Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-17

tho procedure Of the various States,
but tho sin!larities are 50 great that,
III tho main. what may be said Of the
ono may also be said OF the other
American budGetary procedure can
ntctiou with the history OF our imam
c!al administration, and space will per
NIT 10 detailed statement here. This
procedure, however. has been pro-
foundly Influenced by tho theory OF
separation OF the three great govern
ms the Treasury Department In 1859
called forth much discussion as to the
duties and powers OF tho Secretary
Of tho Treasury. When, in 1900. tho
annual report OF the secretary was
made permanent by law. Congress wat
to be made specifically "tor the pur-
pose OF giving information TO Con-
Sress.'
SECRETARY OF TREASURY
ACTS MERELY AS a "FUNNEL"
Under the congressional system each
governmental department. Is required
by law to submit to the Secretary Of
tho Treasury estimates of needs for the
coming fiscal year. These estimates are
compiled and submitted to Congress in
the form OF the annual report of the
Secretary of the Treasury. Il volume
aGSrcSating some 700 pages, merely
thrc = together, without adequate ana
lysis. without cross references. without
even so nucn as an index. The sccre-
tsry'o function here is purely clerical.
lie has been called the funnel"
through which the estimates reach Con-
sress.
Again when tho report reaches Con-
gross. there is no committee TO digest
n nd 1uto IF
House. figuratively speaking. merely
breaks up the report and refers tho
fragments to the proper committees.
eight in ALL along with the task OF
raising revenues to the Committee on
Ways and Means
In addltion 10 this. there arc pouring
into Congress all during the session
estimates from additional and totally
independent sources: judgments OF the
Court of Claims. engineering estimates
from the War Department, special bills
OF individual members, and supplement
tai estimates of all sorts and sizes
And in it all there is no individual or
committee to correlatc these proposals
and defend them before the House as
whole. Each department clamors for
all It can get. Each committee clamo rs
for all it can get Each individual
member naturally cla,nora for all he
can get.
AMERICAN SYSTEM But
INVITES GPORk' METHODS
Sixty years. has been called con-
cervative estimate of tho time IL would
take TO consider. in regular order. al!
the bills poured into Congress at q SIN
gle session. 1t is this condition Of ar
fairs that has led some one to say
that We have in this country govern
mcnt by defamation" in the place Of
government by doliheration.''
The procedure from, here on is very
familiar. the committee reports; the
vide powers OF amendment; the COM
bnations among members; the tack
!ns on OF .ridevS": the powcrlcssne Sc
OF tho President, the one representative
Of the nation as q whole. to set at the
irrelevant porticns of bill, however
bad they may be.
With certain important exceptions.
the American States have, until re.
Gently. followed the trail bia=cd by
Congress. and, with substantially sirni-
lar results: little expert supervision.
no concerted policy. no NHed rcspon-
eib!ity; the Same loS-roollinC methods
the came multitude OF appropriation
bills. and sometimes measures carrying
millions Of dollars damned through
/, in the closing hours OF the session.
The more important defects of this
system can he seen at glance. Cd
The systeHn Is unbusincaslike and leads
to extrava saucc. (2} 1t provides no pos
sible way by which tho public may
fK responsibility. ca 1t provides no