The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-02-05
NORTH DAKOTABUDGET SYSTEM
(By H. D. Paulson.)

(By H. D. Paulson.)
North Dakota is having its first
experience with the budget system OF
handling it's state finances and that
excellent results will obtain therefrom
is generally believed. Under the
budget system and under the new
method of governing the state insti-
buttons, there Is less log rolling so fal
as appropriations are concerned thar
ever before. Up to the present time
there has not been a single institu
tional president or representative In
the lobby at Bismarck. The whole
responsibility for handling appropria-
tons is now centered in the board OF
regents and the board of control, and
each of those bodies has thrashed out
in detail with the budget commission
it's needs for the coming two years
The budget report submitted to the
legislature recently is probably the
most comprehensive document ever
laid before q northwestern assembly
This report, containing 2O5 typewrit-
ten pages, covers in detail every angle
of the amendment financial fabric. In
this report is contained the request OF
every department of government for
appropriations for the coming two
years, the recommendations of the
presentations of reasons why slashes
have been made here and there. The
budget boards letter of transmission
sets forth to good advantage just what
the report carries.
AS a result of the budget commits
sion's work, appropriations are enter
ing into the work of this assembly to
a lesser degree than ever before. Mem
bers from institution coOaties have
been relieved of the necessity OF OBJ
tanning favors for their institutions,
and so other legislative work is being
carried on unhampered by the fear
that this or that institution will suffer
financially because the legislator who,
under ordinary conditions would be
charged with handling its approprla-
tions, failed to vote as some other
member may have desired him to vote
on a given proposition. 1t is an open
secret that in the past appropriations
were used as a powerful club to drive
into line members from the path de-
fined and by the powers that be.
Early in this session there was some
talk of punishment being meted out
to certain institutions, because the as
sembled men from the localities in
which some institutions were located
took an opposing view to that held by
the owners in this legislature, but that
talk has long died out and there is
not very much possibility OF its being
revived.
By eliminating appropriations from
the political phase of the govern
ment, tremendous benefits will obtain
for the state and as the budget plan
continues operative from year to year.
the wisdom of the 1915 assembly IN
establishing a commission will be more
The budget Dill
is now before the senate. 1t will be
passed by that body practically with
out modification, because it is based
upon the states actual prospective in
come during the biennial period, be-
cause it was prepared by commas
sion of men who have given two
months to the study of the needs OF
state departments and institutions
and who, therefore, are excellently
qualified to recommend just what is
needed for the coming biennial period.
The letter Of transmission by the
budget board, which board is made up
of Treadwell Twichell, Paul Kretsch-
mar, Henry J. Under. Carl Jorgenson,
and L. B. Hanna, in part is as fol-
lows:
This report is accompanied with
copy of the minutes of the budget
board. a. complete bound set or
for appropriations, state
ments and other information filed with
the budget board by state depart
ments institutions, and to cover It's
other activities, together with a bound
set of blue prints indicating the lands
now owned by the state for the use
of it's institutions and the lands which
the board deems it wise to recommend
should be purchased at this time.
A duplicate of this report, together
with the supplements mentioned fore
going is filed with the senate or the
Fifteenth legislative assembly of North
Dakota.
The delay in filing this report can
be charged in larger part to the fact
the members of the board have exer-
cised the. utmost care in arriving at
the lowest safe amounts that should
be appropriated for the several pur-
poses herein covered. with Iull
understanding of the demands of the
states funds, the board has sought to
recommend such appropriations as
will guarantee the proper maintenance
or operation of each state undertake
ing, based upon continuance OF the
same service or demands that have
governed during the present biennial
period, allowing in all instances a rea-
sonable increase to care for the state
continually growing business. when
the record Of expenditures Indicate
such an increase necessary.
The budget board here begs leave
to particularly call the attention OF the
legislature to the fact these recon-
mendations are for such appropria-
TONS as will continue the several
activities upon the same sale as. that
followed for the biennial period 1915
1917, so that any duties added by this
legislative assembly may be consider
ed and allowed for in the final APP
preparation.
The present budget board and its
duties are prescribed by laws enacted
by the Fourteenth legislative as
sembly, and known as chapter 81 Of
the session laws of 1915. Its member
ship is made ur of the persons who
were governor attorney general and
state auditor on the third Tuesday of
November of the last even numbered
year, together with the chairman of
each the house and senate committees
on appropriations of the legislative
assembly last past. Any vacancy that
may occur in it's membership is filled
by appointment by the governor, from
the membership of the last legislative
assembly and the committee so consti-
tuted continues as the North
Dakota budget board until
its work is completed, h e
report filed and the board formally
Aferhn rad The chairman NJ the an