The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-12-16
Co.
Corner Westvand Grove SITS.
The Big Store on the Corner
Rutland. Vermont

iuf secretary OF tne treasury lHat lHe
estimates of the expenses of the gov
ernment for the fiscal year ending
June 80, l81l-that is, for the next
fiscal year are less by $5J,663,000
than the total of appropriations for
the current fiscal year and less by
$9l000,000 than the estimates for that
year. So fur as the secretary Of the
treasury is able TO form Judgment as
20 future income, there will be no
deficit in the year ending June 80, 1911,
but n small surplus of $7l20O0
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.
tion which may enable the executive
and the legislative branches to unite
In plan for the permanent reduction
OF the cost of governmental admins
tration 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
crease 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 II 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 lessened by the re
tentlon of old employees who have out
lived their energy and usefulness II
is Indispensable to any proper system
of economy that provision be made so
that their separation from the service
shall be easy and Inevitable. II is i'm
possible TO make such provision unless
there is adopted plan of civil pen.
sions We cannot, In view OF the ad.
vancing prices OF living, hope to save
money by reduction In the standard
of salaries paid. Indeed. If any change
is made In that regard an increase
rather than decrease will be neces-
sary. aud the only means OF economy
will be In reducing the number of
employees and IN obtaining a greater
average of efficiency from those re
tanned In the service
Frauds In the Collection Of Customs
regret to refer to the fact of the
discovery Of extensive frauds In the
collection of the customs revenue at
New York city. IN which a number of
the subordinate employees In the
weighing and other departments were
directly concerned aud In which the
were the American Sugar I
Refining company and others. The 4
frauds consisted IN the payment Of du
ty on undcrweights Of sugar. The gov
has recovered from the Amer !
lean Sugar Refining company all that /
IL II shown 70 have been defrauded Of
The sum was received IN full Of the .
amount due which might have been
recovered by civil action against the 1
Of the fraud. but there was
40 excess reservation In the contract 4
n settlement by which the settlement 1
(Yfa fslf NN
.he criminal prosecution Of every one I
who was found 70 be subject to the
same.
Criminal prosecutions are now pro.
,eedlne against number Of the gov
.rnment officers The treasury Dc
lartment aud the department u JUS
ice are exerting every effort 10 dis
over ali the wrongdorrs including the
ulcers and employees of the compa
lies who may have been priyy 70 the
'raud II would seem to me that m
Investigation of the frauds by con.
gress at present. pending the probing
~ the treasury department and the
u justice. as proposed.
night by giving immunity and other
wise prove an embarrassment IN se-
.urlng conviction Of the guilty parties
dssimum and Minimum Clause In
Tariff Act.
Two features " the new tarlH aci
al for special reference 10 order
hat the maximum duty shall be eharg
q against the imports from n country
/ IL necessary that the executive shall
nd On the part Of that country BOT
nly Determinations iu its laws or the
ractiee under them against the trade
( The United States. bot that the dis
found shall be undue
hat Is, without good and fair reason
70 Que Il seeking iafin war or d con
iti0n ia which the spirit Of retaliation
hali be aroused.