Norwich bulletin., 1920-06-21
REVISION OF METHODS IN
 MAKING APPROPRIATIONS

Washington, June 2O.-Reyision of tho present methods of making appropriatione e ana a reconsideration and redistr;hnt;on oI the work of the various executive de- p'l thiehls are recommended by Assistant secretary Roosevelt in a letter to Repre- sei.%tiVe ireland, republican, Illinois, Whlch was made public today at the navv department 'i0 navy Mir. Roosevelt wrote in replv to an in qulry from MT. Ireland as to whether anv concentrations, reforms or consolida tions v, Gould De made in the navy department
 ne assistant secretary did not confina llnlseH to that department He racorn- mended that congress:
 create a true budget system. not the small beginning already attempted.
 consolidate the appropriations in one general committee with subcommittee to | deal With separate subjects.
 Fut into law the general princinlas 9' ecoihilended by the reclassification com illttee report, together with the author lzatlon of adequate salaries to rovar,7- ment employees.
 Invite conference with the exec,,+ivo branch of the government lookine 4o ro' claSslhcatlon and redistribution of the Work of the departments
 GlVe by law greater authority to the heads or the executive departments in conducting their executive business a+ the same time holding these heads more olrectly responsible for the successful ad nlnlstration of their work"
 MT Roosevelt said that the "entire system or relationship which exists he tween congress and the executive depart- ments IS fundamentally wrong"
 Il, congress for various reasons" he said
 mas so tied the hands of the executive officers of the government that fbaI, ha'.e no dlscretlon in the fundamental ones tlons of employment I do not heIiaI,o or course, that the civil service svsto,,, shouid be wiped out or that we sbonId return to the spells system, but there is dltogether too much assumption in tbie government that executive officers will use thelr authority for political purposes wy own wonder is that, considerine tI,e existing circumstances, the empIoves of the government are as efficient as tbeI are" s'' 1iie9
 AS 10 consultations of any bureau CT as to increase efficiency, Mr.> Roosayc1t sald lot of work was being done ir
 other departments which ought nroner1,
 oe under the navy and that a great dea- 1 or work was being done by the navy dc.
 partment which could be transferred tc
 other departments N "0'eH years doWn here in ar 1 executive position" he continued CT o,r
 not help the conclusion that o1,r eo,,o-n
 mental methods are cumbersome anf
 "aste1ul l am equally frank in teIline
 you that l think the first improvement
 must come in what is after all chiet
 source of governmental activities, i e
 lne IeglslatlVe branch. I hope you vii not take 1t as a. criticism of anv indi Vidual or this particular congress when I
 call attention to the very unwieldv in,
 adequate and unbusinesslike methods m.
 ger which the house and senate of tbe
 ohlted States conduct their business Fo,
 instance, the navy department has to or
 oelore the naval affairs committee for if,
 tI man appropriation it also has to gc
 ne1ore the appropriations committee fo, the money to run the force in Wasb;ng
 ton' and l can cite numerous instance, Where the department has fallen betweer
 the two hres of the two committees"