PREFACE THIS Volume contains the substance of lectures delivered on the George Blumenthal Foundation at Columbia University in the fall and winter of 1909. The lectures were delivered from briefs, and in preparing them for publication, some documentary material cited during the argument has been transferred to foot-notes and appendices, while in other cases matter referred to but not fully quoted in the course of oral exposition, has been incorporated in the text. Oral use of statistical data is cumbersome and inconvenient, and in delivering the lectures, I referred my hearers to the forthcoming publication of them for the detailed evidence of some of my statements. The result is an inequality in the length of the lectures in their published form, but it is believed that the convenience of the reader is promoted. I had to do with a situation that was changing while it was under consideration, and in revising the lectures I have incorporated references to pertinent events that have taken place since, when they seemed to be illustrative of the tendencies examined in the course of the lectures. The issues considered are now so acute in our politics as to make the work timely, and I hope that it will be useful in clarifying public opinion. PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, HENRY J. FORD. CONTENTS Statements by Chairman Tawney and Senator Aldrich Annual waste estimated at $50,000,000 Appropriations exceed the public needs Our waste greater than some national incomes Senator Hale anticipates national bankruptcy Our peculiar risks from treasury embarrassments Chairman Tawney's review of appropriations Analysis prepared by the Census Bureau Expenditure increasing faster than population Our former condition of national isolation CHAPTER II PAGE PAGE Eight different committees report appropriation bills. No provision for any unified control CONSTITUTIONAL AGENCIES OF BUDGET CONTROL Budget control a prerogative of the House Vigilant jealousy of the English Commons. Similar disposition of Colonial assemblies The situation as viewed in the Federalist Impairment of the House prerogative . Ability of the Senate to override the House Proposed consolidation of pension agencies. An item characterized as "blackmail" Senatorial strategy in proposing amendments |