The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-12-10


treaty between the United States and
Japan which is terminable in 1912 Is
already receiving the study of both
countries.
The Department of State.
/ earnestly recommend to the favor
able action of the congress the esti-
mates submitted by the department OF
state and most especially the legisla-
ton suggested in the secretary OF
states letter Of this date whereby 1t
will be possible to develop and make
permanent the reorganization OF the
department upon modern lines in a
manner to make it thoroughly eff
ficient instrument in the furtherance
of our foreign trade and of American
interests abroad.
Under q provision of the act of Aug.
5, 1909. have appointed three officials
to assist the officers of the government
In collecting information necessary to
a wise administration Of the tariff act
of Aug. 5, 1909. AS to questions of
customs administration they are CO.
operating with the officials of the
treasury department and as to matters
of the needs and the exigencies of our
manufacturers and exporters with the
department of commerce and labor in
its relation to the domestic aspect of
the subject of foreign commerce.
As consequence of section of the
tariff act of Aug. 5, 1909, it 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 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
sutficiency of revenue.
The report of the secretary shows
that the ordinary expenditures for the
current fiscal year ending June 30,
1910, will exceed the estimated re-
ceipts by $34,O75,620. If to this deficit
the Panama canal, amounting to $685.
100000. and $1.O00,O00 to be paid on
the public debt, the deficit of ordinary
receipts and expenditures will be in
creased to a total deficit of $73,O15.620.
This deficit the secretary proposes to
meet by the proceeds of bonds issued
to pay the cost of constructing the
posal.
The Panama Canal.
The policy of paying for the coE
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 a part at least Of the
burden Of the cost OF the canal shall
fall upon our posterity, who are to
enjoy it, 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. 1, 1915, shows that the cost Of
engineering and construction will be
! 1927, 100000 instead of S139, 7O5.2O0, as
originally estimated In addition tC
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. $75,435,000 to a
total of 1915, 1000. The increase in
the cost of engineering and construc-
ton is due to a substantial enlarge
ment of the plan Of construction by
widening the canal 100 feet in the Gu
zebra cut and by increasing the dt-
mansions of the locks, to the under
estimate Of the quantity Of the work
to be done under the original plan md
to an underestimate Of the cost Il la
Dor and materials, both of which have
greatly enhanced in price since the
original estimate was made.
Government Economy.
I'm order to avoid a deficit for the
ensuing fiscal year l directed the
heads of departments in the prepare
ton of their estimates to make them
as low as possible consistent with i'm
perative governmental necessity. The
result has been. as am advised by
the secretary Of the treasury, that the
estimates Of the expenses of the gov
eminent for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1911-that Is, for the next
fiscal year-are less by $55,663, 900
than the total Of appropriations for
the current fiscal year and less by
394,OO0,000 than the estimates for that
year. SO far as the secretary Of the
treasury is able to form a judgment as
20 future income, there will be no
deficit in the year ending June 80, 1911,
but small surplus of $4,000.
| In the present estimates the needs
of the departments and of the gov
'rnment have been cut to the quick.
Tor the purpose of securing informa-
-Yon which may enable the executive
and the legislative branches to unite
in a plan for the permanent reduction
OIL 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
nv the raOrpa MIA tiOn of bl1raorS and