The Washington times., 1921-04-08
MELLON OK. s
BUDGET PLAN
Tells Mccormick He Accepts Bill.
Straight Policy Fixed for
Administration.
By NORMAN HAPGOOD.

BY NORMAN HAPGOOD.
The budget policy Of the Harding
administration was settled yester-
day. The Secretary Of the Treasury
asked Senator Medill Mccormick to
q conference, and accepted absolute
ly without change the bill called the
Budget and Accounting Act, 1920"
STRAIGHT POLICY NOW.
President Harding had said in ad-
vance that he would back any budget
bill agreed on by Senator Mccormick
and Secretary Mellon. Therefore,
there L. now q straight administra.
two policy brought about by tho con-
alteration Of the budget bill BY the
Secretary Of tho Treasury.
I expected to give some furthe:
facts today about the Dye Trust put
tho budget development broke In and
threw me OF the track, 80 my readers
will have to contain their palpitating
impatience At least one more day In
reference to the proposed bill to
establish q dye monopoly. and FOCUS
their brains on the significance of the
budget development.
BOSSES WELD THE POWER.
It is known to all who really under
stand our Government that the nom'-
nal powers are not the real powers
II you don't like the President you
can get rid Of him after q while. and
curse him in tho meantime.
II you don't like an individual Sen
stor or Representative from your dis
trfct you can take 1t out on him In
the Same way.
But the real ring In both houses,
tho invisible government, you cannot
get, because you don't know any
thing about what they are doing.
For years people who dislike this
invisible and irresponsible government
have tried to hit 1T, and their favorite
weapon has been the budget system.
That system in its pure form would
kill the invisible government Taft
tried hard to get 1t through, but
failed. Experts everywhere favor 1t
sCAREs sMOOT.
The bill, now made an Administra-
ton measure, is only a step toward a
real budget system, but 1t probably is
a step. 1t looks like enough of a
step to scare Senator Smoot who is
very jealouJ OF prerogatives and
power. but his opposition will fade
right away, now that the contest has
reached a point where it will receive
q lot of publicity.
Senator Penrose h for it. Why?
Because he knows 1t Is not a budget
bill, in the sense Of striking at ire
sponsible government, and 1t does
make for an improvement in admin
istratve detail. AZ Penrose II .
brainy man. he likes efficiency II It
does not interfere with something
still dearer to his heart II =
Knox is for it Lodge doesnt
know anything abont IT. but viii bs1k
1t. With the leaders thus lined DIP,
you can assume It win become a law.
What this act accomplishes Is TO
provide several administrative IN
provementa Instead Of gNessAS BY
separate bureaus of a department. we
are to have an estimate by the head
of the department. with specifica-
tons
These estimates go to q representa-
tive of tho President. who Is actually
to be the Secretary of the Treasury.
acting as director sf the Bureau Of
the Budget He u to have An as
distant director.
NO CONGRESS REMOVAL.
Wilson vetoed a budget bill beeauss
thas officer was made removable by
ConEress. In the present Admins
tration measure the assistant Is ap-
pointed by the President. and moth
Ing is said about his removal
Tho offices of Comptroller Of the
Currency and his assistant are abol-
ished and there appears instead a
general accounting office, which every
year reports on the way in which tho
departments have used their money.