Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1905-12-05

Iraternal ana benevolent orsahlNatlons
which contract for life insurance,
Methods OF Revenue Raising.
There is more need of stability than
OF the attempt to attain an ideal per
lection In the methods OF raising reNe-
nue.; and the shock and strain to the
business world certain to attend any
serious change i'm these methods render
such change inadvisablc unless FOR very
grave reasons. IL Is not possible TO lay
down any general rule by which to de-
termine the moment when the reasons
Tor Will outweigh the reasons against
such n change. Much must depend, not
merely on the needs, but on the desires,
q the people as a whole; for needs ana
desires are not necessarily identical.
% course n change can be made on
section or one state only. There must
be something like a general agreement
among the citizens of the several states,
as represented In che congress, that the
change is needed and desired In the in
terest OF people as a whole; and there
should then be a sincere, Intelligent, and
dlsinterested EFFORT to make II In such
shape as will combine, so far as posi-
Bile. the maximum OF good To- the peo-
pie at large with the minimum Of nee
essary disregard for special interests OF
localities or classes. But In time Of
peace the revenue must on the average,
taxing a series of years together, equal
the expenditures or else the revenues
must be increased. Last year there was
a deficit Unless our expenditures can
be Kept within the revenues then our
revenue laws must be readjusted, II is
as yet too early to attempt to outline
what shape such a REIMBURSEMENT should
take, LOT II $ as Yet too early to say
whether there will be need for il. II
should be considered whether IL is not
desirable that the tariff laws should
provide Tor applying as against or in
favor OF any other nation maximum and
minimum tarin rates established by
congress-, so as to secure a certain reef
procity of treatment between other ma
tons ana ourselves. Having in view
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than those of a purely economic nature,
II would, in my judgment, be well to
endeaNor to bring about closer CONNER
cial connections with the other peoples
of this continent. l am happy to be
able to announce to you that Russia
now treats us on the most-favored-na-
ton basis.
Economy is c~ounseled.
l earnestly 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 I'M
necessary offices should be abolished.
The commissioner of the general land
office recommends the adjustment of
the office OF receiver of public moneys
for United States land offices. This will
effect a saving of about n quarter of a
million dollars a year. AS the business
Of the nation grows IL Is inevitable that
there should be from time to time a le-
Ultimate Increase in the number of off,
ctals, and his fact renders ii all the
iAtl important tudl WHEN OIDNhS De-
come unnecessary they should be abol-
ished. In the public printing also a large
saving of public money can be made.
There is a constantly growing tendency
to publish masses of unimportant infof-
nation. 1t is probably 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, / must
IN no wise be understood as advocating
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the worst extravaganza. To cut down
on the naVy. for instance, would be a
crime AGAINST the nation. To fail to
canal would be as great n folly.
Elasticity in Currency.
In my message of December 2. 1902, to
the congress, | said:
Interest rates are a potent factor in
business activity. and in order that these
rates may be equalized to meet the vary
Ing needs of the seasons and of widely
separated communities, and to prevent
the recurrence of financial stringencies
which inJuriously affect legitimate bust
ness, II is necessary that there should
be an element of elasticity In our none
tary system. Banks are the natural
servants of commerce. and upon them
should be placed, as far as practicable,
the burden of furnishing and main
tanning a circulation adequate to supply
the needs of our diversified industries
and of our domestic and foreign COM
merce; and the issue of this should be
SO regulated that a sufficient supply
should be always available for the bust
ness interests of the country"
Every consideration of prudence de-
mands the addition of the element of
elasticity 10 our currency system. The
evil does not consist In an inadequate
volume of money, but the rigidity Of his
volume. which does not respond as II
should to the varying needs of commun-
tiles and of seasons. Imitation must he
avoided; but some provision should be
made that VIII insure a larger volume
of money during the fall and winter
months than I'm the less active seasons
OF the year; so that the currency will
contract against speculation, and Will
xpand TOR the needs of legitimate bus
mess. At present the treasury depart
ment is at ~irregularly recurring inter
vale obliged, in the interest of the bust
ness world-that Is, in the interest of
lne American publiC-to try to avert
financial crises by providing a remedy
which should be provided by congress
sionai action.
Business Methods in Departments.
AT various times | nave instituted in
vestigations into the organization and
conduct of the business Of the executive
departments. While none Of these In
qulries 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 an
tiquated and inefficient. There Is every
itdSO why our executive government
machinery should he at least as well
planned, economical, and efficient as the
best machinery of the great business
organizations, which at present Is not
the case. To make II so is a task of
complex detail and essentially executive
In its nature, probably no legislative
body, no matter how wise and able.
could undertake il with reasonable pros
pect OF success. ] recommend that the
congress consider this subject with a
view to provide by legislation for The
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assignment of duties and executive or
CARNATIONS or parts of organizations,
and for the changes In business meth
DDS, within or between the several de-
partments, that will best promote the
economy, efficiency and high character
of the government work.
Control of Federal Elections.
In my last annual message. I said:
The power of the government TO pro-
tect the integrity of the elections OF It's
" officials is inherent and has been
aHirmed by repeated declarations of the
supreme court. There IS no enemy of
Tree government more dangerous and
none so inSidious as the corruption OF
the electorate. No one defends or eX-
cuses corruption. and IL would seem Ia
follow that none would oppose vigorous
measures To eradicate IL. / recommend
the enactment Of a law directed against
bribery and corruption M federal cleo
tons. Tho details of such "A law may
BE- safely left 10 the wise discretion OF
the congress-. but II should 20 as far as
under the constitution Il is possible 10
go. and should include severe penalties
against him who gives or receives "A
bribe intended TO influence his act or
opinion as an c%lectoT; and provisions
for the publication not only Of the eX-
pendltures for nominations ana elections
Of all candidates, hut also Of all contri-
buttons received and expenditures made
by political committees"
I desire to repeat this recommended
tion. In political campaigns in a coun-
try as large and populols as ours il Is