The Washington herald., 1921-04-27
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Provides New Method for
Government Ac-
counting.
CHECKED RECEIPTS
MUST MEET OUTGO
House Sure to Pass and
President to Sign
New Act.


budget bill. which President Wilson
vetoed last year. was passed by the
Senate yesterday. 60.
It provides for the establishment
Of 4 budget bureau in the Treasury
Department and an independent au-
dit OF the government accounts,
with view to abolishing much
needless red tape and increasing ef-
fciency.
In charge of the bureau will be n
director appointed by the President,
whose salary shall be $4,000 a year.
and an assistant director at $500.
Few Amendments Inserted.
The only change inserted into the
bill was that reducing the salary
of the assistant director from $4,000
a year to $500, which action was
taken on motion of Senator Pat.
Harrison. Of Mississippi. Senator
Harrison called attention to the
fact that the salary provided in the
original bill was $500 for this
position and he saw no reason for
its increase. Senator Mccormick
accepted that amendment. but OBJ
jected by another offered by the Mis-
issippi Senator, reducing the addi-
tional force in the directors office
from four TO three at salaries or
5000 intsead of $4,000. Senator
Harrison charged that the Repub-
licans proposed to make these in
creases to take care of nsdy pat
ronage seekers. while Senator Nc
Cormick declared that the changes
were made because the Committee
on Expenditures. which considered
the bill. deemed the larger salaries
and force proper. The amendment
of Senator Harrison lost
Some Minority Opposition.
Senator Robinson. of Arkansas,
asked II the bill contained the
clause for which President Wilson
vetoed il. This was the curtaif-
ment of the Presidents power to
make appointments in the govern
ment departments, and he was in
formed by Senator Mccormick that
the Senate and House committees
had removed this objection when
efforts were made last session to
pass the bill over the veto and that
the bill remained as then prepared
He said the dispute over whether
the bureau should be made respon-
sfble to the President or should be
made an adjunct of the Treasury
Department was settled after a con-
ference with President Harding.
who had declared in favor of the
Senate's idea OF making 1t a Treas
ury Department bureau. as against
the House idea of making the bu
reau responsible to the President.
Senator King. Of Utah. asked If
there was any limitation to the
number Of employees of the direc-
tor Of the bureau and he was in
formed by Senator Smoot that the
only Limitation was the appropria
ton, which was hxed at s225.0oo.
The junior Senator from Utah as
sailed the apparent laxities of the
measure and declared II his belief
that the budget law would be a
failure and a disappointment to the
people of the country.
President VIII Sign Bill.
II the budget bill passes the II ouse
IT will be signed by President Hard
ing. whose approval has been given
in advance. II provides that the
President shall transmit to Con-
gress on the first day of each regular
session a budget. which shall set
forth in summary and detail .sti-
mates of expenditures and appro-
priations necessary in his judgment
for the support of the government
for the following fiscal year; esti-
mates of the receipts of the govern
ment for that fiscal year; expendi-
lures and receipts during the pre-
vious fiscal year; estimates and re-
ceipts of he current fiscal year; the
amounts of annual. permanent or
other appropriations including bal
snces, available for expenditures,
and the balanced statements of the
Treasury: also all essential facts
regarding Indebtedness as we'll as
such other financial statements or
data as may be deemed desirable
Estimates for the ensuing fiscal
year for the legislative branch Of
the government and United States
Supreme Court are to be transmit
ted to him on or before October is
of each year and are to be included
in the budget without his revision.
Detail. of New Bill.
Estimates for lump-sum appropri-
ations contained in the budget must
be accompanied by statements show
ing in such detail and form as may
be necessary to inform Congress, the
manner of expenditure of such ap-
propriations.
In addition to the budget, the
President shall transmit to Con-
Eress on the first Monday in De-
eember. 1891, for the service of the
fiscal year ending June so. 1s33, only.
an alternative budget. which shall
be prepared in such form and
amounts and acJbrding to such sys-
TEN of classification and itimiza-
tion as is most appropriate. to show
where the various items are con-
tanned in the alternative budget.
The budget bureau shall prepare
the budget, the alternative budget
and any deficiency or estimates,
with authority to assemble, CORE
late, revise. reduce or Increase the
estimates of the several depart
nents or establishments. No en-
ploye appointed by the director
shall receive more than $4,000
year and not more than four shall
receive $1,000. AL employees at
rate of $4,000 or more shall be an
pointed in accordance with the civil
service laws. The bureau from
time to time shall make a detailed
study Of the apartments