Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-03-02

to day it has been evident from the
time the treaty was reported to the
senate that in the end it would be
ratified with reservations. This con-
clusion was reached by tie most de-
pendable of the observers because, as
they viewed the situation, there was
no other course open to the senate.
They could not see how in the face of
public sentiment congress could make
a separate peace with Germany
through the adoption of joint reso-
luton, and they knew that even if
congress passed such q resolution
President Wilson would veto it and
that there would net be the necessary
two-thirds votes in congress to pass it
Notwithstanding the veto. So it was
Inevitable, as these observers saw ii,
that the treaty would have to be rat
flied sooner or later unless the United
States desired to continue in a state
OF war with Germany indefinitely.
Budget System May be Delayed.
The situation that exists with
respect TO government expendi-
lures emphasizes the importance
of adopting budget system without
further delay. This is a statement to
which practically all the members of
congress will subscribe, and yet opin-
ions with respect to the particular
kind Of budget system that should be
adopted are so at variance that is is
not at all certain that such a system
will be worked out during this session
of congress. With the people demand
ing a reduction in taxation, congress
is overwhelmed with demands for
money. The legislators are hard press
ed to know what TO do about many of
the calls for money because with a few
exceptions they are all deserving. Take
for instance the demand for another
appropriation of SJ0,000,000 TO $780,
100000 for additional relief in Eu-
rope. The prevailing feeling in con-
gress is that with taxation pressing
so hard on the American people, no
more appropriations of this sort
should be made, and yet here is a
charity call that government with
a heart can hardly ignore.
Since the estimates were submitted
last December unexpected demands
have come in from many directions.
Most of them are the result of pro-
posed legislation, legislation that in
the estimation of the leaders in con-
gress seems to be necessary. For in
stance, there is the Americanization
bill which calls for something over
S60O0,OO0 annually; and there is the
bill, very generally favored in con-
greSs and out of ii, TO create a sep
arate aviation department or depart
ment of the air, which under the low
est estimates submitted would cost
many millions of dollars annually. and
then there is the question of making
provision for universal military train
ing.
All Agree Budget Is Desirable.
Much of the confusion that exists
with respect TO appropriations is, of
course, due TO the lack of a budget
system. No one pretends TO say that
under a budget system congress could
he advised at the beginning of the
session as to the exact amount it would
be called on to appropriate during the
session, but it could and would, under
well developed budget system, gain
fairly accurate information as to the
financial demands that would be made
on it. Under the haphazard system
that has always prevailed everybody
and anybody in authority in the gov
eminent is free to make demands. and
it frequently occurs that the depart
ment or bureau or activity that can
set up the most plausible arguments
gets the most money.
If budget system did nothing more
than eliminate duplication Of effort and
therefore duplication in appropria-
tons, it would supply long felt want.
At present there is no one authorized
to say, or who does say, that duplica-
tiCn exists, and so money by the mil
lions-and this is no eXaggeration-.
is appropriated for work that is du-
plicated. Just now the appropriation
committees are trying to get at some
of the Implications.
In the meantime the ways and
means committee which handles the
question of taxation is eagerly watch
ing for an opportunity to lop off some
of the federal taxes; but as yet it has
not been able to see its way clear to
make a single reduction anu it is now
reasonably certain that it will not pro-
pose any reductions in the immediate
future.