The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-08-04
GREAT EDUCATORS
APPROVE Budget
United States is Only Large
Nation That Operates
Without One
epeclal pispatch. west vlrginlan.


NUW YORK CITY, Aug. with
action lust taken in the Senate and
similar action in the House likely
within few days authorizing special
report on budget bills now before both
Houses, representatives Of the lead
ing educational institutions In the
East today put themselves on record
as fayoring tho National Budget
Connnittee's plan to secure the adop-
ton Of . brdgetary system by Con-
gTeSs.
The educators took the standpoint
that a prescribed system OF estimates
Al this period when industry is re-
covering from the effects Of the War
and when the need OF creating new
sinking funds and paying off wal
debts is pressing.
They also pointed out that Ameri-
Tea Is the only civilized country in
the world whose finances are uoa
administered under budget system;
that the need for national thrift is
Just as important now as 1t was dur
ins the war and that administrative
extravaganza must be eliminated ii
the nation hopes to continue as d
world leader
Among the men who expressed be.
lief that the finances of the United
States should be administered more
economically. were DR.. Elmer Els
worth Brown chancellor OF New York
university; DR.. Samuel McCuDe Lind
say, professor Of social legislation at
Columbia university; Prof. c. w.
Bacon. director in constitutional and
International law at the College of
tho City of New York; Prof. Joseph
French Johnson, dean of the school
OF commerce, accounts and finance of
N. Y q. and Prof. jeremiah Whirple
Jerks, research professor of govern
ment and public administration and
chairman OF the Board of Directors
OF the Alexander Hamilton Institute.
Or. Brown sad: we arc Just
emerging from a period OF strife
which has thrown the entire world
into confusion. The period Of recon-
strnction is at hand. and great sums
of money will have TO be expended in
order that the nation may again re-
sumo the normal activities Of indus.
trial life. Thrift Is Just as essential
now as Il was during the world con.
fict A national budget system would
provide for an economical administra-
ton Of government. | believe that
II estimates of expense submitted by
heads Of each of the ten major de-
partments of government were re.
viewed by permanent organization
OF experts, the country would save
large sums of money annually
DR.. Lindsay SAID: "a federal bud
get Is the only system under which
IA efficient administration of the fl
nancial affairs of our government can
be obtained. II is a guarantee against
the costly duplication of effort in all
departments. ! believe that a bud
get system should definitely fix upon
the President Of the Secretary OF the
Treasury, II he gives up other than.
fiscal functions In the Treasury, the
responsibility OF preparing and fur
nishing Congress with a complete
working plan of the administration.
This viii include estimates of revenue
as well as estimates OF expenditure.
II should fix upon Congress the re-
sponsfbtlity of creating a single COM
mittee to consider all financial mat
fers Il should place upon Congress
the responsibility of enforcing a sys-
tenn Of Independent audit and report
which will enable that body intelli-
gently to supervise the work of the
administration.
Prof. Bacon said: 1.-THE old adage
about laying something by for a rainy
day, applies to government just as
II applies to an Individual. The soov-
er we cut down national running OK
penses the sooner We may expect
taxes TO go down. I would welcome
the adoption OF national budget
system by Congress particularly as
thrift measure during the past war
Reconstruction period.">
Prof. Johnson said: "Citizens of the
United States will be paying off ac-
cumulated war debts for at least q
years. We must expect that taxes
VIII continue high for that length of
tine IT ID nacassary that Coprrne,