New-York tribune., 1919-07-31
Charter Committee
To Urge Adoption
OF Budget System
Organization for Thrift
and Efficiency in National
Finance Incorporated in
District of Columbia

NAoHlNNlON, u. e., July oU.--
With q board of directors that includes
Benz jamin Strong, governor of the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York:
Henry L. Stimson, former Secretary of
War; Paul NJ. Warburg, former vice
chairman of the Federal Reserve
Board, and John T. Pratt, of New
York, the National Budget Committee
was incorporated to-day under the
laws of the District of Columbia.
The articles Of incorporation SCI
forth that the objects of the commit
tee are:
To promote independent, non-par-
tlsan and constructive inquiry con-
corning the revenues and expendi-
lures of the government.
To advocate the adoption Of a ma
tional budget system whereby ma
tlonal expenses are systematical' Y
estimated and balanced and revenue
planned accordingly.
10 make it the duty of the Presl-
dent to submit and to assume re
sponslbility for budget.
10 develop budget procedure and
other steps for more responsible
govern ment.
The lncorporators who acted for the
committee are Henry B. F. MacFarland.
former chairman OF the District com
mlssloners for the City of Washing
ton; DR.. Samuel McCune Lindsay. pro-
lessor of social legislation, Columbia
University, and Charles F. Nesbit. for
merly insurance commissioner for the
District of Columbia.
To Enlarge Membership
Membership of the committee will
be enlarged to 100 persons, chosen to
represent financial, industrial, agricult-
ural. commercial, educational, scientific
and philanthropic interests throughout
the country. Associate membership
Will include patriotic citizens who wish
TO see the government financed and
administered along the economic lines
that budget system will provide.
An advisory council composed of
leaders from state and national organi-
zatlons Will be named to act in an ad-
Vlsory capacity to the committee.
In commenting upon the plans of
the committee Mr.. Pratt, the chairman.
said that the organization wishes to
enroll every citizen who thinks enough
OF ms country to own Liberty bond. .
'Ihere is no limitation of creed or
politics placed upon membership re
qulremerts," he said "The commit.
tee is entirely supported by public con.
tributions, and will be successful onI.
IN SO far as public spirited men and
women support it with their time ane
energy
."Without indorsing specifically an,
OF lhe numerous budget bills now be
ing considered by Congress, we hop,
that the Senate and House will arrcs
upon comprehensive measure tha
will insure efficiency and thrift II
matters of national finance.
The first and most important ste,
by Congress- will be to provide for {
bureau of the budget which shall az
sumo responsibility for making the es
Inmates of national expense that ar,
now made independently by each o
the ten major departments of govern
ment."
Action of the Senate Rules Commit
tee IN referring to bipartisan com
mittee of ten the task Of drawing u;
comprehensive budget bill to be sub
mltted to the Senate not later thar
December / is Indicative that the up
per house is planning Immediate ac
tion upon the matter of budgetary re
! form
Mccormick Probable Chairman
While the personnel of this commit
Tee mas not Deen MADE pubic, IT /
understood that Senator Medill Nc
Cormick, of Illinois, responsible 70
two Senate budget bills introduces
earlier in the current session, will b.
chairman.
resolution providing for a simila
| bipartisan committee of twelve ha
also been introduced in the House O
Representatives. The personnel Of thi
committee is also still in doubt. TIL
chances are that it viii be headed b,
Representative James w: Good o
Iowa. Mr.. Good is sponsor for one O
the two House budget bills. The sec
ond bill WAS offered by Representative
| Frear.
Men familiar with legislative affair
see in the appointment of these tw
committees the first real attempt b
Congress to formulate definite bulge
plans according to the promises mad
by both political parties during tn
last Presidential campaign.
They believe that all resolutions
bills and matters of budget impor
tance will be considered by one .
these two committees which are cx
pected to decide upon a definite syster
for national expense estimates tha
will be agreeable to both Administers
ton and anti-Administration leaders.