The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-03-11
SHALL FLORIDA
ADOPT THE
BUDGET SYSTEM
The Time Has Come When Every Dol
Lar Spent for the Needs of the State
Must be Made to Do More and
Better Work.
(By Marion l. Dawson)


parts of the state who have taken the
trouble to inform themselves regard
ing our fiscal methods, and who real
ize the necessity for making some
radical change in our present financial
system, have asked me to say some
thing for publication in favor of the
adoption of the budget procedure in
Florida.
The advantages of the budget sys-
tenn, however, over the unbusiness like
methods now in use in Florida and a
few other states, are so universally
conceded, that do not believe there
is a man or woman in the state who
is even specifically informed regard
ing the budget procedure who would
oppose its adoption by our next legis-
lature.
When | use the word budget in this
connection, do not mean that hoary
imposter, that fiend and associate of
inefficiency and extravaganza, that
partner of invisible, irresponsible and
too often dishonest government called
the Omnibus appropriation bill";
measure that is usually brought up
for consideration during the turmoil
of the last few days of the session,
when every member is worn out, and
| is rushed through with little debate
and practically no opposition.
Already Adopted by 80 States
In advocating the adoption of an
intelligent and scientific budget sys-
tenn for Florida's fiscal affairs, am
in accord with the governors of 80
other states that have been operating
satisfactorily under this system for
some years. The best informed fiscal
experts in the country approve it. The
u. S. Chamber of Commerce has re-
peatedly endorsed it. Former Justice
Hughes, former Presidents Taft and
Roosevelt advocated it and worked
for it. Every leading political party
has recently made it plank in their
platforms. England, France, Ger
many, Japan and Canada, in fact all
foreign governments that have made
the study of financial affairs an exact
science, have adopted it.
| That Florida, so progressive in so
many things, shoult be content to re-
main one of the few states who still
struggle along under the old loose,
extravagant, slipshod and unbusiness
Of
flor the states real and imaginary
needs, is a curious phase of our pub
lie life that it is difficult to under
stand or explain.
All thoughtful people agree that
there is no process of government so
important as that which provides rev.
enue for the state and they will agree
too, with equal unanimity that moth
ing is so likely to lead to extrava-
gance and inefficiency, if not dishon-
l. esty, as that process which operates
to take money from the pockets of the
! people without their consent and
which spends it without their knowl-
ledge, and we know that this is exactly
L what results from our present loose
and unbusiness like methods of rails
: ing revenues by legislative enactment
+ In considering the adoption of bud
e get reform, it is well for US to keeI
a clearly in mind what the term scien
l. tific budget means.
g gl"What is the Budget, and What is L
l. Designed to Do?
l. The answer is clear. "a budget i
a means through which the represen
tatives of the people can intelligent!
Exercise their right and power to con
troll the public purse-to decide wha
d work shall be undertaken by the gov
ernnent and how much shall be pai
flor it. The purpose of the publ
n purse is to provide funds for work t
e. be done. The purpose of the contrC
IS is to make certain that the officer
ne charged with doing the work shall i
s. fact carry out the will of the legisls
Mt ture A budget must. therefore, Il
d. develop information for the legisls
en- ture and the public; (2) authoriz
On work and provide funds for it, an
re (3) provide for the effective exercis
of control over the spending officers
The authority and the correspon'
ing duty should be imposed upc
some responsive head, preferably Il
Is governor, to prepare a scientific bu
N get which shall include every appr
IA priation the legislature will be call
tai upon to make for state expenses Al
this schedule should be so arrang