Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-12-15

in seriously hampering proper admin
istration. Efforts being made TO re
duce the cost of governmental admin
istration and the question of dismiss
ing useless employees are discussed.
Civil Pensions.
Nr. Taft notes the objection to the
establishment of civil pensions. but
says he is convinced that no other
practical solution of the difficulties
presented by the approximation of
civil servants can be found than that
of system of civil pensions.
Sugar FrauGs.
I 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 ana other departments were
beneficiaries were the American Sugar
Refining company and others. The
| frauds consisted in the payment of
duty on underweights of sugar. The
| government has recovered from the
American Sugar Refining company ali
that it is shown to have been de-
| frauded Of The sum was received in
full of the amount due, which might
have been recovered by civil suit
against the beneficiary of the fraud,
but there was an express reservation
in the contract of settlement by which
the settlement should not interfere
with, or prevent the criminal prosecu-
tion of everyone who was found to be
subject to the same.
Criminal prosecutions are now
proceeding against a number of the
government officers. The treasury
department and the department OF
justice are exerting every effort to
discover all the wrongdoers, including
the officers and employees of the com
panies who may have been privy to
the fraud. 1t would seem to me that
an investigation Of the frauds by
congress at present, pending the prob
ing by the treasury department and
the department of justice, as proposed,
might by giving immunity and other
wise prove an embarrassment in Sc
curing conviction of the guilty par
ties"
The Tariff.
President Taft discusses the tariff
and the operation of the maximum
and minimum clause in the act. He
says that in the working of this, fear
has been expressed that the power
conferred and duty imposed on the
executive is likely to lead to a tar
iff war. 81 beg to express the hope
and belief that no such result need
be anticipated" Mr.. Taft says. 81
conceive that this power vas reposed
in the president with The hope that
The maximum duties might never be
applied in any case. but that the
power to apply them would enable
the president and the state depart
ment through friendly negotiation to
secure the elimination from the laws
and the practice under them of any
! foreign country of that which is I'M
duly discriminatory. No one is seek
ing a tariff war, or condition i'll
which the spirit of retaliation shall
be aroused"
The new tariff board is discussed.
II believe he continues, that the
work of this board will be of prime
utility and Importance whenever con-
gress shall deem it wise again to re-
adjust the customs duties. If the
| facts secured by the board are of such
character as to show generally that
the rates of duties imposed by the
tariff law are excessive under the
principles of protection as described
in the platform Of the successful
| party at the late election, shall not
hesitate to invite the attention of con-
gress to this fact and to the necessity
for action predicated thereon. Moth
ing, however, halts business and inter-
feres with the course of prosperity so
much as the threatened revision of
the tariff, and until the facts are at
hand, after careful and deliberate in
| vestigation, upon which such revision
can properly be undertaken, it seems
to me unwise to attempt it."
In the interest Of immediate econ
omy and because of the prospect of a
deficit, have required a reduction IN
the estimates of the war department,
which brings the total estimates
down to forty-five millions less than
the corresponding estimates for last
year. This could only be accom-
plished by cutting off new projects
and suspending for the period OF one
year all progress in military matters.
For the same reason, l have directed
that the army shall not be recruited
up to its present authorized strength.
These measures can hardly be more
than temporary-to last until our reve-
nues are in better condition and until
the whole question of the expediency
of adopting definite military policy
can be submitted to congress" The
president concurs in the judgment
of the military and naval joint board
in favor of making an extensive naval
base at Pearl harbor, near Honolulu,
and not In the Philippines.
Navy Reorganization.
Early in the coming session." he
saws 80 nnr,prahapSiro u1an fnr the