Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-30
The HQskin Letter
BIZ E
J. HASKlN
PROBLEMS OF THE BUDGET

appropriations of money must not ex-
ceed the government income. he mas
adopted the economy of Micawber, the
famous character in Dickens whose
homely discussion of the budget idea
aptly expresses the situation. He says,
in effect: Income, $1,000; expendl-
ture, $4,000 means happiness. Income
$4,000; expenditure S2,0oo means
misery"
The presider< takes the same view
and will insist that the American gov
eminent seek to have a surplus OF
revenue rather than an excess or ex-
peniture. Micawber's analysis related
to the affairs of an individual family
but the case is not greatly altered
when nations are concerned. For a
mans to exceed his income
means he must run in debt and Dor
row, paying interest. For a government
TO spend more than its income means
the same thing. There is not the ele-
ment of personal misery which MlcaW.
Der speaks of, but there is substantial
national embarrassment which may
result in personal misery for many OF
the unthrifty nations individuals.
Practically the sole trouble with the
European nations which now are hay
ing such grave. financial difficulties is
that they went or a war spree and
spent vastly more than their income,
That is the case with Germany, with
France. with Italy, with Poland and,
in a lesser degree, with England. They
spent more than their incomes and
now they must borrow. Their cur
rencies have deprecated because they
have not kept their budgets balanced.
This has resulted in loss of trade and
in ~ruinous prices for the necessities
of life. They represent Instances IN
which the unthrifty policy against
which Micawber uttered his warnings
have caused personal misery to thou
sands.
There is something to be said on
the other side of the case. Many OF
the separate bills to be introduced
will be worthy; in fact most of them
will and great difficulty will be ex-
perienced in defeating them.
Assume that the department of agri-
culture has sent in a budget which
exceeds what can be allowed if eX-
p%enditureS are to stay within income.
The budget bureau lops off a few mill
lions. Among the items cut off, let us
assume there is an item of $4,000
for the continuance of an agricultural
experiment station. At this station, the
department scientists are working out
a series of experiments relating to the
cotton boil Weevil. Five years are re-
quried to carry the work to n con-
riusion. The completed work may re-
veal scientific facts worth millions to
the cotton growing industry. The
work has been going on three years.
If it is stopped now through lack of
appropriation, all that three years
work is lost for the experiment must
be continuous and there is a possible
potential loss of vastly more than the
work will cost. Yet the figures show
plSinly that there is not enough money
70 go around. The work must stop.
There are instances in which sub
stantial losses have been sustained by
the government in this manner. Cow
eminent work is in process and specis
ally made, expensive tools have been
purchased and sepcial buildings erect
ed. The budget cuts off the next years
appropriation. There is not ever
enough money appropriated to pay for
storing the tools and instruments and
maintaining Watchmen at the buildings.
Tools and instruments are lost or
stolen and buildings fall into disrepair.
Persons familiar with the government
know of these cases and therefore
have some sympathy with the extra
appropriation bills which seek to evade
the budget.
This is just one of the problems
which the men who run the govern
ment have to face. How they viii
face the crisis of the budget this
winter will be a matter of interest to
every citizen and taxpayer.