Idea of the budget;

              Bulletin HASKINS & SELLS 63
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The Idea of the Budget
IT is almost inconceivable, but neverthe-less
true, that this great country has
up to the present time had no means of
determining the total amount of appro­priations
authorized until the adjourn­ment
of Congress and until a canvass has
been made of all bills carrying appropria­tion
provisions. And the comment has
frequently been made that this is very
unbusinesslike.
Alexander Hamilton recognized the
necessity for better business methods when
he advocated a budget which would em­brace
provision for the collective financial
needs of the government and offer an
opportunity for the consideration of means
with which to provide for the expenditures
to meet such needs.
Many other financiers of astuteness
since Alexander Hamilton's time have
recognized the same need. Government
officials and members of Congress here