Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-08

Under the present system It con-
stantly 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. Superior ability IL not re-
| warded or encouraged. AS the classl-
fication Is now entirely by salary, an
| employee often rises to the highest
class while doing the easiest work.
| for which alone h. may be fitted. IN
investigation ordered by my .predeces-
scr resulted In the accommodation
| that the civil service be reclassified
according to the kind of work, so that
| the work requiring most application
| and knowledge and ability shall re-
| ceive most compensation. I believe
such change would be fairer 10 the
| whole force and would permanently
| improve the personnel OF the service.
More than this, every reform d.
| rected toward the improvement in the
| average efficiency OF government en-
| ployess must depend on the ability OF
| the executive 10 eliminate from the
government service those who are IN
! efficient from any cause, and as the
degree OF efficiency in all the depart
ments is much lessened by the re-
| tention of old employees who have
| ouilived their energy aud usefulness.
Il Is indispensable to any proper sys-
tenn Of economy that provision be
made so that their separation from
the service shall be easy and ineyita-
BILE. II is impossible 10 make such
provision unless there is adopted a
plan Of civil pensions.
Civil Pension System.
am aware that there is a strong
feeling In beth houses OF congress.
and possibly In the country. against
the establishment of civil pensions.
and that this has naturally grown out
Of the heavy burden of military pen
sions, which it has always been the
pol.cy of our government to assume;
but | am strongly convinced that no
other practical solution of the difficult
ties presented by the approximation
of civil servants can be found than
! that of q system of civil pensions.
1 ne UtSlfltSb anu "a
| the goverDmt Mt have expanded enor-
morsly since the Spanish war, out
| as the revenues have increased In
| nearly the same proportion as the ex-
pspditures until recently. the atten-
| ton of the public. and of those re-
sponsible for the government. has not
been fastened upon the question OF
.nf admin at ration
We cannot, In view of the advancing
prices Of living, hope to save money
| by reduction in the standard OF
| salaries raid Indeed, If any change
! in that regard an increase rather
than a decrease will be necessary;
and the only means OF economy VIII
| be In reducing the number Of en-
: ployees and in obtaining a greater
average of efficiency from those re-
| tanned in the service.
Frauds in Collection of Customs.
| regret TO refer to the fact OF the
| discovery of extensive frauds in the
| collections OF the Customs revenue at
New York city. in which number
of the subordinate employees in the
weighing department were directly
concerned and In which the bene-
ficaries were the American Sugar Re
! fning Company and others
The frauds consisted in the pay
ment OF duty on underweights Of sugar
! The government has recovered from
the American Sugar Refining Com
F, pany all that it is shown to have been
4 q
Criminal prosecutions are now pro-
ceeding against number Of the gov
ernment officers. The treasury de-
partmept and the department OF JUS
t!ce are sxerting every effort to DIS
cover all the wroEgdoers. including
the officers and employees OF the COM
panies who may have been privy 10
1 the fraud.
J II would seem TO me that an inyes-
| tigaticn Of the frauds by congress al
present, pending the probing by the
| treasury department and the depart
ment OF justice. as proposed. might
by giving immunity and otherwise
prove an embarrassment in securing
| conviction OF the guilty parties.
Maximum and Minimum Clause.
| Two features of the new tar'f act
call for special reference. BY virtue
Of the clause known as the Maxi
mum and Minimum clause. II is the
duty OF the executive to consider the
laws and practices of other countries
with reference to the importation into
those countries OF the products and
| merchandise Of the United states.
and ~ the executive finds such laws
and practices not TO be uDduly dis
crimiEatory against the United states.
the minimum duties provided IN the
bill are 20 90 into force. Unless the
! President makes such finding. then
the maximum duties provided in the
bill. that is. an sucrease OF twenty