Norwich bulletin., 1921-06-09
McLEAN's PLAN TO
 END UNITED STATES WASTE
Especial to The Bulletinl

Especial to The Bulletin)
 Washington, June S.-After an inten- sive study of the present system of fixing federal appropriations, Senator George P. Mclean of Connecticut, chairman of the committee on currency and banking, in recent statement points out the weak spots in the present system. MT. Mclean believes cabinet oicers and others should join in congress debates, with View of. bringing government branches closer to-H geUaer. The statement follows:
 Tt is imperative that the legislative and executive branches of the government join forces in grappling with the over shadowing problem of cutting down eX- penses and enforcing real economy if gen uine and lasting results are to be ac- complishes.
 Congress and the departments of the government work at too long range al- together in reaching a conclusion as to tae size of the various appropriations nee essary for financing our current opera tions," Senator Mclean said. 'They must be brought closer together, and one way to bridge the gap, in my Judgment, is to approve legislation which I have proposed and which l believe ought to be acted uS speedily.
 That is to confer upon cabinet off
  mental bodies the right to the l1oor in botl branches of congress with the re- sponsibility and privilege of participating in debate.
 T have provided in the bill I introduc ed that this policy be followed with re- spect not only to every cabinet officer, but also to the governor of the federal reserve board. the chairman of the tariff commission. the federal trade eommis- sion, the shipping board, the bureau of l efficiency and the civil service commission.
 ''The measure further provides that they shall have the right to participate in debate on matters relating to the busi- ness of their respective departments Un- der such rules as may be prescribed by the senate and house res pectiyely. l i have also suggested that tN'o days in i eadl week be. SC taside in each branch i of congress for this purpose.
 What 1 have in mind is that On these special days these executive officials i shall be present to give information ask ed for by reason or in reply to questions which may be propounded to them under the rules, with the further provision that their presence may be dispensed with If the occasion seems to require it. T have in mind two specific results among others which would be accomplish
 
 propriations would not be asked of con gress by executive officials which could not be defended by sound argument and l on the basis of real economy ana the genuine needs of the government. Sec ond, that congress would get first hand information direct from the source at the | time that such information is really need ed for the welfare of both the government and the public-nam mely, when senator; and representatives are forming theil opinions on the size of the appropria. ions they are to authorize.
 Tt seems to me that sudh a policy ought to command attention especially | at this time, when we about to adopt g budget system. That law is to 20 into effect at the beginning of the next fsca year. It gives the president new anC
 important responsibilities in fixing the size of our annual appropriations. Thes,
 must be shared to certain extent O
 course, by his cabinet officers who direc
 the administration of the various depart
 mnets.
 Why not go one step farther and hay,
 congress and the executive departmen
 work together on the final approval 0 appropriations? It seems abso!utel! , clear to nle that such a policy would in evitably result in the interests of req | economy, in the betterment of administra tion, in q deeper sense of responsibiht. on the part of both branches of the gov ernment- and without the expenditure C a single dollar of government funds.
 The fact is that we need greate
 knowledge bobl in congress and on tn part of the public as to why appCopria tions are made and what motives de partment or bureau heads have in recon | mending appropriations The presen mo pf ba haa la1 I to abuses. SubcOmmittees may be a . work for weeks listening to the argument ments presented in support of estimate from the executive branches and hun dreds of pages of involved importan testimony is taken. Congress does no get these hearings and the press doe not get them until the bill is ordered re . ported. The usual custom is to have tn
 bill at once considered.
 Neither the public nor congress ha ; time to digest the evidence In support ( appropriations, and consequently only comparatively few men know for wha the money is being appropriated. It rc suits in legislation not by congress bu , by a few executive officials and a fe, u members of committees or subcommit : tees It is time to correct this, and U believe the proposed practice of reauil ing cabinet officials to defend their rec
 concentrations on the floor would be (
 great value.
 Under any budget system which leave \ the initiative with the executive branc
 the temptation to pad estimates and d ask for deficiency appropriations, son q of which in the past have been unlawful g will continue to be irresistible in m : opinion unless some method is devise l. whereby the exposure of unwise requ > sitions is rendered more certain than l. possible through the agency of legtslatl, e committees"