Evening journal., 1919-09-15
p Governors Protest Extravaganza
Say Country Faces Bankruptcy Unes Expenses
Budget System Insure Fair Departmental Appropriations and
Cite Examples of Its Success in Many States.

Governors OF twenty-five states have
Joined in a formal protest against fed
eral extrayangance which they claim
has resulted in the needless expenditure
If billions OF dollars Of taxpayers
money during The past tweny years.
Relieving that ihe present loose and
haphazard administration oil inc
finances OF the United states VIII resul'
m national bankruptcy, the DoNerhors
statements prepared Dor tiie Nallonsl
3udget Committee. today appeal TO NiS
zens Of the United Stales 10 duN NOcal,
he adoption by Congress OF a National
budget system.
The chief executives OF the following
state, Joined in the protest and en-
iorsed the committees campaign Tor
3udgetary reform: Arizana, Colorado
Idaho. Illinois, lndiapa, Iowa. kansas
Maine Maryland, Massachusetts, Min
nesota. Ne, ,ada, New Jersey. New York,
NORTH Dakota, oregon. Pennsylvania,
3hode Island south Dakota. west Nir-
glnla. Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The Governors direct most OF their
. criticism against the departmental sys-
TEN OF annual expense estimates, and
he Congressional method OF handling
appropriation bills. summed up, their
contentious are that:
40 Departmental estimates are out
of all proportions TO actual require
ments.
= Expense statements are drawn mp
Independently by each OF the ten cXecu-
i've departments.
l3l There j. no balance between in
come and outgO.
81 There is no executive response
Bnlty for the budget as submitted TO
Congress.
- Fourteen committees Of the
House and fifteen comm1lce OF The SEN
ate have power 10 initiate money bills.
lG) Individual members Of Congress
can secure Tie passage Of appropriation
bills bcnellting local interests.
10 LOg-rolling methods are used to
rush money bills through House and
senate and that Congress, as a whole. is
unfamiliar with details OF the measures
upon which 10 passes Judgment.
To remedy these conditions, the Gov
crn0rs make the following suggestions: /:
~ Demand executive responsibility
for the national budget
p Establish a bureau Of the budget
10 draw up estimates OF governmental
expenses.
81 Provide for Congressional con-
sidcration Of money bills by single com
mittees OF the House and senate or
joint cOmmitte OF the two.
- Limit money bills 90 actual needs
and do away with "pOrk" and log
rolling"
The chief executives OF the various
states call attention TO the fact That the
United States is the only great govern
ment Of the world without budget
system. They further point out that
fOrly-One States OF the Union have
adopted the bulge, as a wOrk-plan Of
government or have taken action 90
brings about such a reform
One Governor declares that the
United States has been rich enough 10
Withstand repeated assaults upon her
financial bulwarks, but that she is not
rich enough 10 provide for an impregna-
BILE barrier against those who would
squander her resources in useless en-
terprises. The belief is voiced by all
that a budget system will provide the
country with a sound business like and
efficiency administration OF its financial
affairs.
Following are excerpts from the Gov
crnors' Statements
Governor Thomas Z. Campbell, Ari-
zona:
The campaign launched 10y the Ma
iional Budget Committee meets with
my appreciation. J am sure that 70 will
eventually be fruitful of-resulis.'
oliver II. Sh0up, Colorado:
II have every reason 90 believe IN the
Budget as a great economy medium"
ID. W Davis. Idaho.
The necessity for a Federal Budget
system seems 90 be 10 loom up very
plainly. With all our b0asted CONNER
cisl and business supremacy we are
falling as a nation in many fundamentals
n is time for Congress 10 put its stamp
of approval on e system so unarguaDiy
satisfactory as the Budget"
Frank q. LOwden. Illinois:
The hundred and twenty-five boards.
commissions and other governmental
agencies all independent OF one anQther
sprung mp I'm Illinois. Necessarily. there I
was overlapping of functions exercised
by different boards. commissions and