Evening star., 1925-04-06
Commissioner Bell Wants
Details Studied More Care
fully in Extra Time.
CONSOLIDATION ADVISED
OF SUMS OF SAME KIND
Auditor Donovan Sees Advantage
in General Allowance for
Streets, Parks, Etc.

Preparation of budget for the
fiscal year 1926-1927 will start at the
District Building in May, or two
months earlier than usual, Engineer
Commissioner Bell announced today
At the same time Maj. Daniel J.
Donovan, auditor and budget officer.
made known that he will lay before
the Commissioners this Summer a
plan for what he termed modern
izing" the city budget by consolidat-
ing into lump sums many items of
expense now listed as separate ac-
counts.
Maj. Donovan expressed the belief
that the adoption of this policy would
result in a more efficient administra-
tion of all branches of the municipal
government, because it would give
each department head greater leeway
in the distribution of his appropria-
tions among the various functions of
his department
Finds Plan Now Used.
The auditor said this principle was
actually adopted by Congress in
drafting the appropriation act for the
next fiscal year in the case of park
items. Last year, he said, Congress
made SO separate appropriations for
the maintenance of as many public
parks. In the new appropriation law,
he explained, tGey changed this into
one lump sum for the maintenance of
all the parks. In explaining the ad
vantage Of the consolidation of ap
propriations for the same class OF
work. the auditor stated:
With one appropriation for the
upkeep of these parks the money can
be distributed where it is most need
ed. If the amount for each park
was specified and it should develop
that less money was actually re-
Quired for one park and more was
needed for another, the amounts to
be spent could not be changed I'm
der the single maintenance appro-
priation the proper administrative
head can make the necessary change
as to spend the money to best ad
vantage"
Applicable TO Streets.
The same rule is applicable TO new
street improvements, Maj Donovan
went on. Although the streets to be
paved are listed in the law, with the
estimated cost after each name, there
is clause a the end of the list set
ting forth that Jhe total AMOUNT for
all the streets shall constitute one
fund.
This, the auditor explained. means
that if there should be some money
left over from one paving job that is
needed to complete another, the
change can he made
Maj. Donovan believes this policy
could with advantage be carried into
other branches of the city govern
ment.
At the present time, he said, there
are 415 separate accounts in the Dis
triCt appropriation act and his plan
is to ask the Commissioners to great
ly reduce this number through con
department as far as possible.
Would CondenSe PhraseoIogy.
Maj. Donovan also has in mind the
elimination of much detail phrase
ology. The present act specifies
numerous small expenditures that
may be made by each department
head.
In preparing the new estimates
nearly two months earlier than usual
it is the intention of the Commits
sioners to give more careful study to
| the figures asked for by the various
! departments.
Until the tentative estimates of de
| partment heads are submitted it will
/ be impossible for the city heads to
predict what the total of next years
| requirements Will be.