Grand Forks herald., 1919-08-11

ment. The rapid growth OF net re-
ceipts and net disbursements at inter-
reached after the Civil war is indicat-
ed by the following figures:
Year. Receipts. Disbursements.
1873. .$257,44s.77e $2s6,se4,s27
18sS.... 379,266,075 25s,653,957
1888. 405. 5.321.335 443,36s,5s2
/ A Big increase. :
II interest on the public debt is ex-
cluded, the growth in ordinary ex-
penditures for carrying on the govern
ment, including payments for pensions
and many public works was brought
from $135,000,00o in 1878 to. $685.
100000 in 1908. This is an increase
OF nearly 400 per cent The figures
for the following nine years prior to
the war showsa still further Increase
IN ,ada the percentage column. offer the
1913 iigures, however, for the reason
that they came under my personal OBJ
servation.
desire to point out that the distri-
button of impense sums raised mainly
by taxation should be subjected to the
closest scrutiny. classification and CO.
ordination. The present method of
dealing with money matters is entirely
lacking in system.
Under the relations of the various
branches of our government, there is
practically no control by the execu-
tive department over the appropria-
tlons made by congress- except by the
presidents veto. There is no control
by the secretary Of the treasury or
any other branch Of the government
over the amount of the estimates sub
mitted by the various executive de-
partments to congress. The secretary
of the treasury is given the authority
| to transmit to congress estimates Of
revenue and expense. but has no au-
thority by existing laws, to revise these
estimates to conform to the national
receipts.
Nor is there any single committee
charged with the comparison and CO.
| ordination Of the appropriations for
the various branches of public service,
in order to distribute .equitably any
reductions or increases which may be
warranted by the total income of the
United States.
Many Responsibilities.
The secretary of the treasury occu-
pies by law relation to congress
which in many respects is one of more
heads of the other departments. It
Is declared by statute which has not
been repealed that the secretary of
the treasury shall report and give
information to either branch Of the
legislature in person or by writing,
as may be required, respecting all
matters referred to him by the SEN
which shall appertain to his Office"
In spite of this concise statutory
provision, the secretary of the treas
ury is little more than a figure-head
to the extent that he can not lower
by as much as penny any Of the
items in appropriation bills submitted
to him by department heads. He
transmitting all estimates from the
departments to the speaker of the
house.
There is no special inducement for
department heads to keep down esti-
mates for the fiscal year. Each de-
partment is anxious to make a good
showing for itself and is also anxious
to be allowed considerable leeway in
money matters. The result is that
many bureau chiefs gauge their esti-
mates by. what they think congress
will stand for. The yknow full we'll
that on general principles the house
committee on appropriations will
make substantial cuts in all requests.
Too Much Rush.
AS a result Of frequent delays, i'm
portant money bills are often passed
lative term. They are rushed through |
without proper consideration-with |
little or no time to delete uncalled for
items of expense.
During my tenure Of office, I sug-
sested that it might be competent for
congress to appoint joint commit
tee to revise departmental estimates
sc that they might be presented to
congress properly co-ordinated and
with proper regard to the nations in
come as a whole. The present outlook
is toward the adoption of national
budget system under which income
and outgo will be adjusted with at
least some degree of exactness
believe that the adjusting bureau,
or organiza ton which reg
ulates estimates should be responsible
to, or at least work in close co-opera-
ton with the secretary of the treas
ury. for he is the finance officer of
the United States and should answer
to the people for a fair and equitable
Of departmental appro-
priations.
Coordination of the administrative
departments Of government should ex-
tend to the legislature as WELL Instead