The news & observer., 1905-12-06

than in the less active seasons of the
year; so that the currency will con-
tract against speculation, and will eX-
pand for the needs of legitimate busi-
ness. AT present the Treasury De-
partment is at irregularly recurring
intervals obliged, in the interest of
the business world-that is, in the
interest of the American public-to
try to avert financial crises by pro-
vid 'ng q remedy which should be pro-
vi]ed by Congressional action.
business Methods in Departments.
AT various times / have instituted
invest cations into the organization
and conduct Of the business of the
Executive Departments. While none
of these inquiries have yet progressed
far enough to warrant final conclu-
sions they have already confirmed and
emphasized the general impression
that the organization of the Depart
ments is often faulty in principle and
wasteful in results. while many of
their business methods are antiquated
and inefficient. There is every rea-
son why our executive government
machinery should be at least as we'll
planned, economical, and efficient as
the best machinery of the great busi-
ness organizations, which at present
is not the case. To make it so is a
task Cf complex detail and essentially
executive in it's nature; probably no
legislative body, no matter how wise
and able, could undertake it with rea-
sOnable prospect Of success. l recon-
mend that the Congress consider this
subject with a view TO provide by leg
islation 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:
1.-THE power of the government to
protect the integrity Of the elections
of its own officials is inherent and has
been recognized and affirmed by re-
peated declarations of the Supreme
Court, There is no enemy of free
so insidious as the corruption Of the
electorate. No one\ defends or ex-
cuses corruption, and it would seem to
follow that none would oppose vigor-
GUS measures to eradicate it.
recommend the enactment of a law
directed against bribery and cOrrup-
tion in Federal elections. The de-
tails of such law may be safely left
to the wise discretion of the Congress-
but it should go as far as under the
Constitution it is possible to go, and
should include severe penalties against
him who gives or receives a bribe IN
tended to influence his act or opinion
as an elector; and provisions for the
publication not only of the expendi-
ture for nominations and elections OF
all candidates, but also Of all con-
tributions received and expenditures
made by political committees" q
I desire to repeat this recommen-
dation. In political campaigns in
country as large and populous as ours
it is inevitable that there should be
much expense of an entirely legitimate
kind. This, Of course, means that
many contributions and some of them
of large size must be made, and, as
q matter of fact, in any big political
contest such contributions are always
made to both sides. 1t is entirely
proper both to give and receive them,
unless there is an improper motive
connected with either gift or recep-
ton. If they are extorted by any kind
of pressure or promise, express or inn
piled. direct or indirect, in the way of
favor or immunity, then the giving or
receiving becomes not only improper,
but criminal 1t will undoubtedly be
difficult as a matter of practical detail
to shape an act which shall guard with
certainty against such mis-
conduct; but if it is possible to secure
by law the full and verified publica-
ton in detail of all the sums contri-
buted to and expended by the candi-
dates or committees of any political
parties the result can not but be
All contributions by cor
porations to any political committee or
for any political purpose should be
by law; directors should not