The Washington herald., 1921-06-29
CABINET BACKING,
HARDING PROGRAM
TOCUT EXPENSES
Will Adopt Disbursing
Plan of New Budget
> System at Once.
DAWES GETS READY
Budgeting for the Next Fiscal
Years Appropriations Also
Must Be Done This Year.
DAWES GETS READY

Cabinet ofncers have thoroughly
subscribed to the intention OF
President Harding to, keep govern
ment expenditures below the ap-
propriations made by Congress for
the fiscal year beginning July !.
They heard a full explanation OF
the Presidents economy program a
cabinet meetings Tuesday. and
agreed to do everything possible
to reduce expenditures at once,
without waiting for submission OF
new budget. which would be e"er-
tive for the fiscal year starting
twelve mouths from now.
Dawes Tells Plans.
Charles C. Dawes, director of the
budget was present and discusse1
for ninety minutes his ideas IN
econory, end the Introduction OF
business methods into government
Buresu chiefs are to be acquainted
with the program at n mass meet
by the President and cabinet on
GERS.
Thus the new hscal year will wit
ness the Inauguration of an ep-
propriations and accounts. Tac
Bureau Of the Budget, which Dawes
is rapidly organizing. will be func-
tioning. and there will be in ad-
dition a general accounting office.
under the supervision of J. r. Nc
Call. the Controller-General Of the
United States.
The general accounting once Is
independent of the executive estab'
Iishments. and constitutes in effect
an arm OF the legislative branch,
to check up on all expenditures.
With the establishment of a gen.
eral accounting once, the once of
Comptroller of the Treasury, and
the six auditors for the depart
ments. are abolished. The Control
Ier-General will serve for fifteeen
years. and can be removed only by
Congress. --s
All Operations Centered.
All the financial operations OF the
government will center in the gem
era, accounting office. The Control
ler- General is required to investi-
gate all expenditures, to obtain in
formation from all department, and
to institute uniform methods of sc-
counting. Each year he viii sub
init to Congress a report on the
activities of his ONCE. and he IL
required by law to make such spe-
cial Investigations as the President
or Congress may direct.
The Bureau OF the Budget will
receive from all departments esti-
mates of funds they Will need, and
these estimates will be examined.
revised, reduced or, Increased, and
assembled in such a manner as the
director deems best. At the same
time, there will be prepared an es-
innate of revenue for the period
for which appropriations are to be
made. II the revenues seem likely
to exceed expenditures, recomme n IA
tions for disposal of the surplus will
Re made. IL deficit is IA prospect.
recommendations will be made for
raising additional funds.
The budget, when il leaves the d,-
rector. goes to the President. whose
duty it is to submit It to Congress.
Old Way Chaotic.
Now estimates of the various de-
partments are assembled without a
scientific examination by any
agency, and are sent to Congress
for pruning by the committee. Con-
gress. In turn, appropriates with
little regard for the expected In
come, and finds. greatest difficulty in'
making efficient reductions
The Bureau OF the Budget, in ad-
dition. is empowered to make a de-
tQn Id ct,
the departments, with a view to rec
ommending changes which will Sc
cure greater economy and efficiency.
This clause of the law contem.
plates realignment and resroupiny
Of the various services. and changes
in activities and methods of opera !.
ton. 1t is being utilized by Presi-
dent Harding in his program for
immediate realization of economy.
New budget Also. r.
. Director Dawes, while seekfue
economies for the fiscal year START
ing July 1, for " hich appropriations
already have been made by Con.
gress. Is at the same time required
to prepare his budget for the fiscal
year which will end June 80, 1928.
He has less than five months in
which to prepare the latter. This
is because the budget must be sub
mitted to Congress when 1t meets
IN regular session the first Mon
day in December.
Seventeen thousand theaters un-
der the control of the motion pic.
ture theater owners of America
have planned to open their houses
on Saturday mornings throughout
the year for the free use Of high