, 1924-07-10
ACCOMPLISHMENT UNDER
THE BUDGET SYSTEM

WASHINGTON, JULY 8.-The
success OF the Budget System as a
factor in keeping down expenses and
in establishing harmony between the
Executive Branch of the Government
and the Legislative Branch, was i'm
p~ressively shown by Congressman
Madden of Illinois, Chairman OF the
House Committee on Appropriations.
In an address in the closing days of
the recent session of Congress, Mr..
Madden reviewed the record of the
Republican Congress which came
into power in March, 1919, when
Wilson was still President, and after
showing that the Republicans had
saved the nation more than $780,
100000 by cutting demands made by
the Democratic regime, he took up
the Budget matter, saying:
THE new congress at once reah
lied that the conduct Of the finances
of the Government according to safe
principles could not be accomplished
without the Inauguration of a sys-
tematic procedure. 1t accordingly
prepared and presented to President
Wilson the Budget bill. His veto of
that legislation postponed until the
advent of the present administra-
ton the enactment of that import
ant measure. The new law was
signed by President Harding on June
10, 1921. Its operation has covered
the period of three full fiscal years
of expenditure and the preparation
of the Budget for the next fiscal year.
"The accomplishments under the
new system have exceeded the ex-
pectations Of those who championed
its installation. The outstanding
principles r namely: C) The
placing upon the President of the
responsibility for the submission of
co-ordinated expenditure and rev.
enue proposals to Congress; ca the
business control required t. be ex-
ercised by him owe expenditures at
ter the appropriations have been
made; go the Capitalization over
the making of appropriations in a
single committee in each the Senate
and House of Representatives.; and
(4) the creation of a centralized
and independent audit of accounts.
ITO the late President Harding
and his first Director Of the Budget,
General Dawes, are due great credit
for the successful inauguration of
the executive phase of the system.
To President Coolidge and the pres
ent director, General Lord, who have
followed earnestly and courageously
the standards set by their predeces-
sors, merited praise should De &C
corded. The success OF the Budget
is in direct proportion to tie interest
taken by the President Of the United
States in shaping its proposals and
the Republican incombents have be-
gun and carried on a procedure that
has not only placed the finances of
the country on a sound basis but has
given to the Nation a permanent sys-
TEN that will endure to its benefit
in the future.
1.-THE change in the procedure in
the Senate and House to accord with
the changed methods in the execu-
tive branch has worked equally well.
The wide margin between Executive
estimates and congressional appro-
priations has narrowed. The past
year and the year just closed find
the appropriations made by Congress
not more than $4,000. 900. less than
the proposals submitted by the
President. The cooperation OF the
executive branch Of the Government
with the legislative branch under
the Budget system has been the chief
factor in the success in keeping down
the appropriations and expenditures
of the Government and making posi-
BILE the natural sequences OF such
efforts. namely. tax reduction and
diminution of the public debt"