The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-04

NtDtN iiAtgl hpdd3 nave lff poWtI
OF determining the financial future of
tho United States. They comprise the
select committees on budget of the
house and senate, chosen TO report on
duced at this session OF congress. and
to make an investigation with the idea
OF formulating a practical budget plan
which may he adopted by the nation.
The first OF the budget hearings was
held during the past week at the ma
tionaI capitol The expert testimony
of banktrs, business men, political
economists and others has contribut
ed many interesting facts which will
undoubtedly aid the lawmakers in
drawing up a bill that will be ac-
eepta BILE to congress.
Members Of. the house and senate
who make up these two important
committees are, almost without cx-
ceptiun, otttitne and experienced law
makers Because of the non~partisan
chara cter of the committees and be-
cause of the association Of their mem
bers with the most important legisla
tive problems before congress In the
past decade, 1t is safe to say that their
recommendation VIII be accepted by
congress with only slight changes.
Therefore upon the deliberations of
this mere handful of men viii depend
whether the United States Will con
tnue 10 be administered financially
under system that is inefficient and
Irrational, or whether there will he
recommended for incorporation in our
federal government ii comprehensive
lana definite budget plan
This IL the Grst time In the history
OF the nation that momentus matter
Of this character has been referred 10
a small body of national representa-
tiyes 1t is the outgrowth OF discus
sbn that arose in s1a12 following the
appointment OF former President
Taft's commission on economy and
efficiency. Mr. Taft realized the in
adcquacies OF the system by which
funds are provided for running each
of the ten major departments of gov
eminent. Tho primary object of his
commission was to guard against ex-
travagance and duplication in depart
mental activities
A hostile congress prevented the
carrying out Of his project and up
to this wear there were only spas
modic efforts on the part of congress
TO agitata budget reform
Representative James w Good of
Iowa, and Senator Medill Mccormick,
vival of the present interest in bulge
tary matters. They arc the respec-
tive chairmen OF the house and SEN
ate select committees.
Early at this session of congress.
political readers were skeplicai of
agreement upon measure which
would meet with the approval OF a
majority in both house and senate
One of the reasons for this was that it
was feared that neither house or con-
gress would care to relinduish its
prerogatives in initiating money bills
Another reason was that those actual
ly In favor OF budgetary reform held
views Numerically opposite In re-
gard to the responsibility of the execu-
tive department for Il budget
Half of official Washington sides
with Representative Good. who be-
lieves that bureau OF tho budget.
delegated with power to draw up de-
partment estimates, should he 'in the
office of the president" The other
half believes with Senator Mccormick
that this bureau Of the budget should
be 'in the secretary Of the treasury
and responsible to that official
That divergence Of opinion in regard
to executive authority was one of the
real reasons for the appointment Of
select committees The actual number
Of budget bills submitted and the wide
variety Of their provisions was anoth-
er. Messra. Frear. Tinkham. Kenyon.
Mann and others responsible for bulge.
measures acquiesced In the committee
In the meantime Representative
Good and Senator Mccormick had ex-
tended an invitation to the national
budget committee, which was accepted
on behalf of the organization by John
T. Pratt. chairman. Mr.. Pptt prom
iged to give both investigation COM
the beneft OF the experience
Of his organisation. Both he and Or.
samuel McCune Lindsay. a member OF
the board Of directors Of the national !
budget committee. promised to testify
1T hearings Of the select committees
Because Of thr Importance OF pro-
posed budget reform and OF the power
that VIII ~ WELDED by tho select com
InitteAs II SAfAy rink Hp an efficient and !
psa@ttpAI hN690t hui = A. ef interest
~ $500 1870 ~