The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-18
Both Sides Favor Placing Re-
sponsibility in Face Of -Four
Billion Appropriations.
TO AMORTIZE WAR DEBTS
Representative Good Urges
Congress to Put Nation on
Real Business Basis.
spscial pespateA 70 Tn. sus.

cApohuitures Ior Otnef purpoSos tioe
will be necessary during the coming
years. Representative James w. Good
tIowa). chairman Of the Special House
Budget Committee. declared before the
House to-day in opening the debate on
the bill providing for q budget Of Gov
eminent finance
Government departments win ask
more than $4,000. Ooo. 900 as their appro-
these probably cannot be cut to less
than $4,000. 900. 900. or four times the
average Government expenditure prior
TO 1914. Mr.. Good said. Such annual
appropriations must continue for sew
erai years. he believes. with the proba-
bility that the Government never will
get back to the peace time financial
basis of pre-war days. These large
Appropriations, Mr.. Good then pointed
out. will require heavy taxation. and the
country Is in no position to have large
additional amounts collected to retire
The war debt In short time.
y "Unquestionably the necessities of the
situation" he said. will require the
d
n period of at least fifty years. The
situation must compel US to give up the
doing of many things which forward
looking men. under more favorable con-
ditions, would like to do.
E To keep Government expenditures
town to $4,000. 100000 during the COM
lug years will require a business ad-
ADMINISTRATION of a high order on the part
Of the Executive and the strongest pos
al Die determination on the part of Con-
sress to economize in appropriations.
This the special budget committee unani-
mously believes can be more effectively
done under a budget system"
4 Both Parties Favor the Bill.
Leaders of both parties Endorsed the
budget bill to-day. but 1t must combat
an undercurrent Of opposition before It's
passage. Besides Mr.. Good, Representa-
tive Kitchin IN. CO. and Representative
Byrnes (Tenn.) Democratic learers.
urged its passage to-day. The budget
programme Is contained In one bill and
one resolution. The bill provides Tor the
bureau OF the budget under the Presi-
dent which shall submit to Congress all
requests for appropriations in the form
of budget It also authorizes a bureau
to make independent audits of Govern
ment expenditures, with the chief Of the
bureau to hold office for life. Partisan
objection TO this latter provision has
arisen due to the belief that President
Wilson would appoint Democrat who.
should the Republicans return to power
later, might be in a position to criticise
their expenditures to political advantage.
Mr.. Good, however. In his address
predicted that the bill was certain to
pDass
That this Congress" he said. will
isenact legislation providing for a ma
,tionaI budget Ii certain. So many forces
are working for It. Both political par
ties have declared for II. Business in
terests of the country are demanding 1t.
rhe taxpayers are looking for II as the
only agency that will bring about a rea-
sonable reduction in expenditures, to
The end that at an early day burden
some taxes which tend to cripple pro-
duction and prevent an extension OF
our foreign trade may be reduced. This
eduction can only come by reduction
in the estimated expenditures Of the
Government; and this reduction can
only be effected by the practice of the
strictest economy In every branch OF
the Government service.
Business Principles Essential.
q This reduction. in turn. can only be
elected by the adoption on the part OF
the Government Of sound business prin-
ciples which practical business men In
every branch of industry have found
essential In the successful conduct Of
their business affairs. That our pres
zent methods of making estimates for
the expenses of the Government, and Of
making appropriations to meet these de-
mands. are unscientifc, unbustnesslike.
/. wasteful and extravagant no well In
formed person will deny.
But no system alone, however per-
feet In outline or complete in It's de-
tails, will bring about the needed re-
form. It will require the exercise Of
the best Judgment and the practice OF
the strictest economy by administrator
and legislator alike. In the administers
ton of the most scientific plan that
human ingenuity and skill can devise.
to bring about the desired result.
ITO accomplish this II will require on
the part of the executive departments an
!, entire change of administration policies.
The property acquired by the Govern
!. ment during the war and not needed by
be sold to the best advantage OF the
!, Treasury of the United States heads OF
departments must demand greater eff
ficiency from their empl 'yees, eliminate
Implications and bring in estimates for
as small sums as possible. Congress on
It's part must be willing to forego for the
time being the enactment OF laws pro-
viding for new underta sings that will
I require large expenditures OF money, no
matter how desirable the objects may be
Z. mig Change I'm Fiscal Affairs.
'sThe war has wrought a tremendous
change In the Governments fiscal af-
fairs Formerly our revenues flowed
into the Treasury from sources that af-
/ fccted but slightly the ordinary citizen
That revenue came through n system OF
indirect taxation that the ordinary tax
payer aid not feel and that did not af-
feet industry except to stimulate its pro-
auction. Our revenue then came from
tariff duties. taxes on tobacco. intoxicat-
ing liquors and sources Of that kind.
4 This revenue was coming into the Treas
ury more rapidly than It could be ex-
pended, and Congress gave but little at
tention to the consideration Of measures
calling for new governmental activities
that called for large expenditures
~ The bill fixes the responsibility for
the budget on the President of the
United States Broadly speaking, the
change. therefore. is from a system
where no person Is responsible for the
\ estimates OF expenditure. to one where
absolute responsibility is nxed on an
elective officer of tho United States. II
duplicat ton. waste. extravaganca and in
efficiency shall exist In the service In
this future. tho President will be respon-
uibls for Them II he includes in his bud
ret an estimate for their continuation,
'-The functions that are now per-
FORMED by the members OF the Presi-