Evening journal., 1920-12-02


to bear upon the legislature. The
result was competition in eXpendi-
lures rather than in economy. Like
the proverbial SNOWFALL the demands
Of these commissions grew. The
more power they had the more
power they wanted; the more money
they spent, the more money they
wanted to spend.
"There was no one to analyze /
their claims. SO long as they /.
violated no criminal statutes regard !
ing the handling of money they were
immune from investigation or ac-
counting. Each commission had its
own method Of bookkeeping, pur-
chased its own supplies, employed
its own help, fixed its own standard
of wages, made an accounting to no
one. Beyond doubt, these commits
sions performed commendable SER
vice in the majority Of cases, but
plain truth compels the statement
that the cost Of performance was
far too high for the service
rendered.
"As a consequence Of this we have
passed through a period Of years in
which the outstanding feature Of
State government has been its
rapidly mounting expenses. Final
w.. these multiplied and unco-Ordi-
mated demands for money began TO
push State expenditures to a point
where they regularly exceeded the
revenues, and push taxes to point
where they became heavy, II not op-
pressive. Public opinion again be-
gan TO be asserted. Reform in our
methods of handling public finances
began to be demanded. The res
ponse 10 this demand was the bud
81 am now back 70 my text. The
/ budget system has not measured up
/ to expectations. How could il
under the circumstances? So long
as the multiplicity of spending
agencies exist, they must be finan-
ced. In our little State Of Della
ware at the last session of the
J General Assembly there were over
70 different departments, bureaus,
.nrds commissions, institutions
and administrative agencies which
asked for and received appropria-
tions. believe our neighboring
State of Maryland enjoys the exis-
tence Of some 105 Of such agencies
Under the law each has as gooC
standing as the others. So long al
the Legislature keeps the breath o
} legal life in them IL must provide
them sustenance. In the prepara.
ton Of any budget these agencie.
. must be given a place.
Furthermore, so long as these
agencies remain a law unto them
selves, accountable to no one, with
out any uniform accounting or cos
. systems, without any cooperation
, in serving the public, acting inde
C dependently Of each other in pur
chase Of supplies and standardi7a
! tion of service, jealous Of thei
/ prerogatives and able to bring publ
2 pressure to bear in support Of thei
claims for mOney,-there can be M
Y efficient budget system.
, "A budget means a systematiza
d tion Of finances. It means a correla
i ton and proportioning Of all re
z quests for money. Under condition
e which prevail in all but a few o
= our States,-a budget become
5. scarcely more than a collection, CON
- pilation and presentation Of all rC
h quests from the various agencie
Z. Due to the legal independence {
T. these agencies it is impossible 10 6
= back Of their requests, impossib
S for the budget making authority
/. compel these agencies TO submit COZ
:. sheets, inventories and other il
d formation needful for an intelligel
= consideration of the merits Of the
l. requests. If their requests are r.
l. duced by the budget making autho
j. ity the reduction must be more
less arbitrary, and that gives G,
N cuse for reprisals and opposition
3 the whole budget program.
.e "Of course there is nothing
l. prevent these agencies from volu
# tarily cooperating with the budg
~ making authority, everyone sacI
Il ficing something and working +
r gether for the common good, but
s. important a function as the pr
e. paration Of a budget should not
IF dependent upon voluntary cooper
n ton. It should not be subject TO d
K danger of being placed in jeopar'
se by some agency or number Of age
r cies deciding not to cooperate. u
Ill IIlE UMNAilNUn vi AnAlAAAAAk AAAA AAAN
k Of commonwealth is looked up
ed as one big job to be done under O.
We central authority with as little Ia
a motion, waste of money and duplic
OF tion Of effort as possible, we are n
We going TO have efficient administr
OF tion. State planning is essent
" to efficient State government.
81 administration can readily he ef
IS cient unless and until It lays out
In definite program of economy, 81
b. vice and betterment and works
te its accomplishment. The efficiC
as and successful cooperation today
he that one which plans years abe
in and fOrmulates a financial pol
NO that will take care of its plans Wi
I'M out needless outlay on the one ha
To or financial embarrassment up
ev the other. The efficient busin'
M man or farmer today is the one "
air looks ahead two, three, five yei
re- and arrangos his finances to car
he out his plans. Even the effici
m- factory hand today is he who pl'
ri ahead. starts TO buy himself a no
he and outlines a budget whereby
he can pay for the home, educate
ra- children and provide something
les himself in his old age. Why sho
a State be any less far sighted
nit what purpose do we have a COVE
in ment IL not 10 provide for
ase future Of its citizens?
he Municipal governments HI
ion realized this essential fact. We n
out have on every hand city plann
nts commissions which are think