Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-22
STATE GETSlESS0N
IN BUDGET MAKING
incoming Administration Has
Chance to Weigh Result OF
y City Council Method
DAWES PLAN NOT USED

As n committee of the whole.
These hearings on the l'hiladelnhla
budget. managed by Councilmen Veg
lein, Hall and Gaffney. with numerous
constrnctivc criticisms from Council
man Devpln. the independent leader,
have accomplished. III more or less
hit or miss fashion, just what was IN.
tended. They have slashed the original
budget estimates rs prepared hI MAYOR
Moore and his directors and by IN"
county officers to II point. where we
Combine leaders can say the tax rate
will not be increased for 1929.
The finishing touches will be put on
Neginning today by :hc Committee VI
Five, consisting Of Richard Wegsin,
president: Councilmcn Hall, GaInry.
Burch and Patton. OF these only MI:
Patton can be considered as an nvowcd
city administration representative ON
the committee. The majority. Weglcin,
Hall and Gaffney is with the combine.
Council Shapes budget
However. the point that has inter-
estcd those who will have to do with
the new Stat" budget i III" Influence
of the city's legislative body in work.
.lcr the control OF the Combine, hA,
been supreme in the tushioniug Of The
city budget.
1t is apparent that the Pinchot Ad.
ninistration will strive to make the
executive rather than the legislativ"
branch al-powerful in the making Of
the budget while 1t is recognized
that the Legislative branch is the ap-
prOpriating power. it i felt that the
spending should be- guided by the ad-
minstratlve officers. To this end il
appears 10 be the Pinchot plan TO in
troduce in Pennsylvania the idea
epitomized in Washington By General
Dawcs--that is. control OF the s!ashirc
r. be kept in the hands of the eXcCu-
uvc.
The Combine u.ajority in City Coun-
al hns virtually been both executive
and legislative in its handling Of me
budget. Only Il Strun. executive
handling OF the budget. by the very ma
ture Of the situation. 1t Is explained.
can prevent such an outcome. ard
more sharply ditfercnt!at" between the
functions of the legislative and eyecU-
tive branches of the government.
Mayor Moor. plainly laid upon Council.
when he transmitted the budget. the full
duty OF making "A revision downward.
Each Item Stands Out
Another point which the local hear
ings developed was that q difference be-
tween the executive and the legislative
branches. in this case between Mayor
Moore and the Combine majority in
Council. wSs Il good thing in 80 far as
it tended to throw Il clear light on
each item in the budget.
The light may not lave been used
always as the Mayor and others, a;
times. preferred, but the fact is the
light was thrown. This. it is felt by
Independents. will form valuable
precedent for future budget hearings.
Thuv i,, yh. fr.I'rC shcVo ID ~ f,ll =.
fashioned Organization Mayor, backed
up by an Organization majority in
Council. then the independents of the
type Of Councilnen Develin, Roper and
Horn will know what "an be done 70
point out the true iuwardness OF the
situation.
Call for Independents
Independent leaders feel generally
that the Council. as designed by the
new City Charter, offers splendid OPP
portunity for the development of Phiia =
delphia's municipal government. The
small single chamber has concentrated
attention On What goes on. But. il
was added. all this only stresses the
urgency Of electing 10 Council. NEXT
year. men or women who will BE- big
enough to serv" without regard to fac
iional alliances.
IA tr t.Hr.
n.ye,in h,vc ,.,r;.;sI nmf ,h,' ,.'irr In any.
that ,hcr stood Tow vh,t ,ho,. rnao.da ,n" vi
&C r;yL, sn,,a,;r,o, - T'"'
Thar, IN srn,or, "r ,r,,,,,;,; ,.,,,' pa.
.it;ons. snra,i,,ot ~ ,,,' '"' ptt'po
city Administration sometimes in uu-
position :" either or both.
ror "Nh,'p'e' t happens tEht III th:s
Council. Coun"iim"n Hall and Gaffnev
nave been strong agents for Ccon0u =
out II cannon be o'er!ook"d, say inde-
Pchufh', mat 'nty simpl! could mot
'he ;na!oT' suppose, u was asked.
hspr, :ho"r" vas ' onlbln" leader =
.,W"u'.i 'rui'tul suggestions for economy
rave moved 50 freely from the Combine: :
AS u IS much good has been n :
toi,Pilsh"o' ""H"elc independents. The
ouas"t hearings nave become an in
sututioh ana fNtur" mayors, no mat .
yer now they lean in politics. will have
~ s'ahd the nero" white light OF pub.
uc''! on every Item Of expenditure.
DeyeI,r.s Wor. .,.
WV" 'pp"'e"
., ir"sress mas been made along many
nhes, duo, strangely enough. TO III,
piudg"onings OF Hall and GaffGey .Ant
me ranicr play Of Dev"lin. Mr.. Dove.
I'm mas brought the Combine leaders I,
pensys pS"s oysyG"u1 wsrr" ,1p%S % , T"aI hat ih%