The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-06-21
STRONG
FOR BUDGET SYSTEM
FOR UNITED STATES

N >cUI<GTON. June 90.--ErNislon or
The present methods II ma inS ApPro-
prInl!nrs and a re-ClassIiica ti"h anu re-
distribution Of the work OF inc NHrlIuS
">Hrutsv" departments arc !cCori ,, "
by Assistant Secretary Roosevelt IN
letter to IL representative ireland ltt-
nuhInran Illinois. which was mace pun
iir today al The navy department..
Mr.. Roosevelt wrote in reply /" an IN
nuiry rrcm Mr.. ireland H. 10 whether
INV DETERMINATIONS. reforms. or conSol-
ldnIinns could b. mad" IN IN" nav! GI,
r.rtrenl The assistant secretary ala
nnt contnc himself 10 that department..
lie recommended ihsr congress-
Create a budget system. not the small
beginning already attempted.
"t>cnsolidAtc the appropriations IN
one GENERAL committee. with suo-corn-
mittecs to deal with separate PUBIC SUD-
jects. ,,io.
recommended by the reClassifcation
committees rcpor' together with the hu-
thorization Of adequate salaries TO GOV
eminent employees.
Invite A conference with the "Eccu-
tive branch Of tho government !ooklhG
10 q r"-classitiChtion and redistribution
Of tho work Of the department.
Give b. law great authority In the
heads Of tho executive DEPARTMENTS IN
CONDUCTING their executive business al
directly responsible for the successta'
administration Of their work.
Mr.. Roosevelt said that tho "entiIH
system Of relationship which exists be-
tween congress and tn" executive de-
nartmcnts Is fundamentally wrong.
Have No Discretion.
congress for various reasons. he
said. has tied the hands OF the ekecu-
tive offices Of the government that thcy
have no discretion in the fundamental
nucs,ions Of employment. do not be-
Iievc OF course that the civil service
system should be wiped out or that we
should return to III" 'spoils' system.
but there is altogether too much As
sumption in this government that eNeEu-
i've offices will use their authority 10:
nolitical purposes Ny own wonder Is
that, considering the existing circum-
stantAs the employees Of tho govern
ment arc as efficient as they are"
As 10 consultations Of any bureaus
90 as To increase efficiency. Mr.. RoosH-
, Welt said a lot of cork was heinG done
IN other departments which onEnt
prorcrlv be under the navy ana that q
great deal n work was h"inE don" ny
) the navy department which could prop
nrly b. transferred 20 other depart
mcnts.
Methods wasts1ul.
| "Artcr seven years down here in an
executive position" he continued. y
canaot help the conclusion that our
governmental methods arc cumbersome
ana waStcruI. am equally frank IN
telling YOU that thtnk the frst I'M
nrovcmcn, must como in what Is afrr
sIl the source Of governmental acuri-
lies, l. T.. the executive branch. | hop,
you Will not take II as criticism 81
any individual or this particular CON
Grcss when ! call attention Ia the very
unwiCldy. ,nadcduatC and llnbuSin"H,
! like methods under which tho house anil
senate ~ II" United States conduct
their business For instance tho navy
department has 10 Go before the nava'
affairs committee for its main appr"-
, prSation: i also has 10 go bcfor" III"
appropriatiOns committee for the mono"
! to run tho force in Washington and
| can ritc numerous instances whore tn.
department has fallen between the tw"
Ares Of tho two committees.