The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-03

But there is a chance that during the
longs days Of me regular session that
begins Dec ] this important measure
viii pass both houses and IT undoubted-
ly win receive the signature OF the
president, who has long been an advo-
cate Of such a law,
Already the Republican leaders IN
congress are sharpening their pencils
and voices TO point out To the nation
this bit Of constructive legislation as
ono Of the milestOnes on their legisla-
tive way. II II was passed today II
would be the only one, the Democrats
say, but It Is not yet passed and when
II is Democratic votes will be necessary
so overcome the opposition OF "Old
Guardsters who are reputed to be
vhetting, their knives for its arrival.
Paving Way for System.
President Wilson and former Presi.
dent Taft have done much TO prepare
the people as a whole for the installa
ton Of a budget system. The average
citizen neither knew what a budget Is,
or cared, but when national leaders
kept pounding the need Of one, and
pointed ont that congressional eXtrava-
canoes could be curtailed the voter was
for IT,
Some Democratic leaders have no
heHitancv in asserting that the only
Itdebil WHY tue lAtHubtlNdh lllaltilAA -
displaying such solcitude about bud
get IL because II has failed utterly In
passing constructive legislation during
the extra session, now rapidly drawing
to a close, Trying TO save their faces,
Is the way this contention Is expressed.
Moreover. the Democrats blame the Re-
pnbncans for having fostered the pres
eUt eNtravagant system upon the coun-
try In the half century they were in
power subsequent to the civil war, and
done nothing to eradicate the evil
Joseph w, Byrns, of Tennessee, rank
ing Democratic member OF the house
appropriations committee and who has
had much to do with the drawing up Of
the budget bill. recently pointed out the
long time II has taken to educate the
people to the necessity OF a budget,
Among the most prominent adyo.
Gates OF such a system" said Mr.
lSyrns. were former President Taft,
both during and slrce his administra
ton, John j. Fitzgerald Dem n. W,
anil Swagcr Sherey Dem, Ky) both
Of whom were great chairmen Of the
appropriations committee, and President
Wilson, as shown In his message TO
| congress on Dee, T. 1917, The ncces-
ity for some sort Of budget system
WAS recognized TO be Of such grave
Importance that both Of tho great po-
| litical parties declared for II in their
national platforms
Growth of Sentiment.
Even then, however. although ably
| advocated by number I'm both politi
| cnl parties, both In and out OF congress,
there was no general public demand or
| public sentiment In favor Of the In.
auguratton Of such n system Some
one has truly said that tho government,
| like the individual, Is creature OF
I.s,l2 ,tr L. -. L..
| 10 follow along the old beaten path
until strong pressure causes II TO move
| to higher ground. And 40 long as our
revenues exceeded our expenditures, and
| SO long as II was possible to collect
| the necessary revenues by way OF In
| direct taxation and tho taxpayer paid
| his iay without knowing he was pay
ing Il, there was no general demand OF
particular desire OH the Part Of the
general public for economy or reform
IN our financial and accounting Eys.
temE"
In discussing the house budget meas
urc Mr. Byrns emphasized that ''tht
chief merit OF this bill Is that II fixei
responsibility and brings the full ligh
of public opinion 70 bear on those re-,
sponsibe and IN that way II will sure
~ bring about greater economy and
| efficiency in government"
4AUSVAS0A 1NOuOulJs
In order that there may be real and
| prAct lea economy continued Mr.
| Byrns, 1t lis essential that there shal
be a public demand for Il. Tho gov.
i eminent at Washington reflects the
views, wishes and sentiments Of tho
people MS their representatives under.
stand thcm, and II the people are in.
different to extravaganza and uncon.
cerned as TO the amount OF public ex.
penditures, there Is but little real re
sistance TO the persistent and constan
demand which is every pressing on con
gress for enlarged and new and un
tried federal activities As a result IN,
national government Is now perform
ms many functions OF government
which really belong to the states anC
municipalities and could best and NOR,
economically be performed by them. TIL
people are now watching the govern
ment expenditures closer than ever an,
as result there has happily come
persistent demand for budgetory reform
In the interest OF economy and eff
cheney In government service
The reason for this change Is per
tectly obvious Experience has show
that after every war the people a
least for time, have given close
scrutiny TO their governments expendi
lures There has always been hug
!
brought face TO face with higher taxes
These conditions have been multiple
many times by the last war, and tn
people are turning their eyes on Wash
| ington IN order to sec lust how thei
money Is being spent II is this fac
which makes IL possible TO do now wha
| could not he done few years ago
that is, to secure the favorable consid
GRAFTON OF measure revising our an
pronriatnE and accounting system /
the interest OF economy and eGficienc,
The annual expenses OF our gov
| eminent are now many times create
than they were few years ago, an
they must continue so for many year
to come on account Of the obligation
incurred as a result OF the war The
are now so large that only a very sma
part OF the necessary revenue can b
collected by way of indirect taxation
S. The great bulk ~ taxes collected IA
our national government must com
directly from the pockets OF the peopl,
BEFORE the war our public debt was les
n than one billion dollars. Today II ha
reached the stupendous figure Of owe
. 20 billions Of dollars, the annual cos
Of our government of few years az,
| Inc secretary of tho treasury has stat
ed that In his opinion the deficit dur
0 Ing the fiscal year win not excoe
1000 GOO, con and that this will be take
care Oh pN the last installmentg OF III
victory loan, But he has uttered
solemn warning that II congress do,
not practice economy or IL leeislatIo
is enacted creating large additions
charges on the treasury another hon
ID issue viii h. necessary, thereby n,
10 only adding to tho burden of futm
-, generations, but also the present gel
~ GRAFTON by way of increased intere
IS charges and the burden caused nv
g further initiation Of public credit
"A THOSE who are urging some of n
- bills pending before congress shou
II, very seriously ponder this solemn war,
We ing Of the head Of the treasury Bus
v ness, agriculture, labor, industry of a
- kinds, must contribute each wear {
r share To The four billions of dolla
and perhaps more that will likely
. needed to run the government Tor son
= years TO come on the most economic
basis possible These taxes win fs
I l,as Ia q