Arizona republican., 1920-05-20
A National sudaet System

and rather apathetic at first that the government adopt business system in the management of it's fiscal affairs there has been prepared congress, with prospect of it's early enactment. bill the creation budget system. This demand be- more acute insstent by reason of the waste recently witnessed in consequence of the the lack of responsibility with which the various departments and bureaus could dip the treasury and funds any purpose. their disposition afterward becoming subject dispute. could only be known that money had been in the treasury but that it gone With different kinds accounting systems in vogue in ths various departments books disclose noth- ing Illuminating.
 draft a budget system was first proposed in house resolution for the establishment a budget department in the office president. Senator Mccormick took charge of it in the and evolved. known as the Mccormick budget bin which favorably reported than a month ago. differs from the house measure many particulars the important being that it is proposed establish the budget partment treasury department rather than in office the president. The reasons given for that change that the president already an overburdened official that the treasury depart ment is the natural information and data which budget must be inteigent1y prepared.
 It is impossible an article of moderate length to describe in detail the proposed machinery But there is to be budget commissioner and two assist cOn1InlSS1onerS, appointed There to be accounting investigating depart is to be a uniform system of account ing similar, in the of coordination to the federal accounting system devised by Alexander Hamilton
 Not later than November 1 of each year, the heads of the various government Experiments are required to submit their estimates the reasons tltrefor to the budget commissioner. There must be submitted the expenditures Of each department for the previous year basis. Additional needs for the ensuing year. extraordinary needs must be ac- companied by detailed explanation. Likewise defi- eency estimates to unforeseen contingencies must be elaborately explained.
 The commissioner may not only reduce the esti- mate or eliminate any item of but he may pre- scribe changes which in his opinion should be made in the existing organization. activities and methods of business" in departments or establishments He may order @an assignment particular activities to particular "regrouping of services departmentally with view securing greater eff cieney and in the of public affairs" Though of course, the commissioner cannot inruence the policies of the departments can dictate the methods by which those policies be carried out
 The budget having been completed it is sut- mitted to the secretary of the treasury approval or revision and lastly to the To either of these the heads of the departments may submit in- formation regarding the needs and organization of their departments changes as may appear 10 him to be advisable be ordered by che pres ident who will transmit the budget in its finished shape to congress on December 10 of each year.
 Beside estimates of the needs establishments the budget, when it goes president must con tain statements treasury resources and obliga tons essential facts regarding the bonded and other indebtedness of the government all facts regarding previous appropriations department and the amounts, if any, yet available depart ments. the expenditures the government during the last fiscal year the revenues of the govern ment for that year.
 The heads of the department we sec have two appeals from the conclusions of the budget deparr to the secretary of the treasury and the other to the president. the bill proposes 10 divorce the departments from congress and prevent the exercise of departmental influence to secure large and unneeded appropriations to be spent with rec- Iessness and abandon There will be no more calling of heads of departments before ways and means com mmittees finance committees. What they may need will be fully the budget as it comes last from the hands president
 The budget department will have an interest in the promotion of efficiency and economy and that interest will reflected in budget The secre- tary treasury president will also natur- ally have similar interest, and congress, unhounded by departmental heads will interest with the result saving huge sums which have heretofore been reekessly squandered the waste of which has been accomplished by agencies upon which under unbusinesslike system, responsibility could be only vaguely fixed. We could only charge it up general way government" and it be- :. came a matter of partisan dispute.
 TO Senator Mccormick must be chiefly due the working the proposed system the installa- ton of business methods in the transaction of the biggest business earth.
 We suppose that at the same time that Mark .tt,~,.