The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-06
BUDGET SYSTEM
TO PROVIDE FOR
BALANCE METHOD
Bill Soon To Be introduced
Will Create Director Who
Will Stabilize Funds of All
National Departments.
BY CAAS, S. HAYDEN,
(Staff Cerresbondenf \

| p, MAShlNGTON ID. -. Oct. G.
! Equitable distribution of responsibility
| pbetWeeh the executive and legislative
| branches of the government over ma
tlonai expenditures is ContemuAated and
provided for In the bill soon 10 be re-
ported In the house by the special com
| ihlttee appointed to formulate budget
system Tor the country, This is TO be
aCcoInpilshed by creating a new post
known as that Of the director Of the
| budget, responsible only TO the president
| ana on whom the executive may call for
| ADVICE as to whether estimates sub
hltted BY bureau or department heads
are equitable or not.
rms constitutes one Of the main
features of the bill on which the MEM
! bers Of the committee have practically
agreed. The other provides Cor the
| creation of a comptroller general and
start who will be charged with the duty
OF auditing all accounts for the govern
ment Although this man will be an
pointed by the president he will he
responsible to congress alone and will
hold his office for life or good he
haVlor, being removed only-pn a Joint
resolution of the senate and house.
AHhough too early to forecast prob
aole action on this bill when submitted
I VIII have the Endorsement Of both
hepuphcan and Democratic leaders in
the house and the members are anxious
70 ma some means of replying to the
charge of wanton extravagance. SO often
hurled at congress by the country nj
large, 1t is urged by committee mem
ners Nnat a law OF the type offered in
this bill will do 1t.
Economists Favor Plan.
Writers on economies and students NJ
government have long urged the adon-
tlon OF a budget system and usually
nave pointed to the facility with which
SuSn systems operate in European gov
ernments. The European systems, how
ever, cannot be adopted here without
many changes in the constitution. In
hhgland, for instance, should a minis
try fail to obtain from parliament a
vote authorizing taxes for the amount
cdned Tor IN the budget that ministry
would fall. 1t would be equivalent 10 a
vote OF lack Of confidence. In this coun-
Try, ON The other hand. congress has
Always maintained its right to decrease
or increase estimates submitted by de- |
paTlment heads and such action has not
altected the official status Of the cabl- |
net members II was with view Of
drafting budget system in conformity
with the constitutional limitations and |
powers that this committee was named, |
IL Is composed Of seven Republicans
namely, James W. Good Iowa. Phil p, |
GIampoeli, Kansas; Martin b. Madden,
II,lnolsi Wills G, Hawley, Oregon; |
TT-1,' NhhpiSI ISIllHylNdluH George |
Holden Tinkham, Massachusetts; Fred
:. Purhell. Indiana, and five Democrats, |
Joseph W. Byrne, Tennessee: Claude
hltchin south Carolina; John N. Car |
ner, IeXas Edward r, Taylor Colorado, |
and Il, b, Howard, Oklahoma.
Hearings in Progress.
Hearings have been in progress before
THIS committee for several weeks and |
mere are several witnesses vet to be |
heard The main features of the pro-
posed bill, however have been worked
OUT, and II Is not probable that any
.hing which these final witnesses viii
change. '"'
Under the terms of the bill each de-
partnent head will prepare estimates AS
70 the needs of his department for the
ensuing year These estimates must be
ready for presentation to the president
on specified date, and by him they
WIN be turned over to the director OF
budgets. the new officer created This
official will have a staff of experts. one
Or more for each department, capable
or passing on the needs OF the several
departments, and win certify his recon-
mendations on the budget estimates
submitted. If, in his. opinion, certain |
estimates should be reduced, IL will be |
MS DUTY to so advise and the pres- |
cent may then counsel further'with the |
cabinet officer making them. In the |
last analysis, however, the president
VIII De called on to pass on the cues
tlon and thus certify to the amount
which he deems will be necessary 10
run the government for the next fiscal