The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-08

merely on the needs. but on the de-
sires. of the people as a whole: for
needs n desires are not necessarily
identical. OF course no change can
be made on lines beneficial to. or des.r-
ed by. one section or one State only
There must be something like a general
agreement among the citizens of the
several States, as represented In the
Congress. that the change is needed
and desired I'm he interest of the Deo-
pie as a whole: and there should then
be a sincere. intelligent. and disinter-
ested effort to make 1t in such shape as
VIII combine. SO far as possible. the
X 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 must on the average.
taking a series of years together. equal
the expenditures or else the revenues
must be increased. Last year there
was n deficit. Unless our expenditures
can be KEEP within the revenues then
our revenue laws must be readiusted.
1t is as yet too early to attempt to out
line what shape such a readiustment
should take. for 1t is as vet too early
to san whether there will be need for
it. 1t should be considered whether it
it not desirable that the tariff laws
should provide for applying as against
or in favor of any other nation maxi
mum n minimum tariff rates estab-
lshed by the Congress-. SO as to secure
a certain reciprocity of treatment be-
tween other nations and ourselves.
Having in view wen larger considera-
tons Of policy than those of a purely
economic nature. it would. in my
Judgment. be we'll to endeavor to bring
about closer commercial connections
With the other peoples of this CONT
nent. / am happy to be able to an
nounce to o that Russia now treats
US on the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. basis.
Economy i'm Expenditures.
earnestly recommend to the Con-
greSs the need of economy Inc to this
end of Il rigid scrutinV of apprOpria-
tons. AS examples merely. I call YOU
attention to n or two specific mat
tiers. All unnecessary 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 a quarter Of a million dollars a
year. AS the business of the Nation
grows it is inevitable that there should
be from time to time a legitimate in
crease in the numbe Of officials. and
this fact renders it all the more i'm
Dortant that when Offices become un-
necessary they should be abolished. 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 infor-
nation. 1t is probably not unfair to
say that many tens of thousands of
volumes are published at which no hui
man being eve looks and for which
there is no r"al demand whatever.
Yet. in speaking of I must
i'll no wise be understood as advoCatinr
the false which is in the end
the worst extravaganza. To cut down
on the Navy. for instance. would be a
crime against the Nation. To fail to
push forward all work on the Panama
Canal would he as great a folly.
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 erualized to meet
the VARYING needs of the seasons and
Of Widely'SeDarated communities. and
to prevent the recurrence of financial
s~tringencies which iniuriously affect
legitimate business. it is necessary tina
there should be an element of elactic-
ity in our monetary system. sank are
the natural servants of commerce. and
upon them should be placed. as far as
practicable. the burden of furnishing
and maintaining a circulation ADEQUATE
to supply the needs Of our diversified
industries and Of our domestic and
foreign commerce: and the issue of
this should be so regulated that a
sufficient supply should be always
available for the business interests of
the country"
Every consideration Of prudence de-
mands 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 does not respond
as it should to the varying needs Of
communities and of seasons. Imitation
must be avoided: but some provision
should be made that will insure a
larger volume Of money during the fall
n winter months thai in the less ac-
tive seasons Of the year: so hat the
currency will contract AGAINST srncTla-
ton. and will expand for the needs of
legitimate business. At present the
Treasury Department IS at ~irregularly
recurring intervals obliged. in the in
terest of the business world-that is. in
the interests of the American public
TO try to avert financial crises by pro-
vidinC a remedy which should be pro-
vided bv Congressional action.
Business Methods in Departments.
a diiOdS III l. i1dNC lllSlItUlSu III
vestigations into the organization and
conduct of the business of the Execu-
tive departments. While none Of these
inquiries ave vet progressed far
enough to warrant final conclusions.
they nave already confirmed and en-
phasized the general impression that
the organization of the DEPARTMENT.
is often faulty in principle and waste
full in results, while man. of their bus
mess methods are a~ntiduated and in
efficient. There is every reason why
u executive governmental machinery
should be at least as we'll planned.
economical. and efficient as the best
machinery Of the great business or
carnations. which at present IS not the
case. To make it so is a task of COM
pick detail and essentially executive in
its nature: probably no legislative
body, no matter how wise and able.
could undertake it with reasonable
prospec of success. I recommend
that the Congress consider this subject
with a view to rovide by legislation