CHAPTER I: THE BUDGET AND SOME FINANCIAL PROBLEMS 403 NATURE AND SCOPE OF FEDERAL EXPENDITURES Introduction of Improved Accounting and Auditing Methods Centralized Control Over the Purchase of Supplies and Materials 455 THE EFFICIENCY MOVEMENT vs. Popular Control of GovernMENT 456 CHAPTER II: PROBLEMS IN THE REGULATION AND CON- THE NATURE OF THE UTILITIES PROBLEM Charters and Franchises Freedom from Regulation and Development of Evils. Regulation of Railroads by the Interstate Commerce Commission 469 Conflict Between State and Municipal Utility Regulation Results and Difficulties in the Regulation of Utilities by Com- PREFACE FREQUENTLY the study of government is approached through a description and an analysis of the organization and machinery by which public affairs are conducted. The moving forces, principles, and problems are either neglected or scantily considered amid the details of fact which such descriptive studies entail. It is on this account that political science appears to be devoted chiefly to the "external characteristics of governing institutions." The purpose of this book is to present an approach to the study of government through the avenue of principles and problems. A few objects which have been kept constantly in view are: first, to give the necessary setting for the study of principles and problems; second, to present problems and issues for discussion rather than to impart information; third, to encourage the formation of opinions and judgments on political issues rather than to train the memory by a repetition of facts about government. Problems are presented for consideration in order to encourage thinking in concrete terms as to government organization and administration. A brief and elementary discussion of principles and problems is given with the purpose primarily of stimulating interest for further study. Though it is recognized that there is danger of reaching conclusions on insufficient information, it is believed that the habit of thinking and of forming judgments should be cultivated to a much greater extent than is customary in government instruction. For this purpose stimulating extracts and suggestive quotations from writers on political affairs are extensively used. Except in the consideration of certain topics on which information is not readily available, no attempt has been made to give important facts as to government organization and machinery. For these facts it will be necessary to have at hand and to make constant use of year books, |