Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05

shock and strain to the business world car
| tain 70 attend any serious change In these
| methods render such change inadvisAbie
/ unless for grave reason. It Il not possible
TO lay down any general rule By which to
/ determine the moment when the reasons
q change. Much must depend, not merely
| on the needs, but on the desires, Of the peo-
pie as whole; for needs and desires are
| not necessarily identical. OF course, no
cnAn1e can be made on Hines beneficial to,
OF desired by. one section or one state only
| There must be something like general
agreement among the citizens OF the several
| states. as represented IN the Congress. that
the change Ii needed and desired In the In
terest OF the people az whole; and there
| should then be q sincere, intelligent and
disfnterested effort to make 1t In such shape
az viii combine 80 far az possible. the
maximum of good to the people at large
| with the minimum OF necessary disregard
| for the special interests Of localities or
| classes. But In time Of peace the revenue
n mus. on sn the assrase' taking series OF
else the revenues must be Increased. Last
| year there was deficit. Unless our ex-
| penditures can be kept within the revenues
| then our revenue laws must be read1usted.
| It Is as yet too early to attempt to outline
what shape such q readjustment should
| take, for 1t Ii as yet too early to say
whether there will be need for It. It should
be considered whether 1t Is not desirable
that the tariff laws should provide for ap-
plying as against or in favor Of any other
nation maximum and minimum tariff rates
established by the Congress. 30 as to secure
certain reciprocity Of treatment between
other nations and ourselves. Having In
view even larger considerations Of policy
than those OF purely economic nature. 1t
would, in my Judgment, be well to endeavor
to bring about closer commercial conneo-
tons with the other peoples OF this CONT
nent. am happy to be able to announce
to you that Russia now treats US on the
INSTRUMENTATION basis.
Economy In Expenditures.
l earnestly recommend to the Congress the
need Of economy and to this end of a rigid
scrutiny of appropriations. As examples
merely call your attention to one or two
specific matters. All unnecessary Offices
should be abolished. The commissioner OF
the general land office recommends the
abolishment Of the office Of receiver of pub
lie moneys for United States land offices.
This will effect saving of about a quarter
OF million dollars q year. AS the BUSH
ness of the nation grows 1t Ia Inevitable
that there should be from time to time
legitimate increase in the number OF OH
oials, and this fact renders 1t all the more
important that when offlces become pnnec-
essary they should be abolished. In the
public printing also large saving OF pub
lie money can be made. There Is con-
stantly growing tendency to publish masses
of unfmportant Information. 1t Ia prob
ably not unfair to say that many tens OF
thousands Of volumes are published at
which no human being ever looks and for
which there is no real demand whatever.
Yet, In speaking OF economy, I must in
no wise be understood as advocating the
false economy which Is In the end the worst
extravaganza. To cut down on the navy,
for instance, would be crime against the
nation. To fail to push forward all work
on the Panama canal would be as great
folly.
Currency.
In my message of December @ 1902, to the
Congress I said:
Interest rates are potent factor in busi-
ness activity, and In order that these rates
may be equalized to meet the varying needs
Of the seasons and OF widely separated COM
munities, and to prevent the recurrence of
financial stringencies which injuriously af-
feet legitimate business. 1t is necessary that
there should be an element of elasticity in
our monetary system. Banks are the natu-
raj servants OF commerce, and upon them
should be placed, as far AZ practicable, the
burden OF furnishing and maintaining a
circulation adequate to supply the needs of
our diversified industries and OF our domes-
tic and foreign commences; and the issue OF
this should be so regulated that sufficient
supply should be always available for the
business interests OF the country"
Every consideration Of prudence demands
the addition Of the element Of elasticity
to our currency system. The evil does not
consist In an inadequate volume of money,
but in the rigidity Of this volume, which
ing needs OF communities and Of seasons.
Imitation must be avoided, but some pro-
vision should be made that will insure a
larger volume Of money during the fall and
| winter months than in the less active sea-
sons of the year. SO that the currency will
contract against speculation and will ex-
pand for the needs Of legitimate business
At present the Treasury Department is at
fr-rn fry5tu rfyy to- i,,A1
the interest Of the business world-that is.
in the interests of the American public-to
try to avert financial crises by providing a
remedy which should be provided by con-
gressional action.
Business Methods in Departments.
At various times have instituted inves-
legations into the organization and conduct
of the business of the executive depart
ments. While none of these inquiries have
yet progressed far enough to warrant final
conclusions, they have already confirmed
and emphasized the general impression that
the organization OF the departments Is often
faulty in principle and wasteful in results
while many of their business methods are
antiquated and inefficient. There is every
chinery should be at least as well planned.
economical and efficient as the best ma
chinery Of the great business organizations
which at present is not the case. To make
essen
TALLY executive In its nature; probably no
legislative body. no matter how wise and
able, could undertake 1t with reasonable
prospect of success. I recommend that the
Congress consider this subject with q view
to provide by legislation for the transfer
distribution, consolidation and assignment
OF duties and executive organizations or
parts OF organizations, and for the changes
IN business methods, within or between the
several departments, that will best promote
the economy. efficiency and high character
OF the government work.
Federal Elections.
In my last annual message said:
THE power Of the government to protect
the integrity of the elections of its own
officials is Inherent and has been recopntz.o
and affirmed by repeated declarations NJ
the Supreme Court. There is no enemy n,
free government more dangerous and nona
so insfdious as the corruption of the elec-
torate. No one defends or excuses corrun-
ton. and 1t would seem to follow that NON.
would oppose vigorous measures to eradio
cate 1t. recommend the enactment NJ a
law directed against bribery and corrnn1
ton in federal elections. The details =,
such a law may be safely left to the w,sa
discretion Of the Congress but II shon,5. 80
as far as under the Constitution n ,s - 81