Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-07-05
budget Again Demanded

INCORPORATED in the Democratic Mat
form Is another demand for q national
budget. Coupled with the demand is
vigorous defense OF President Wilson for
ms veto of the hybrid budget bill enacted
at the last session of Congress- In both
respects the platform resolution is right.
Demand Tor national budget is not Ecw
To the Democratic party. For many years
II has bccn committed to it in principle
ana the San francisco declaratio is merely
d rclteratlon. But ii could not accept a
measure such rs the Republican Congress
enacted, measure which would have in
lrihged upon the constitutional preroga-
yves OF Inc PRESIDENT. There is reason 20
believe that the Congress knew the hill
would be vetoed and therefore. felt safe in
passing It, That party, too, is publicly COM
united 10 budget system but privately.
many of its members oppose it, fearful lcsi
II eliminate the political log-roling which
lhey lind so useful In frankncss be il said
that this public approval and private CON
domination is not confined to the Repub-
LEANS.
ms proposed reform has wendell long
ana iortuous course, and the one hope of
us ultimate success seems to lie with tho
Democrats. All parties, all candidates all
OUTSIDE interests apparently have favored
IL ior years and still it has not been CON
summated. 1t is talked about preached
| about, platformcd about and resolutcd
about, but always fails TO come to a cor
crete head. except in its objectio nablc for,,
~ the last Congress. Usually it gets no
i"'ther IMAM me pens OF the platform
writer's and the lips of the candidates
During the last ten years the budget has
| been iarped upon day in and day out by
legislators, aspirants for Office, editors econ
oihlSts and sundry other folk Congress
| after Congress comes and goes, debates it
Tor long, weary hours, agrees that il is
aIl-ihportant and should be adopted with
out delay Bills are introduced. commit
tees sit soemnly laborcd reports are made
ana powerful arguments are submitted but
that is all. -Four Presidents. Mckinley.
Roosevelt. Taft and Wilson have urged il
with force and unanswcrable argument Int
! they could not achieve the desired result
tstenslbiy, Wilson came nearer the desired
| chd than any of the others. but he failed
f, because enemies of the measure loaded il
/ down with provisions intended TO defeat il
1 reasons for this budget obstruction are
not far 10 seek. The individual members
/ al the House and Senate are against il .
! they do not say so publicly for that would
I hc dangerous. but privately they opposn il
! Ihey do not wish to surrender the power
/ tAey nave or hope 10 have as appropria, ions
I committeeman. They do not like To turn
I over 10 somebody else the influence which
| goes with the privilege Of passing upon the
! expenditure OF hundreds of millions of dol
i i"rs- Ihey prefer their little personal power
| 10 the Interests OF the nation. and so tho
waste and extravaganza 20 on intcrminabIy
! ~ some future date Congress will be forced
by a resoutc public opinion TO establish n
edeFal budget Hope is seen in the clean
cut democratic plank, hut even that. con
cedcd Democratic victory, Will have 10
he hacked up by tremendous pressure
eHcrted upon Congress
If there be any mcarier swndlcrs Imam
nose III The War RISK Bureau, accused Of
ueifanoahg returned service men out OF
their Just compensation. the crimi,,,
lcCnrls In