Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-07-19
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOW EN-
PLoYS 3,fo5 AGENTS.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Ten Years Ago the Number Was
Only 7o2-Much of the Work
Belongs Properly to States, Says
MIR. Tawney, Chairman of the House
Committee on Appropriations.

The amazing increase of centraliza-
ton Of federal power within the last
ten years is shown in a statement pre-
pared by Chairman Tawney, of the
house committee on appropriations.
based on information furnished by
the executive heads of the various de-
partments.
1t shows that special agents, inspec-
tors and examiners have increased in
ten years from 702 men, at an annual
cost of sses,762, to 3,105 employees,
costing $4,546,32S a year. This vast
amount is spent each year, Mr.. Taw-
ney claims, solely for the purpose of
making inquiries into what should be
done by the states themselves to a
large degree. The states are relin-
gushing much of their power to the
federal government for the sole pur-
pose of escaping the expense of prop
erly carrying on internal affairs.
Much of the Capitalization is un.
doubtedly due to the stand taken by
the president who has openly advo.
Gated it in all his messages to con-
gress, and so much SO in his last mes
sage that it was characterized as 'the
most amazing programme of centrali-
cation any president ever submitted
to congress.
In the internal revenue bureau of
the treasury department, which needs
inspectors and special agents for the
purpose of protecting it from fraud
and to prevent the manufacture of il
licit whiskey, there has been an in
crease of only Is per cent in the num-
Der of employees, although during the
last ten years the internal revenues
have increased some "A per cent.
The increase in the department OF
agriculture is 3s3 per cent. from 100
in 1896 the special employees have
grown to 773 in 1906. These special
agents, inspectors and examiners of
the department of agriculture are en-
gagged in all manner of work from act
ing as housekeepers for insects to
making roads. 1t is claimed that
much of the work now being done by
these special employees in the depart
ment of agriculture is duplicated in
the census bureau.
In the post-office department the in
spectors, special agents, ETC., in mail
depreciation cases show an increase OF
100 per cent as to number and 1874 per
cent as to amount appropriated.
There were 10S Of them in 1896; now
they number 226 and cost the govern
ment s36S,150 year.
The inspectors, special agents and
examiners of the land office have in
creased from 81 in 1896 to 12e in 1906,
an increase in numbers of 70 per cent,
and at an increased cost of Sc per
cent. In assistant superintendent
and agents the post-office department
has increased SIS per cent, or from 4
in 1896, at cost of $4,000, to 80 in
1906, at cost of $4,000.
There are 81 special attorneys, spe.
cial examiners and special agents in
the bureau of corporations of the de-
partment of commerce and labor, cost
ing the government s62,152, and the
asa immigration inspectors of the de-
partment of commerce and labor cost
S664,665 year.
Examiners and special agents in the
department of justice have increased
from II in 1896 to 20 in 1906, an in
crease of SO per cent in number, cost
ing the government some $4,000 al
year, an increase of cost of 81 per
cent.
No report could be obtained by
Chairman Tawney from the secret SER
vice bureau of the treasury depart
ment as to the number of men car
ried on its rolls. This bureau con-
tends that it is not required to make
public any part of its work, personnel
or expenditures. The cost of main
tanning it has increased in ten years
92 per cent, the appropriation in the
year 1896 being $4,000, while in 1906
it is s125,000. The increase of spe-
cial agents in the bnrean of labor
amounts to 100 per cent, there being
20 in 1896 and 40 in 1906.
The information contained in thel
statement will be used by Mr.. Taw-
ney in an effort to learn exactly what
all these special agents are doing, and
in departments. in which