The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-16

the budget of income and should be as much less as the needs of the several departments would permit. In my judgment, the income should exceed the ex- penditures by several hundred thousand dollars as provision against unforeseen contingent cies and for the purpose of mal1- ing a beginning toward the ex- tinguishment of the floating in- debtedness. With an income budget of s7,o9o,o0O, the bud get of appropriations should not exceed $6,500,0oo.
 It should be understood clear ly by every member of the Legis- lature that the appropriations should not exceed the budget and that any bill tending to do so would be promptly vetoed. In making up the budget of appro- priations there should be made a comparison of expenditures, item by item, in all branches of the State government and a com- parison of Alabama's expenses with the expenses of other States similarly situated.
 In order to provide against the passage of excessive appropria- tion bills, it should be the invar- fable rule that each and every bill should be considered by one committee and in connection with every every other bill and all with respect to the total amount of money available for appropriation for all purposes.
 l do not claim that the Budget System is panacea for all the financial ills from which our State is suffering, but do know that it's adoption and faithful execution would at least compel the State to live within the in come, and even that is a con summation devoutly to be wished.
 We all know that no bank, no great business, no large indus trial enterprise, no big mill or factory or railroad can be run successfully without it's annual budget-its carefully considered estimate of receipts and expendi- lures for the ensuing year. But State although en- dorsed by President Wilson and every living writer on political economv-is not so we'll known in Alabama. It is a very simple measure, however, and would not have the effect of introduc- ing any radical changes in our State government; in fact, by this plan 1 would not seek to in- troduce anything but system an orderly and intelligible meth od of doing the same things that have in the past been done i'll sllp-shod, unsystematic manner.
 The watchwords of the execu- tive budget are: System and Publicity" It places direct re- sponsibility on the executive, and if adopted in Alabama and faithfully executed, it would have this effect:
 Prevent log rolling by stop ping the introduction and pass age of undigested revenue bills during the last days of legisla- tive session, as through the pub lished budget and the newspa- pers, the public may be mad, ac- quainted with proposed finan- cial legislation weeks before final action is taken on revenue bill.
 By turning on the "pitiless light of publicity" it would make graft next to impossible.
 It would elevate facts, scientif- ic data and expert estimates over gum-shoe, hit-or-miss methods and seductive personalities.
 It would force the State to live within it's income.
 It would be watch dog placed before the door of the State Treasury and would for ever put an end to invisible, ir- responsible government in this State.
 It is my hope and determine tion-if elected Governor-to thrQw the white light of pub licity into every nook and cor ner of our state government, and to so focus it upon public affairs that he who runs may read; that the humblest citizen of Alabama may get an accurate account, item by item, in the newspapers of the State, of the cost of government and know exactly for what his tax is being expended.
 (Paid political advertising by
 Kilby Campaign Committee,
 Birmingham, Ala.)