The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-07-25
IT, S. BUDGET system
BEST IN WORLD

Notwithstanding the American
budget system is only two years old,
while that Of Great Britain is more
than 200, it can be truthfully assert
ed that the American system is the
best in the world. Of course the
United States had the advantage of
studying the provisions and the Prac-
teal workings of the British budget
system when our own was framed.
| The British system has been the
growth of many years of experience
and has been improved from time to
time, but still has some defects which
even its supporters recognize.
That the American system is high
ly effective has been demonstrated
by results. Not only have our fin
ances been balanced by making eX-
penditures come within the income.
but the executive departments have
been so accurate in their estimates
and the cooperation between the ex-
ecutive branch and the legislative
branch has been so harmonious that
the appropriations come within less
than 2 per cent of the estimates OF
the budget bureau. This is a remark
ably close approach to the estimates
when it is remembered that the total
was more than three million dollars
and there is no limitation whatever
upon the right of congress to make
any changes it may deem best. The
appropriations were slightly under
: the estimates submitted by the direct
} or of the budget.
There are two important respects
in which the American system is SUI
! superior to that of the British. One
of these is the power which the presi-
dent has, by virtue of his constitu-
: tional authority and authority giver
h him by act of congress, over the CO.
S ordination of the work of the severa
r departments of the government. One
official of the budget bureau is known
e as the chief co-ordanator. Under the
g leadership of this officer representa-
e tives of the 43 bureaus and board!
and commissions conducting the gov
% ernment's business meet for confer
e ences regarding government bushes
in which they have a common interest
At such conferences plans are mad
for elimination of duplication, removs
of comparative bidding for supplies
interchange of unused supplies, etc
with the result of saving millions O
dollars and at the same time increas
III ing efficiency.
c Another important feature of 81
&c perior merit in the American systel
s. is it's flexibility. Under the BIRTHS
y system when the tentative draft {
the budget is made up it goes to tn
ig cabinet for final approval and is the
rs laid before the house of common
a The budget is subject to discussion b
al the minority, but if any matters
SIS change is made without the consel
er of the administration that change r
~ suits in the resignation of the cabin,
&c and the forming of a new cabin
III by the group successful in outvotir
the supporters of the budget. In
operation, therefore, the British sy
et' TEN means the enactment of Il
gh budget practically as submitted. u
ne der the limitation of debate a larl
d. portion of the British budget is adOr
u ed without any discussion or conside
DC alton whatever in parliament.
w The American system provides f
ge the exercise of a large measure
'uc judgment by congress. In fact VIII
OF the last budget was under consider
ton congress nearly doubled the a
n preparations recommended for riv
and harbor Improvements, but ma,
at equally large reductions in other tier
of expense. The American system a
sumes that the judgment of congre
may be better than that of membe
of the budget bureau. Even membe
he of the budget bureau whose judgme
is was overruled by congress CONNER
40 the f~lexibility feature of vi systel
In England there has been a strol
STA movement towards recognizing t
D." right of parliament to change t
,rd budget estimates without su
ks changes being considered a vote
Nv lack of confidence in the administr
ae- ton.
s."
9: kI0T OTKIO