Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-06-21
BUDGET SYSTEM
WILL Be USED
Next Session of Congress to
Adopt Its Usage Despite
President Wilson's Veto.
By w. S. MANN.
Copyrieht. 1920. by The Washing

congress-, even though the DhuSSN
bill was vetoed by President Wilson
and though the senate failed to re-
pass the bill in the amended form
that the House adopted to meet the
objections of the chief executive.
The budget plan that failed placed
the responsibility for an economic
co-ordinated budget upon the presi-
dent, but this was only the first step
in budgetary legislation as devised
by the special select committee after
the voluntary testimony of thirty
seven of the most prominent finan-
ciers, economists, executive, account
ants, engineers and politicians in the
country. The second step was taken
independently by both branches OF
congress in charging their W COM
mittee organization.
The executive budget that failed
would have been unavoidable with
out the change of procedure in each
house by creating n central com
mittee on appropriations in each
body to which all executive esti-
mates must go and from which all
bills appropriating public money
must be reported. The action OF
the House and senate in instituting
the reform / nits own method of pro-
cedure, which is not dependent In
any way upon executive approval has
established the most essential fea-
of the budget. This single, en-
larged committee "a put through
an economic budget no matter in
what form the estimates for exc
.cutive department expenditures may
come to congress.
AS a matter of fact the secretary,
of the treasury is supposed nov to
do just what the bill that failed OF
repassage provided that a director
general of the budget should do. The
secretary of the treasury. however,
has fallen into the habit of sending
along the estimates just as they +
sent TO him by various bureaus, COM
missions and departments. The
committees of congress have had to
lop off from these estimates, but
with all the appropriating power
in one committee better c~o-ordina-
ton in effecting economy can be
had.
As a matter of fact 1t is generally
believed by members of congress
that President Wilson made a mis-
take in vetoing the budget bill.
Democratic members of the appro-
priations committee say that he
would have accomplished his pur-
pose just as we'll by pointing
out to congress his objections and
an amendment could later have been
passed to obviate any possible in
fringement of the constitution. They
say that now the country will have
hard work. to believe that he really is
in favor of a national budget.
Leading Democrats also point out
that the President lost an oppor-
to cinch a good $4,000 job
director general of the budget for
some deserving Democrat, who
could not afterwards be removed
by Mr.. Wilson's successor.
Chairman Good of the House APP
preparations committee and Chair
mar Warren of the senate commit
tee, before they left Washington for
the Chicago convention, held confer
ences with leaders in their respec-
tive bodies looking to the selection
+ the best men to fill out the single
on appropriations. In the
House, for example, there are now
light committees reporting supply
measures and these often overlap
and duplicate in part in recon-
mending appropriations. The pres
ent appropriations committee has
twenty-one members. The new ap-
preparations committee is to have
thirty-five members. 1t is proposed
and will probably be brought about
that the Republican chairman and
the ranking Democrat on each of
the committees shorn of approprat-
ing authority should fill out the new
There is another suggestion for an
entirely new deal, and to pick the
most efficient men in each body for
this committee and to get rid of
any dead wood now while the mem
bers are willing to make self-sac-
The finest possible DISPOSE
ton has been shown. The twenty
one members on each of seven COM
to be shorn of authority
a total of TAT personally interested
could have defeated the pro-
posed change of rules made no at
tempt to do so. Similarly, h pres
ent members of the appropriations
committee have voluntarily offered
0 retire if the committee on commit
in reorganizing the new session
feels n a better men can be found
for the new committee of thirty
five.
So with the incoming of the new
all of the estimates will be
to this enlarged committee and
seven other committees that
nave been re- orDnS supply bills will
devote themselves strictly to legis-
lative recommendations FOR the a
navy, agricultural departments. etc.
This will be another distinct ad-
vantage, for Heretofore new legis-
lation and appropriations have been
recommended by these committees
In such a tangled skein of legisla-
tion that it was impossible for any
member to straighten it out. This
was particularly true with respect
70 the army, navy and agriculture.
the new scheme these COM
Will work the same way as
committee on public buildings
and grounds, which authorization
to be passed upon by the an
committee before a sin
gle dollar becomes available.
Thus a business Office plan will
be put into effect rather than tho
.amily plan of many fingers dipping
n to the same purse. There will be
committee authorized to Sign
ne checks rather than having a
aeck-book passed around for seven
= eight committees to draw checks.
me reform in the rules of both
aouses of congress is re~actionary
ather than revolutionary for it goes
'ack TO the old course of proce-
.ure. Uncle Joe" Cannon. one of
leaders In drafting the budget
wno has a me-: r q; "a