El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-01-13

CONVENIENT machinery at Washington has been en-
" arged until It has become massye-or az least ponder
ousznd vsrv expensive There IS extravaganza
waste and inefency when It comes to the expenditure
Of the peoples money. -
his does not imply earelessness, particularly, and still
less erinaIity It is simply that big, cumbersome ma
cue Tot verv vel engineered cut" TO mechanical
tenn consumes lots Of fuel and oil
grs ought to be a remodeling Of Of the depart
.suts at Washington q coordination Of all Of them and
there should be budget system to cover expenditures
Some members Of congress recognize this and
studying budget systems Of other countries with view
TO advocating budget system for the United States It
is one Of the most important measures that congress can
take ID Il Is a true reconstruction measure.
Once the government simple affair." consisting Of
ouIv few departments such war navy and treasury
Of recent years departments have been added and
bureaus created until the structure has become very
COMPLEX
As new departments have been created they have
70 have their share in the expenditure Of the peoples
money without any regard to the total expenditure Of all
Departments No system exists IN the scientific and
meaning CT the word The method if there is
any is eay guilt in which each piece seeks to outshne
all the others
waste and eztravagauoe are the logical result It VIII
continue until congress establishes national budget sys
ten IN which all the expenditures Of the government for
the year VII be based their relative Importance.
There is nothing experimental about the budget plan
OR chamber Of commerce here in Fl Paso very familiar
With It and you'd longer think Of trying to operate
without It The state of New Mexico Is beginning to oPer
ate under budget system meeting Of the governor and
various state officials Is under way in Santa Fe today,
considering the budget for the next two years pre-
pared By Rupert P Aspund Of the state taxpayers aso
ciatiou.
CITY governments also frequently administered
der budget system that each department knows
acy It's financial limits for the year IF common sense
financial administration Is needed IN chamber Of
city government II is vital necessity IN the
national government Never there time when such
budget system soTey needed than at present
The country Is faced with the obligation Of paying off bill
lions Of dollars Of public debt owing the war Taxa
ton must continue heavy for the next 30 so years. If
this debt IS to be paid and not left perpetual legacy
20 the future generations This year about Sc GOO 600 900
must Be raised BY and another large issue of bonds
must be made to meet the expenditures, perhaps
s7,oo0o00oO0 OF SsyOo0,oOoOOo.
In 1920 under the war revenue bill S. 100000 viii
be collected in taxes Republicans Of opinion that this
E1H not be sufficient For years It VIII be
sary to raise 100000 to SoOoOOoOOo IN taxes If
the public debt Is to be paid of and the government IS to
be kept up the scale required BY this country.
Think back over these figures Let them soak in Real
re that billions easier ro the tongue than to
collect Understand that the figures stand for toiearned
dollar We then, 1t is little short Of downright folly
that busneske system OF expenditure and accounting
has uet already been adopted
One Of the hackers Of the budget system Is senator Ken
7on Of Iowa In recent speech he estimated that about
oneth Of the expenditure Of the government IS wasted
because Of inefency Possibly his estimate is too high
Even So with expenditures running into billions is easy
70 see great saving could be made
Kenyon is alone his advocacy Of asbudqet system
Representative Shsrey Democrat Chairman of the house
appropriations committee faE0rs It and he certainly Is IN
position 10 whether would be advantageous seeing
nat the appropriations 60 through his committees hands
fo vel remembered in Fl PasO since his visit here sew
sai years ago. repeatedly urged adoption of budget ss-
zen as me only mems Of putting government use of
money on businessliks basis
As things 60 now, heads Of departments send to the
secretary Of the treasury estimates Of the money they viii
need Zach official seeks to obtain the largest possible
AMOUNT Tar his department The secretary Of the treas
y groups usu al together into book Of appropriations