Trends in Governmental Accounting.

Abstract The article presents information on governmental accounting in the U.S. In fact, certain procedures established by in the federal fiscal system are still in use. Little of the kind of accounting today recognized as adequate, however, went on prior to 1910. Hence the history of the governmental accounting-federal, state, and municipal taken together-may be thought of in terms of the current forty Years. The most significant contribution of the 1910 decade was the publication of the "Handbook of Municipal Accounting," by the New York Bureau of Municipal Research. During the same period numerous states took steps to establish budget systems and fiscal organizations for budgetary operation and control. Thus the states generally were in advance of the federal government in their progress in this field. The next period, 1920 on, is significant for the amount and character of important literature on governmental accounting and financial procedures which it produced. The decade beginning in 1930 brought about developments of outstanding importance. The various national organizations of public accountants and public finance officials joined together in forming the National Committee on Municipal Accounting. The period from 1940 on has been largely an extension of movements inaugurated in the preceding decade. In spite of the war much progress has taken place in all fields. The proposals of the National Committee on Municipal Accounting were refined and promoted.