Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-07
STRONG OPPOSITION IN LOWER
HOUSE OVERCOME BY IOWA
CONGRESSMAN.
BUSINESS METHODS IN
HANDLING FINANCES
Haphazard Way Of Conducting Gov
srnment Business Sent to Discard
-Entirely Now System of Hand
limo Government Appropriations
Considerable Opposition BY Mem
bSrs Of Committees Affected.
IBy e. @. Dougherty.1

IBy z. @. Dougherty.l
Washington. June IA two year
fight for better business methods by
the federal government was won the
past week by James w. Good. of the
Fifth Iowa district, chairman of the
important committee on appropri-
atoms of the house, when the budget
bill was signed by the president.
The creation Of United States
budget system, by which much of the
duplicated financial tasks OF the var
ious government departments are
eliminated, has been sought by Rep
resentative Good for the past two
years. After an exhaustive study of
the system OF appropriations by
other governments, together with his
great knowledge Of the cumbersom-
ness OF the American plan. Mr. Good
evolved the budget legislation which
Just passed the house. The bill creates
what Is known as a budget-a book
Of estimates to be presented to the
house by the president and the secre-
tary OF the treasury at the opening
OF each session of congress. This
book OF estimates includes the
amounts OF money required for the
operation Of the various departments
referred to one committee on ap-
preparations. and there discussed and
scrutinized to see that economy and
frugalfty was practiced by the ad-
ministration leaders in seeking con-
gressional funds.
At the time Mr.. Good received the
consent OF the house to accepting his
budget law. he also procured the
passage OF rule which changes the
house committee organization by
eliminating the committee on APP
preparations as now formed. and
creating a new committee on APP
propriations with thirty five mem
bere. The rule also deprives the var
icus other committees OF the house of
their appropriating functions. but
permits them to retain undisturbed
their legislative functions. That Is,
the house committee on agriculture,
while not permitted to frame legisla-
ton that Will improve the federal
agriculture department and agricul-
ture In general OF the nation. The ap-
preparations required for the opera
ton Of the department of agficul-
ture for the year and all other fnan-
cial requirements of the other fed
eral departments will be provided for
In the Good budget system--the
yearly book OF estimates.
The rule changing the appropria-
ton function Of the house commit
tees was bitterly opposed by men,
bers OF the seven house committees
who will be deprived OF their privi-
lege Of determining what financial as
sistance the congress- will give the
various departments. The rule passed.
however, by q vots of 200 to 116.
System Revoiutionixed.
The Good budget bill revolutioniz-
ca the system Of handling federal ap-
preparations. and great strides to-
ward economy and carefulness in
financial matters In the future is ex-
pected to result from 1t. The presi-
dent and the secretary OF the treas
ury are required under 1t to present
to the house the financial needs Of
the federal government, and they are
responsible for the accuracy Of
stating these needs. 1t will be the
means Of one large committee OF A.
nancial experts in the house carefully
scrutinizing the money requests Of
the federal government, instead Of
eight committees which heretofore
had authority to provide financial
means for the various agencies Of the
government carrying out their work.
Strong advocacy of the budgatery
legislation has been made by busi-
ness interests Of the nation who be-r
lieved that the federal government
was often guilty Of indiscriminate
spending.
Chairman Good and his fellow
members of the house appropriations
committee will resign their member
ship on this committee, and the
house comittee on preparations COM
mittee with the enlarged member
ship of thirty five representatives. OF
course Mr.. Good, win again be sell
ected as chairman of the body.
The passage Of the now legislation
was the source OF many congratula-
tions to Mr.. Good, even from those
who opposed the radical change in
the system Of appropriating funds,
who realized that the fight the Iowa
legislator had made was worthy of
success.