Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-24
EXPLAINS PROVISIONS
: J. OF STATE BUDGET LAW
Leroy Hodges Outlines Newly Adopt
cd Plan and What IL Is to
Accomplish.
n LINE WITH BEST THOUGHT
lasts on ShacklcS of Inefficient and
Inadequate Method of Handling
Public Business by SiNty-Dny Leg
isiative Committee Method.
ny LenOY HODGES.

III BY LcnOY HODGES.
Wrr!va,o Secretary 10 Governor Davis and
.tA Secretary OF tn" State Commission
=! Efficicncy.
~ on Tuesday Governor Davis affixed
.,hs signature to Senate bill Nc. CO. pro-
Syiding For the preparation and review
%6t estimates for expenditures and rev.
Eenhe, and the establishment OF a bud
#gct system for all State departments.
<bufcaus, divisions, Offices, boards. com
lin EsSionS, institutions, and other
%acrncics aud undertakings receiving
<ori asking financial aid from the State
sof Virginia" which passed the Senate
with only two dissenting votes and tho
House OF Delegates without sing lie
EVote against il. With Chara ctcr:Stic
%thcroUghness and celebrity (when finally
"HrouscdD. Virginia has thus cas-; off the
#ShnclIlcs of the hopelessly inefficient
and adequate method OF handling
Its public business by the SiNty-day
Legislative method, and has reached out
nd adopted an up-to -datc, efficient
State budget system.
n-. In his campaign last summer. Cover
nor Davis advocated the inauguration
of State budget system, contending
that IAN executive budget simply APP
plies 10 government OF the principles
that obtain i'll business successfully
conducted" He talked budget" in
Il the keystone OF his platform.
In its report TO the General Assembly,
the Commission on Economy and l;fIici-
ency said that the one thing that will
do more than anything else TO place the
Stntc government of Virginia on a
more businesslike basis would be the
introduction of a modern budget sys-
tenn. The establishment OF such 4
system. in addition TO, placing our pub
lie affairs on a moro scientific footing,
II 81, ,,1.A
partmental changes that should be
made"
The report OF the commission CON
tanned proposed budget law which
vas approved by Governor Davis and
which was introduced in tho Senate as
Senate bill No. co, by Senator r. II.
brcwry, OF Petersburg, its chairman.
This hill. under the leadership OF Soma
tor prcwry, came through both houses
of the General Assembly without
amendment and was approved Feb
;uary ~ 1915. by Governor Davis
ENDORSED BY LEADING
AUTHORITIES on GOVERNMENT
or al! means devised for meeting the
requirements OF real popular govern
ment, in tho sense that the affairs OF
. government shall be conducted in con
~ for!nity with the popular will. DIR. ".
~ W!iloughby, director OF tho Institute
>-ior Government Research at Washing
..ton says: NO single one approaches
in completeness ana effectiveness a
budget, II properly prepared. 1t at
once serves TO make known past oper-
atoms present conditions and future
proposals, definitely locates RESPONSE
hi!ity and furnishes the means for con-
,-trol."
~. .pr. 4. r. Iiatton has said that above
...Gnd beyond it's relation TO economy and
efficiency in public affairs. the budget
''|Inay be made one Of the most potent
Instruments OF democracy. Given at
least manhood suffrage, any govern
..mrnt so organized as TO produce: and
. carry out scientific budget system
=. Wi! be susceptible OF extensive and
.,!nic!ligcnt popular control. on the
~>contrary thoe-e governments. whatever
Their other virtues, which fail TO pro-
aide adequate budget methods yvil
!. neither reach tho maximum 0! efficiency
. nor prove 20 be altogether responsible
? 20 the people.
HisnifestinS itself in the powerful move
"Jneni for the reform of governmental
organization and procedure IN the in
acrcst OK popular control and efficiency
%3ihcGc are naturally many features In
.D5he program for the accom- oltshrncr,
Mzot this twofold object No single change
:./nvould add so largely to both democracy
.TFhu cihcicncY as the introduction O,
:gproper budget methods"
"a IN his.AHnnk- ciIt!ricG, The Movemcn,
100 1'"H- -'''i hD!lH IN the S'Its''
r/Dr. WiIloushby contends the convIc-
.1I"n has been growing that a Iois;akn
%.hcs been made in seeking 10 make ~
.tfopr state Legislatures boards of a.
"rf"'ors 70 concern Themselves with tho
"details OF the activities. orr..ty,,io,,
Snd methods OF business of ad,ninis,-
pc services; that tho lruc ru,,c,fo,,s
-";"i these bodies snould tic ulos. Of
t-attinG as ORGANS 81 public opinjop l.,
~" iarecr sense, aud the means through
r<."n'ch thnSc concerned with the actual
aamIhiStraucn OF affairs shouin bc
supervised controlled and b.ld "a
FS'd accountability for tho manner in
.s3"'hirh fhrN discharge their duties.
MS mas i'G Inevitably TO the posi-
70" mat Gp"n tn" executive Should he
iatod me responsibility for the forinu-
..-Id s'oil OF "orE programs and tla dn.i
t.fi"!A IA the FIRST instance at loas. oe
~ means 20 be employed In INC r,u.
rinS o. ,httc programs into cxccutfn,
H,t.'a "o"IH arpear TO carry with IL
~ StohEihcntns OF the cxccu,ivc'
al tho expense of tho lnt.i.l,,;
brah0h Of government. 50 /. Gocs =,
~ sense X IS a canon of aGuInIs;r,
i've science. hGwcycr. that when di.
''''"'afy powers and authority ara
corresponding incrca~c
ShpH!a DC made IN the rneans ~ ~
trolling ana supervising thn ,,,
IN which ih"sc auEincrtcd nn,yn,
t-fAer'ised If legislatures arc ~ an
rtn"ef L" the executive increased INV
w aspect 20 the conduct ..
"rA iratiyc affairs tboz. ,,,
S'''"+' Non t'i, means bv WHEN 49,.
eN"H assure themselves tina, tnceo nnu.
'''' propcriy cNorcigcd Tbora -,
40 iA 'nrGa by which superior di-rc1
'.i supervision ana control NAV bn
~ "E Si'e. ''sra'!on i'm advance or
''H establishment % /. proncr , ~
coun'nS ana reporting s,s,o,, t,,
tauiISh'ng means through ,,bi,1 ,r