Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-03-31
GOODS REFORM POPULAR.
Changes in Fiscal Machinery Of Gov
eminent May Be Adopted.
[By j.. q. DouSherty.I

BY j.. u. DouSnCTtS
Washington, March 3l.--That Con-
gresham James w. Goods announced
plan for reform of the fiscal machin-
cry of the government, which the Iowa
legislator ana chairman of the i'm
Eortant appropriations committee of
the next house will propose, will have
thc backing of numerous fellow con-
gressmen was made plain here today
when Goods scheme was being dis
eussed. Members of the last congress-.
who gave study and thought to ways
and means of remedying the present
system by which government appropri-
atoms are based, said Goods plan will
readily be accepted by the new con-
gress.
Though Representative Good and
Senator Kenyon are not in agreement
on the best method of regulating APP
preparations, the junior Iowa senator
favoring budget system, the suggest
ed plan Of Mr.. Good contains some of
the points Mr.. Kenyon has been ad-
vocating. While details of Mr.. Goods
plan have not vet been definitely
formed, the salient features are:
First-The creation oc separate
bureau Of estimates with director
responsible 20 the president whose
duty it will lie to examine and pass
upon the merit and urgency Of appro-
priations requested by the several fed
eral departments and bureaus of the
government.
Second--The presentation of all de-
partmental estimates to congress BY
the president instead of the secretary
of the treasury with the Presidents OK
press approval Of the same.
Third-The creation of an auditing
organization answerable 20 the several
appropriating committees of congress
whose function IL shall be to supply
congress with accurate Information at
all times regarding the expenditure of
funds appropriated and the available
balance in the accounts of the several
departments.
While it is clearly impracticable for
the United States government to adopt
budget system patterned strictly af-
ter the line Of that in operation by the
British government" Mr.. Good point
ed out, something should be done to
remedy the condition which now exists
due to the fact that mo executive off,
Ger is held responsible for the esti-
mates sent out to congress and to the
further fact that congress has no
check on the way money Is spent py
the various departments.
Under the present system the sec
rotary of the treasury sends to con-
gress on the 18th of October every
year the estimates drafted by the de-
partments for their expenditures dur
ing the next fiscal year. The secre-
tary of the treasury has no authority
under the existing law to change these
estimates in the slightest degree. HIS
function is merely to forward them 10
congress. In consequence. without
any notwithstanding authority, the
departments almost invariably initiate
their estimates in the belief that ii they
ask for two apples they mas get one
The president ought to be made re-
sponsible for the estimates prepared
by these departments and he shouid DC
given an adequate investigating ana
supervising machinery to enable him
to confidently place his stamp or ap-
prevail on all estimates sent to con-
gress.
,.What is needed is change In the
organic law which vii provide a
simple. yet effective, scheme of checks
and balances with q minimum OF red
tape and yet which will work an in
telligent cooperation between the ex-
ecutive and legislative bodies IN the
pre- aration of estimates. the voting OF
appropriations ana the checking OF oe-
ma ,tnental expenditures"