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

means OF effective discussion and criti-
cism. "a IT affords unlimited and
Irresistible temptation to 'loG-rolling"
or trading {) The chief executive.
representing tho state OF national point
of Wow. has little real power to In
t!ucnco q bill while II Is In e plast!c
state.
From all that has been said it would
seem that very easy solution Of
PRODUCTION Of the British budget sys-
TEN. Rut the problem Is capable Of
no such simple and on-hand treat
ment. Constitutional systems develop
gradually. They cannot he changed
over night bS the stroke of a pen.
Tho first thing TO be realized. 1t
seems TO the writer, is that our con-
emily bad nor Is 1t the mos. perfect
system that human ingenuity could
devise. II has. roughly. achieved It's
purpose and perhaps achieved IT bet
ter than any other system would have
done. In its financial procedure. how
over. we simply meet one of the
bitches" of American democracy: one
Of the numerous places where theory
docs not square" with practice.
FAULT Is WITH SYSTEM
RATHER THAN WITH MEN
Theoretically. OF course. the demo-
cratic thing to do Is to allow appro-
priatioa measures to be introduced or
amended at will, Practically the result
has proved just the opposite from
what was intended. The minute such
a hill comes before a Legislature. the
legislature loses it's character as a
single body working for the State
or nation as q whole and becomes a
collection Of individuals, each working
for his district, or his constituents or
ms nd Ia Int
tional point of view. The fault Is with
the system and not wholly or in large
part with the men composing the sys-
TEN.
a second thing to be remembered Is
the fac: that It is not real sacrifice Of
democracy TO pick out q group Of
men and delegate 70 them some task
provided they are held to rigid re-
sponsibility.
There are many signs Of growing
recognition of these facts. Along with
the commission idea" indeed US a
part of the same general government
the budget idea" has taken firm hold
on the American mind. Actual budget
airy reform in the United States Is
proceeding along two main lines. one
being represented by the executive
budget and the other by the so-called
Legislative budget"
Tho plan of the executive budget is
based upon the idea that the executive
Is naturally the leader Of his party
program and the business agent Of
the state az whole, and that he is
subject TO at least as much constitu.
tional responsibility as can be secured
under our present system. This plan
! Is important because it represents a
step in the right direction.
GOVERNOR MUST GET
a N
In connection with the executive
budget, Il Ia we'll TO remember that
tne plan is likely to prove weak and
ineffective unless among other things,
IL gives tho Governor full power TO
employ cXpcrts, TO provide for public
hearings and to require all necessary
Information; unless it gives him power
also to appear personally or through
his representatives before either house
and to modify the budget. as may be
required. before final action of the
Legislature, and unless 1t shall limit,
If possible, the right to propose in
| crcases from the floor and provide
that neither house shall consider other
appropriation measures until the
| budget bill has been finally acted upon.
The judiciary. the state Corporation
Commission and perhaps the State
educational institutions should DO pro-
rided for through continuing appro-
priations. l. G., appropriations running
until repealed directly by the legisla-
turc. This would reduce the danger