The sun., 1918-07-11

sponsibility for the temperature Of
our caves rests elsewhere.
Mr.. Cutting on the Budget system.
As r.. ErL1oN CUTTING has not sent
to US the documents issued by the
National Republican Congressional
Committee which, In his letter to that
important body printed elsewhere on
this page, he caustically charucterizes
as indefinite, gaseous and illusory,"
we are not In a position to approve
or disapprove Of his criticism thereof.
but the concrete suggestion he makes
with regard to the duty Of the Re-
publican leaders in Congress as to the
institution Of a budget system for the
regulation Of appropriations by the
Congress is everlastingly and eter-
nally sound.
THE SUN has frequently described
the unbusinesslike and criminally
wasteful lack Of system that dis
graces the financial management Of
the United States to-day. The book
Of estimates compiled by the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury supposedly for
the guidance Of Representatives and
Senators conveys no authority and is
dlsregnrded in the preparation Of ap-
preparation measures by the executive
and legislative departments with
equal nonchalnnce The bills author
izlng the expenditure Of the taypay-
ers' money are written in n dozen
committees, each Of which proceeds
about its task without the slightest
regard for what the others are doing,
for the state of the Treasury, or for
the needs Of the country. The proc
ess now In vogue invites log rolling
and the exercise Of personal infiu-
ence; and the nation foots the bill
annually, in ignorance Of its own
financial condition that may be bliss
full but certainly is expensive.
The establishment of a budget sys-
TEN is proper enterprise for the
Republican party to undertake. The
most eminent Republicans have Off
cially recorded the need for II, and
have done all that lay in their power
to bring II about. The Democrats,
with their Unborn and traditional con-
tempt for business methods in public
affairs, have consistently opposed 1t.
Pride Of place and greed for power
power that expresses itself in the
acquisition Of II few petty Jobs for
political retainers--have been potent
factors in supporting their mulish at
titude. The Democrats will never
concede to the country budget sys-
TEN; the Republicans, with broader
craftsmanship, should.
Particularly mt this moment bud.
get system Is needed. The billions of
money that the Government Is taking
from us through the tax collector and
the bond salesman are being spent
with lavish hand, and nobody knows
how they are being spent. Not tax,
payer grudges n penny Of the neces'
sary expenditure not n taxpayer is
reluctant to give up every cent that
Is needed to raise. equip and main
tain our army and our navy, or Il
conduct our civil establishment as II
should be conducted. But every tax
payer who Is sufficiently intelligen,
10 recognize that money spent at
Washington Is money that comes from
his pocket wants to have 1t dlsbursed
sanely and economically.
Those disbursements can never be
made sanely and economically rs lonp
as the Treasury Is at the mercy OF
nm unprganlzed topsy-turvy practice
which prevents consolidation Of eS.
Inmates based on wide knowledge of
the needs of the nation and equally
intimate information ns TO its avail,
able resources. That knowledge and
information can be brought together
only through the institution of n sci
entific budget system, which would
reveal inequalities, injustlces, extrav
agnnce and niggardllness, and allow
the proper adjustment of expenditure
to revenues.
Not II single word can be said In
favor of the practice that now pre-
walls. A budget system is required II
the interest Of every taxpayer In the
United States. Republicans who rec
ognize the implications of the present
situation, and every Republican who
has examined the subject does, SHOULD
join the movement to get their party
right on this supremely important
subject, and make Its words good
with deeds.
New York to-day sees the last o.
one who served her well. but not the