Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-12-17

countries
Tho Department cf Stato.
earnestly recommend 10 the favor
able action OF the congress III" esti-
mates submitted by the department OF
state and most especially the ieGisa-
ton suggested in the secretary of
states letter of this date whereby IL
Will be possible TO develop and make
permanent the reorganization OF the
department upon mu'lern lines In 4
manner 10 make il II Thoroughly ef-
ticient instrument In the furtherance
of our foreign trade aud Of American
interests abroad.
Under a provision OF the act OF Aug.
), 1909. have appointed three officials
to assist the officers OF the government
In collecting Information necessary 10
a wise administration of the tariff act
Of Aug. 8. 1909. As to questions of
customs administration they are CO.
operating with the officials of the
treasury department and rs 10 matters
Of the needs and the eXigencies OF our
manufacturers aud exporters with the
department of commerce and labor In
its relation 10 the domestic aspect OF
the subject Of foreign commerce.
As consequence OF section . Of the
tariff act OF Aug. ;. 1909. 1t becomes the
duty OF the secretary Of state to con
duct as diplomatic business all the
negotiations necessary to place him In
a position TO advise me as TO whether
or not II particular country unduly dis
eliminates against the United States
In the sense of the statute referred to.
Government Expenditures and Rev
enues.
Perhaps the most important Ques-
ton presented to this administration
is that OF economy In expenditures and
sutlciency OF revenue.
The report OF the secretary shows
that the ordinary expenditures for the
current fiscal year ending June ~.
1910. will exceed the estimated re-
ceipts by $34.OI5.G20. II to this deficit
are added the sum TO be disbursed for
the Panama canal. amounting TO $685.
100000. and Sl.OO0.OOO to be paid on
the public debt. the deficit Of ordinary
receipts and expenditures will be In
creased to a total deficit Of $13.075.620.
This deficit the secretary proposes to
meet by the proceeds Of bonds issued
to pay the cost OF constructing the
Panama canal. approve this pro-
posal.
Tho Panama Canal.
The policy Of paying for the con-
struction of the Panama canal not
out Of current revenue. but by bond
issue. was adopted in the Spooner act
Of 1902. and there seems to be no good
reason for departing from the princi-
pie by which part at least Of the
burden Of the cost Of the canal shall
fall upon our posterIty. who are to
enjoy 1t. and there is all the more rea-
son for this view because the actual
cost TO date OF the canal. which Is now
half done and which will be completed
Jan. |. 1915. shows that the cost Of
engineering and construction will be
$291. .16G.OOO instead OF S139. 705. 200. as
originally estimated In addition to
engineering and construction. the 9th
er expenses. including sanitation and
government and the amount paid for
the properties. the franchise and the
privilege Of building the canal. in-
crease the cost by $75.43JO0O to n
total Of 1915. .2O1.OOO The increase In
the cost Of engineering and cOnstruc
tion Is due to substantial enlarge
ment Of Sle plan Of construction by
widening the canal 100 feet In the Gu
Zebra cut and by increasing the d.
mensions Of the locks. to the under
estimate Of the quantity Of the work
to be done under the original plan and
to an underestimate Of the cost Of la
Dor and materials. both Of which have
greatly enhanced In price since the
original estimate was made.
Government Economy.
In order to avoid a deficit for the
ensuing fsca! year directed the
heads Of departments In the prepara-
ton Of their estimates to make them
rs low as possible consistent with i'm
perntive governmental necessity. The
result has been. rs I am advised by
tLs secretary Of the treasury. that tie
estimates % expenses Of the gov
ernment Le fiscal year ending
June 80, ...l-thut is. FOR the next
fiscal yeur-are less by $55.003.O
than the total Of appropriations for
the current fiscal year and less by
$94. 100000 than the estimates for that
year. SO far as the secretary Of the
treasury IS able to form judgment as
to future income. there will be no
deficit In the year ending June 80. 1911.
but small surplus OF $7l2,0OO.
In the present estimates the needs
Of the departments and Of the gov
ernment have been cut to the quick.
For the purpose OF securing informa-
ton which may enable the executive
and the legislative branches to unite
In plan f)r the permanent reduction
OF the Co.'S Of governmental admins
tratlon the treasury department has
Instituted an investigation by one Of
the most skilled expert accountants In
the United States The object Of the
investigation is TO devise means to in-
cree Sc the average efficiency Of each
employee. There is great room for i'm
provement toward this end. not only
by the reorganization Of bureaus and
departments and In the avoidance of
duplication. but also In the treatment
Of the individual employee.
Under the present system 1t constant
ly happens that two employees receive
the same salary when the work Of one
Is far more difficult and important and
exacting than that Of the other. Su-
perior ability Is not rewarded or en-
, cOuraged.
Civil Pensions.
AS the degree Of efficiency In all the
departments is much iessened by the re-
tention of old employees who have out
lived their energy and usefulness 1t
Is Indispensable to any proper system
Of economy that provision be made 60
that their separation from the service
shall be easy and inevitable. 1t is i'm
nosSfhla To make guch prOyfsi0n unlpag