The Irish standard., 1920-05-29
BUDGET SYSTEM
IS NOW CREATED.
BUREAU IN THE OFFICE OF THE
PRESIDENT is TO PREPARE
ALL THE ESTIMATES.
DIRECTOR WILL GET $4,000
Accounting Department Independent Of
the Executive, Also Is Established
and Put Under the Direction Of q
Controller General.
BY JAMES P. HoRNADAY.

BY JAMES P. HoRNADAY.
Washington. - After some fifteen
years Of conversation about budget
system for the federal government,
such system has been provided. The
function of preparing annually budg-
ct Is to be lodged in bureau in the
office Of the president. There is to
be director of the budget, and an
assistant director, who shall be ap-
pointed by the president and receive
salaries Of $4,000 and $500 a year,
respectively. 1t will be the business
of the bureau of the budget to make
careful Investigation OF all provi-
sions Of law dealing In any way with
the preparation and transmission to
congress Of estimates. and the prepa-
ration and submission to congress Of
financial data Of any character, in Or
der to determine what changes should
be made In provisions Of law to the
end that all requirements In respect
to the reporting to congress of fnan-
cial data and estimates shall be
brought together in one place, co-ordi-
mated, revised. and brought into har-
mony with the budget which the presi-
dent Is required to submit to con-
gress. The results of the investiga-
tions made by the bureau of the budget
are to be embodied in report each
year to the president. who Is au-
thorized to transmit the report to con-
gress II he sees fit.
The president will, once a year, fix
date by which the heads of the sew.
eral executive departments and all
other officers shall submit to him es-
Inmates for the public service, and for
the permanent appropriations not 9TH
erwisc estimated for. and such estl-
mates of the public revenues and con-
dition of the treasury as the presi-
dent may direct.
President to Submit Budget.
The new legislation makes 1t the
duty Of the president to send to conf
gress on the first day Of each regu.I
lar session document to be known as
the budget. This budget is to con-
tain balanced statements o fthe rev.
enues and expenditures of the govern
ment for the preceding year and Of the
resources and liabilities of the treas
ury at the close of the year, his es-
timates Of the revenues and expendi-
lures Of government for the current
fiscal year and Of the resources and
liabilities Of the treasury at the close
Of the year, also his estimates Of
the revenue and expenditure needs Of
the government for the ensuing fiscal
year, and how, in his opinion, those
needs shall be met.
There is also created a department
to be known as the accounting depart.
ment, which is to be an establishment
of the government Independent Of the
executive department and under the
control and direction Of the controller
general of the United States. The Of.
dce Of the controller Of the treas.
ury and the assistant controller Of
the treasury are abolished to take ef.
feet July I. this year. All other Of.
acers and employees Of the ONCE Of
the controller Of tho treasury are to
become officers and employees Of the
accounting department at their pres
ent grades and salaries.
Controller General Created.
At the head Of the accounting de-.
partment there is to be created new
government officer who will be known
% controller general Of the United
states. and there will also be an as.
sistant controller general. The con-
troller general will receive a salary Of
$4,000. and his assistant a salary Of
$500. The legislation transfers To
the new accounting department all the
powers and duties which the controlleI
Of the treasury and the auditors foR
the various executive departments
now have. The legislation aut0mat
ically abolishes the auditors for the
departments. The incumbents OF the
offices are to be transferred at theis
present salaries to the accounting Do
partment.
Large powers are conferred on the
controller general by the budget act
It will be his duty to investigate q
the seat of government or elsewhere
all matters relating to the receipf1I
and disbursements Of public funds and
he must make to congress Ct the bel
ginning Of each regular session reI
port Of work of the accounting daIs
partment. He must make such in,I
vestigations and reports @ either