Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-21
Dawes, Cabinet
Possibility, Urges
National Budget

National Budget
Boston, Jan. 2o--A reform in the
business administration of the gov
!!ernment by which Pfesidentselect
Harding would hold departmental
Expenditures in co-ordinated relation
to the taxable resources of the nation
was advocated here today by Charles
G. Dawes, Chicago banker. His
/ address, which was delivered at a
luncheon given in his honor by the
Boston Chamber of Commerce, was
considered as Of special interest at
this tifn6 because OF his mention as
the possible choice Of President elect
Harding for secretary of the treas
/ ury.
Mr.. Dawes, who has been comp
/ troller of the currency and who was
in charge of the purchase Of supplies
in France for the American expedi-
tionary, forces, spoke of the condi-
tons that have controlled depart
/ mental expenditures in the federal
government as. an impossible BUSH
ness system. In carrying out an an
alogy between cabinet officers and
the administrative vice presidents Of
a corporation. he said the presidents
of the United States almost without
( exception had allowed their admin
istrative vice presidents to run their
particular departments and to make
estimates of the amount of money
| which should be appropriated to them
| entirely without presidential super
\ visio min the interest Of the govern
| ment as whole.
| Referring directly to Mr.. Harding.
General Dawes said:
| With the power of selection, he
also has the power of removal and
do not think he will tempolize for
| minute with the old system so far
as his power over his administrative
vice kpresidents--so to speak--can
alter DIT. II the cabinet heads are not
| willing to do team work and to CO.
ordinate and carry out his plan fo~
business supervision and economy,
made simply in the interests of the
people of the United States as a
| whole. he should remove them and /
hope he will.
| Under the law of March 4, 1909, as
has been frequently pointed out by
| members Of Congress in recent times,
the authority to unity the business
of the government and put it into
| proper system, exists in him. His
very position as head of the execu-
tive branch of the government i'm
plies not only the power but the duty
to do this. Unless he is willing to
assume this great task, q budget law
will not materially correct the situa-'
tion., The budget law will help the
president to do his duty and it
should be passed. But even without
budget law, with the control he
has over the cabinet; he can inaugu-
rate this system.
In my judgment it is not necessary.
and 1t would not be best for tho coun.
try if, in connection with the making
of the budget law, Congress should
surrender any Of its present power to
the executive. Congress is made re-
sponsible by the Constitution for ap-
preparations. In carrying out this
responsibility I say without hesita-
ton that If II had not done It's duty
and~ protected the people against the
| enormous and excessive appropriations
asked by the present admins tration
during the last two years the credit
tof the United States would have been
gravely injured and irreparabie dam
age done to the people of the country.
THE proposed reform is particular
ly an administration as distinguished
from Congressional reform. What
Congress properly demands when il ap-
propriates money is that there should
be a proper business organization TO
expend it economically, and what for
mer presidents have failed to do is to
so organize their business machine
as to make this possible II the busi-
ness machinery ofthe government is
properly reorganized by the leadership
ana power of the president whether
congress decides on larger or small
appropriations. then, in either case.
more; will be accomplished with the
money than under our present disor-
ganized system. Whatever MAY be
claimed by those who would benefit
by the present impossible system. the
-S- i'A>ASN oC Sicoriy hSupt ,DeIOf0 our
people that in this reform only bust
ness administration. is at stake and
only the greet question of having the
governments money spent in such a
way that the government will get full
value"
|! The task of the president-elect in
bringing the PROPOSED reform about
will be difficult. General Dawes said
mot only because Of its magnitude
but because OF the selfish interests
which will attempt to blocl. It," aPrt
OF the plan. as he saw IL. would be the
abolition of duplicate activities in the
several departments. He predicted that
Congress would cooperate with tba
president, and added: saThe prineinles
underlying this reform are So indis-
putabiy correct. that if 1t fails IL will
be because 1t is killed from under
cover. sss, II.
The speaker estimated on the t,a ale
OF the secretary OF the treasury's es.
Inmates for the fiscal year OF 1921 that
after omission of s:,70O, oo9, 200 Of ex.
penHtures mot involved In ordinary
business administration there would
pc left the. enormous sum Of APPROX
imately sS,s00,00O, Gg6,. annually as
that which would be affected by anv
plan Tor decreasing governmental ex-
penditures through the institution of
2 proper business system"
$500 -.-...-L.
NSefF ~. : ~