michigan has outgrown the system
OF appropriating money which was
adopted in the infancy Of the state
and which has been continued. II is
not a businesslike proposition 10 de-
post state funds in the treasures OF
the state institutions. There should
be but one state treasury and the
funds of the state should remain in
the treasury until il Is necessary TO
pay claims against the state, and !.
would be advisable to adopt bud
get system in order that the present
method Of expanding state funds may
be placed on a business basis But
before the budget system becomes a
part of our fiscal policy ] would sug'
gest that the system in force in other
states be investigated and the opera
ton of same be noted so that the de
fects. II any, may be avoided in the
law that may be adopted in Michigan
81 believe that committee should
be appointed to make thorough ex
animation of the budget system IN
force in other states and to report
to the legislature at this or next ses.
sion: and 1t would also be advisable
to have a committee examine the pres.
ent laws with a view to removing
the legal obstacles from the path Of
the budget system that may be adopt.
ed"
These views are thoroughly Endorsed
by the governor in his remarks APP
pended to the letter OF the auditor
general, the message Of the governor
concluding:
Il therefore recommend that legis-
lation be passed by the legislature
for the appointment OF commissions
to be composed of men of high stand.
ing and ability, and who are not mem
bers of the legislature to examine
thoroughly into the matters ] have
herein indicated and to report il prac-
ticable during the present session of
the legislature, and II not. previous
to the next session OF the legis.a-
ture."