The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-12-08

and expenditures will be increased to
a total deficit of sf3.G15.sen. This def
icit the secretary proposes to meet by
the proceeds of bonds issued to pay
the cost of constructing the Panama
canal. / approve this proposal
The policy Of paying for the con-
struction of the Panama canal, not out
Of current revenue. but by. bond is
sue. was adopted in the Spooner act
of 1902. and there seems to be no good
reason for departing from, the prin-
cip!e 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
reason for this view because the actual
cost tn date of the canal. which is now
half done and which will be completed
January 1. 1915, shows that the cost
of engineering and constructing will
be 1927 $50. 900. instead of Si39. 1O5.2 200
as originally estimated. In addition to
engineering and construction the other
expenses include sanitation and gov
eminent and the amount paid for the
properties, the franchise and the privi-
lege Of building the canal increase the
cost by $I5.i35,o00 TO more than s275,-
2ol.h90. The increase in the cost of
engineering and construction is due
to substantial enlargement of the
plan Of construction by widening the
canal 100 feet in the Culebra cut and
by increasing the dimensions of the
locks. to the underestimate of the
quantity of the work ia be done. under
the original plan. and to an under
estimate of the cost of labor and ma
terials. both Of which have greatly en-
HANGED in price since the original esti-
mate was made.
In order tn avoid deficit for the
ensuing fiscal year | directed the heads
of departments in the preparation of
their estimates to MAKE. ther1 as low
as possible consistent with imperative
governmental necessity The result
has been, | am advised by the secretary
of the treasury. that the estimates of
the expenses of the government for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1911
that is, for the next fiscal year-5re
less by S5a.663 900 than the total of an
preparations, and less by S9i ODO. 900
than the estimates for that year. So
far as the secretary of the treasury is
able to form a judgment as to future in
come and compare 1t with the expendi-
lures for the next fiscal year ending
June 80. 1911, excluding payments
on account of the Panama canal and
the public debt. there viii be no def
icit i'm the year ending June 80, 1911.
but small surplus Of s712. 900 In the
present estimates the needs of the de-
partments of the government have
been cut to the quick so to speak. and
any assumption On the part of con-
gress, SO often made in times past. that
the estimates have been prepared with
the expectation that they may be re-
Guced. viii result in seriously hamper
ing the proper administration. 70,
The Secretary Of the treasury points
out what should be carefully noted in
respect to this reduction in govern
mental expenses for the next fiscal wear
that the economies are Of two kinds:
one. there is, II saving in. the permanent
administration of the departments bu-
reaus and offices of the government,
ana, second there is a present reduc-
hon IN expenses by Il postponement
OF projects and improvements that Ill
tlmateiv viii have to be carried out.
bit which are now delayed with the
nope that additional revenue in the
future VIII permit of their execution
without procuring deficit
1t has been Impossible i'm the prem
afatlons OF estimates greatly to re-
duce the cost OF permanent legisla-
ton. This cannot be done without n
thorough organization of tina bureaus,
OFFICES and departments. For the pur-
pose OF securing Information which
may enable the executive and the leg
lsiatiFs branches To unite in n plan
Tor the permanent reduction of the
cost of government administration the
treasury department has instituted en-
investigation by one of the most skilled
accountants in the United States. The
result of his work i'm two or thre.
bureaus, which II it is extended to tn.
entire government, may occupy two or
more years. has been to show much
room Tor Improvement and opportunity
for substantial reductions in the cost
and increased efficiency of administra
ton The object of the Investigation is
to devise means to increase the aver
age efficiency of each employe. There
is great room for improvement toward
this end. not only by REORGANIZATION
of bureaus and departments and in the
avoidance of duplication, but also II,
the treatment of the individual EN-
ploye. szz- -s- --.,
Under the present system it con-
stantls happens that two employees re-
ceive the same salary when the work
of one is far more difficult and i'm
portant and exacting than that of tn.
other. Superior ability is not rewarded
nor encouraged. AS the classification is
by salary an empioye often
rises 10 the highest class while doing
the easiest work, for which alone he
may be fitted. An investigation or
dered by my predecessor resulted in
the recommendation that the civil
service be reclassified according to
the kind of work SO that the work re-
curing most application and knowl-
edge and ability shall receive most
compensation. l believe such a change
would be fairer To the whole force and
would permanently improve the per
sonnet of the service.
More than this, every reform direct
ed toward the Improvement of the
average efficiency of government en-
pioyes must depend upon the ability
Of the executive to eliminate frop,, tba