The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-31
COMMITTEE
IS INCORPORATED

Washington, d. C.. July so,-With \
board OF directors that Includes Ben}a.
min Strong. governor OF the Federal
Reserve bank. Of New York; Henry I.
Stimson. former secretary Of war: paul
II. Warbufg. former vice.chAirman al
the federal reserve board. and John r,
Pratt, Of New York, the national bud
est committee, was Incorporated today
under the laws OF the District OF Co.
iumbia. =
The articles Of incorporation act
forth that the objects Of the committed
are:
To promote independent. non.parti.
san n constructive inquiry concern.
iEg The revenues and expenditures at
the government:
To advocate the adoption Of u ma,
t'onal budget system whereby national
expenses are systematically estimated
and balanced. and revenue planned &C.
cordingiy;
To make it the duty OF the president
to submit and to assume responsibility
for a budget.
To develop budget procedure and
other steps for more responsible row.
eminent.
The incorporators who acted for the
committee are: Henry b. r. Maerar.
land" former chairman Of the district
N"'ih''oSiohGIo kOE tnS city Oh WASns
ington; DR.. Samuel McCune Lansay,
p professor Of social legislation. Column
bia university, and Charles F.. Nesbft,
formerly Insurance commissioner for
the District OF Columbia.
Membership of the committee will be
enlarged to 100 persons, chosen to rep
resent financial. industrial, agricultu-
raj. commercial. educational, scientific
and philanthropic interests through
out thu country A~vorIux~ nn~~A..-ls-
Will Include patriotic citizens who wish
to see the government financed and ad-
ministered along the economic lines
that a budget system will provide.
An advisory council composed of
leaders from state and national or
ganizations will be named to act In
an advisory capacity to the committee.
In commenting upon the plans Of
the committee. Mr.. Pratt, the chair.
man. said that the organization wishes
to enroll every citizens who thinks
enough Of his country to own 4 lib
erty bond"
There is no limitation Of creed or
politics placed upon membership re-
quirements." he said. The committee
Is entirely supported by public contri-
buttons and will be successful only in
so far as public spirited men and wo-
men support 1t with their time and
energy,
without endorsing specifically
OF the numerous budget bills now be-
Ing considered by congress, we hope
that the senate and house will agree
upon a comprehensive measure that
will ensure efficiency and thrift in
matters of national finance.
The hrst and most important step
by will be to provide for a
bureau Of the budget which shall as
sumo Responsibility for making the
estimates Of national expenses that are
now made Independently by each of
the ten major departments Of govern
ment."
Action Of the senate rules commit
tee in referring to a bipartisan COM
mittee OF ten the task Of drawing up
a comprehensive budget bill to be
submitted to the senate not later than
December l Is indicative that the
upper hous Is planning immediate ac-
ton upon the matter of budgetary re.
fern.
While the personnel Of this commit
tee has not been made public. 1t is I'M
derstood that Senator Medill McCor.
mick. OF Illinois, responsible for two
senate budget bills introduced earlier
in the current session. will be chair
man.
A resolution providing for a similar
bipartisan committee of twelve has
also been introduced In the house Of
representatives. The personnel of
this committee is also still in doubt.
The chances are that it will be headed
by Representative James w. Good, Of
Iowa. Mr.. Good Is sponsor for one Of
the two house budget bills. The second
bill was offered by Representative
Frear.
Men familiar with legislative affairs
see in the appointment of these two
committees the first real attempt by
congress to formulate definite budget
plans according to the promises made
by both political parties during the
last presidential campaign.
They believe that all resolutions,
bills and matters OF budget impor-
lance will be considered by one of
these two committees which are ex-
pected to decide upon a definite sys-
TEN for national expense estimates
that will be agreeable to both admin !.
istration n Observation-Disclosures lead
ers.