The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-12-16

will be possible to develop and make
permanent the reorganization OF the
department upon modern lines in
manner to make It thoroughly eff
fcieut instrument in the furtherance
of our foreign trade and OF American
interests abroad.
Under a provision Of the act of Aug.
5, 1909. I 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 tie domestic aspect OF
the subject of foreign commerce.
AS a consequence Of section = OF the
tariff act Of Aug 5, 1909. it becomes the
duty Of the secretary Of state TO COP
duct as diplomatic business all the
negotiations necessary to place him In
a position TO advise me as to whether
or not a 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 que5-
ton presented to this administration
is that OF economy in expenditures and
sufficiency Of revenue.
The report of the secretary shows
that the ordinary expenditures for the
current fiscal year Guiding June ~.
1910. will exceed the estimated re-
ceipts by $34 O15.f20. If to this deficit
are added the sum to be dishursed for
the Panama canal. amounting to $3S.-
100000. and s1.OOO.O0O to be paid on
the public debt. the deficit Of ordinary
receipts and expenditures will be In
creased to a total deficit of $73.O7o .62O
This deficit the secretary proposes to
meet by the proceeds Of bonds issued
to pay the cost Of constructing the
Panama canal. approve this pro-
posal.
The Panama Canal.
The policy Of paying for the con-
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 part at least Of the
burden Of the cost Of the canal shah
fall upon our posterity. who are to
enjoy 1t. 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. !. 1915. shows that the cost OF
engineering and construction will be
$297766, 600 instead Of $139, 7O5.200. as
originally estimated. In addition to
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. 435,00O to
total Of 1915. POI. 900. The increase in
the cost of engineering and construc-
ton IS due to substantial enlarge
ment Of the plan Of construction by
widening the canal 100 feet in the Gu
Zebra cut and by increasing the d.
mensions Of the locks. to the under
estimate OF the quantity Of the work
to be done under the original plan and
to an underestimate CT the cost OF la
Dor and materials. both OF which have
greatly enhanced II nr!"a since the
original estimate was made.
Government Economy.
In order to avoid deficit for the
ensuing fiscal year 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 I am advised by
the secretary Of the treasury, thai 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 $50, 663, 900
than the total Of appropriations for
the current fiscal year and less by
1914 100000 than the estimates for that
year. SO far as the secretary Of the
treasury is able to form judgment as
TO future income, there will be no
deficit In the year ending June &c. 1911,
but small surplus of $4,000.
III the present estimates the needs
Of the departments and of the gov
eminent have been cut to the quick
For the purpose Of securing informa-
ton which may enable the executive
and the Legislative branches to unite
In a plan for the permanent reduction
Oh 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 1t 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-
Outraged
Civil Pensions.
AS the degree Of efficiency in all the
departments Is much lessened by the re-
tention OF old employees who have out
lived their energy and usefulness it
Is Indispensable to any proper system
OF economy that provision be mnde so
that their separation from the service
Shall be easy and inevitable. 1t 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 n reduction in the standard
OF salaries paid. Indeed. If any change
is made in that regard an Increase
rather than n decrease will be ueces-
sary. aud the only means of economy
VIII be In reducing the number of
employees and in obtaining a greater
average Of efficiency from those re-
taipo1 In bo ,arxt,,