Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-10-13
Monday. October 10, 1919.
A National Budget.

Economy Of the most rigid kind
must be practised by the Federal
government until the costs of the
war begin to vanish. How long will
it take? Ten years, twenty years.
generation. No matter how long. the
first thing to do is to begin to prac-
tise economy in ordinary appropria-
tons and routine expenditures. By
relieving a part OF the burden the
whole becomes lighter on the tax
paying public.
The first step has been taken
through the presentation Of a bill to
create a bureau Of the budget in the
Office of the President. Chairman
James w. Good of the House APP
proprtations committee who drafted
the bill predicts its early passage by
a large majority in view of the GER
tain deficit of some $4,000, 900. 900 be-
fore the end Of the present fiscal
year. He gives his reasons for his
confidence:
My reasons fo- believing this are
two-fold: First. the question upon
which the people will hold the political
parties responsible for the next 10 years
Will be those relating to appropriations
The political parties realize this fact
and the members Of Congress will see
20 IL that the machinery is provided by
which this responsibility will be fully
Secondly. members OF Congress real
Ire that the estimates which now come
70 Congress are never considered in
e s;n,u IS way and nobody is respon.
made to cure this defect. The piaI,
agreed upon is the plan that any bust
ness man having control Of large affairs
would adopt for the government Of his
mend itself TO Congress The indie.
pendent audit and control of expendi-
lures places this accounting work in
80 organized this independent establish
nent will be free to criticize useless e1-
penditures by executive departments
If the new system comes into
operation the President will appoint
director of the bureau with an as
sistant director and other officers.
The bureau will make a careful in
vestigation Of all financial matters
affecting the government and report
the results to the President. who in
turn. shall transmit, the reports to
Congress with such Recommended
tions as he may care to make. The
heads Of executive departments shall
submit their estimates to the Presi-
dent instead Of to the secretary OF
the treasury. The President shall
transmit to. Congress on the first day
OF each regular session after 1919 a
document to be known as a budget
which shall contain balanced state
ments Of the revenues and expendi-
lures of the government for the pre-
ceding year and Of the resources and
liabilities Of the treasury at the close
OF the year. his estimates of the reve-
nue. and expenditures needs of the
government for the ensuing fiscal
year and how. in his opinion, these
needs should be met.
This plan makes the President the
source from which all estimates and
requests for appropriations 60 to
Congress unless Congress shall 9th.
erwise order. The President is held
personally responsible for all recon.
mendations for appropriations. Con.
sress may increase or decrease them
II 1t so desires but whenever a
change is made in the budget Con.
gress must assume entire response.
bility.
Some Of the immediate economies
that will result from the budget sys-
tenn are pointed out by Secretary
Glass:
The processes employed in framing
and passing public buildings and riveI
and harbor bills lead to q great waste
OF .a the money of the people. The contin.
ments activities unere they are no,
needed. whether these activities bt
army posts; or suo-treasuries. or hos.
in real business budget submitted bs
Finance Minister. duly empowered on
law. and managei through Congress b.
single committee under rules of linn.
itation imposed by the Congress on
ITSELF -.
\ system by which all recon
mendations for expenditures are
brought under ole head will give les.
opportunity to shift responsibility
and will tend to shut out raids upon
the treasury for political purposes
II is very probable that the bulge,
system will cause appreciable shrink
age IN the Congressional pork barrel.
The subject has been SO much dis
cussed that long debate in Congress
is not necessary to the passage of the
measure. The system cannot come
into operation too soon for the good
Of the country.
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regard to the Baltic provinces Han