The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-02-05
BUDGETS SAVE IF
PROPERLY WORKED

Washington, Feb 4.---Congression
leaders in the movement for budg-
etary reform are today attempting
to correct an erroneous impression
among a great many people OF. the
country that the adoption by con-
gress Of an executive budget system
will of itself effect a large reduction
In federal expenditures and a corr
responding reduction in taxation.s
This belief has arisen from several
widely published statements by in
fiuential and constructive citizens IN
which it was estimated in round
numbers the total saving that an ex-
ecutive budget system, Ii adopted.
will bring about Principal among
these statements was one by Roger
Babson, nationally known statistical
expert, who declared that the govern
ment would be operated at de-
creased cost of $4,000. 100000 a year.
under the proposed system OF admin
istering national fiscal affairs.
| Senator Medill Mccormick, chair-
man of the senate select COMMITTEES
on the budget ana author Of the SEM
! ate budget bill. Representative James
W. Good. chairman of the house So
lect committee on the budget and an
thor OF the budget bill passed hy the
house last October; and REPRESENTS
tive Frank w Mondell, majority
leader of the house. would quality tho
statements that have been mada teln,.
tive to what budget system will -
tually save. They welcome tho pro-
posed system as a medium thrppgh
which money may be saved, but De-
sire to caution the public that whether
or not the system will save money
! will depend upon how fiscal S3f9iKM
are conducted under It, n
| Commenting upon what budget
I Iowa fr>trr StrYt.t 49, s.I4
the nation. Senator Mccormick sid
to-day: when Chairman Of the Sem
ate Committee on Finance Nelson W.
lAldrich. of Rhode Island, remarked
that IL he were allowed to run the
| government as he would run great
business enterprise. ne could saw
$500. 00o.8 eco annually, which at thst9
time represented saving OF shout
30 per cent ~ 81. III
] I'm Illinois the rate of tncrease 81
the cost of government for the yeare
of 1900 to 1910, before the adoption
lot an executive budget system, wSa
400 per cent. Since the adoption of "
budget system in Illinois this cen
tinuing Increase in the cost uf tn
istaf" government has been stopped.
/ "But the situation in the national
government today Is different than n
was several wears ago, and it ID all.
ferent than the situation In th6ssk
governments. We have had H. met
war with all of its attendant conf3
'"The budget system. OF couraA. VIII
not save money. How much win 81
saved by the system win depend unoal
how we'll it is handled. If propeFi1
Iexecuted. the system will 0liminaA1
waste and thereby release fund.- Thnf
NAV be needed for useful PURGE
This i~ saving that may not shoW
AS such because expenditures may ro.
tmain the same" 4
Representative Goods vievs ~
similar to those Of Senator McC0k.
mick.
-"No budget system. hcwever 60 ~
feet" he asserted. will In itself any5II
but has NO actualities. The sayJu
and economies that can be etSeee
Through such system win deponG A3
tirely upon the sound business 311GS
ment OF the president who wtll
| cute IT.. HI sa asss#s asSs3
Majority Leader Of tho HOUSE
Idelf also does not look tn the &11gx4~
alone to bring about the nasd1lI N ~
g tfortsf Butss n ~ ft5uu "
that what will be saved - con41M
upon how the syStem h exeGne s
said that bow consrAe4 ActA ur01
4 budget axtll 20 Tar fnyKArM d141k
! Ing Its effectiveness - An
economtral medium Is ~ naillcl
national finances Il i I. Ss Sss " N
sNo budget syst IN ~ 6s4 IL
assures any reduction n.
ts aios anssA ~ sSs
lvised asthma It. ia nv tn "a
! fnprovfdehtlys fnA1A 4nd
bind lexislstiss 49,
4 Z NwYTes1 - ~ u II 1871; n