Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-18
FOR NATIONAL BUDGET
TO CUT EXPENDITURES
Republicans in Congress Keenly Alive to
Fact That Economy Must Be
Their WatchWord.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

|
- economy must be the first. last
X and middle name of the politi-
cal party which remains in
| power in the United States
during the coming decade. With ma
| tional debt, due to war expenditures,
that runs into many billions: with a
| tax burden on the people which at the
| lowest estimate must produce $4,000
0O0,O00 annually to pay interest on the
| national debt. provide sinking fund to
pay off the debt and pay the running
/ expenses of the government. the party
| which does not keep down expenses Is
due for the toboggan.
This being so, the republican party
which tomorrow will enter upon con-
| troll of both houses Of Congress and
the purse strings of the country, is
preparing to make record along the
| line of economy which will entitle II
to demand reelection at the polls in
1920-and to get it.
Propose a National Budget.
One of the first steps which repub-
Leans are planning is the establish
| ment of a more scientific way of ap-
propriating for the governments ex-
penses and of controlling the expend-
iture of the money after it is ap-
propriated. They plan the adoption
of a national budget system. 1t seems
reflection upon the financiers of the
United States to say at this late day
| that this country has no budget sys-
tenn. though it is perhaps a tribute
to the acument of those politicians who
seek only. to obtain the greatest
amount of federal money for their
particular districts.
Senator Kenyon of Iowa, a cham
pion of the national budget system
for years; Senator-elect Mccormick
of Illinois. and Representative Good
House committee on appropriations,
have all prepared bills and resolutions
dealing with the establishment of a
budget system for introduction in
Senate and House. Doubtless there
will be measures offered by other
members of Congress. Senator Penrose
of Pennsylvania has declared himself in
favor of a national budget
Since the demand for budget sys.
| tenn has become more and more in
sistent in recent months there has
I been a lot Of talk about a budget. But
the term has only hazy Significance
| for many when it is applied to thu
government. What is national bud
get system; why is it, and what will Il
accomplish?
What Constitutes Budget.
A national budget system is a sci
entifc plan by which a government
may estimate its annual expenditures
provide for the proper expenditure OF
the moneys and plan for raising tho
money which is required A govern
ment, just as a corporation or an in
dividual, should reckon it's income ant
obtain an accurate estimate of it's ex
lpendftures before making its appro
priations. That is exactly what the
government of the United States ha.
not been in the habit of doing.
|
get plan believe that they will be abb
to save the government, i.e., the PEG
pie of the United States. several hun
dred million dollars annually through
the adoption of this plan. they gain
ed so much strength in the last Con
gress that Senator Kenyon pu
through the Senate his resolution pro.
viding for the appointment of a join
commission of executive officers ant
members Of Congress to work out 8
budget plan and submit it to Congress
for action.
United States Stands Almost Alone.
In passing, it may be remarked that
forty-nine other nations-practically
the rest of the civilized world-have
adopted budget systems, while the
United States has continued to &c
ahead with its present hit-or-miss
style Of expanding money.
The budget plans proposed by Sena-
tors Kenyon, Mccormick and Repre-
sentative Good all look to scentraliz-
ing in the President the responsibility
for initiating the national budget, or
estimates of expenditures, which will
be submitted to Congress for action.
They also propose to take from the
executive department of the govern