The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-12-10

\ Unitsa agasss IN the osaso g ne STAT.
ute inferred 70. The great scope and
| oomploxity OF this work. ~ well a.
the Obligation to lend all proper aid
| to our expanding commerce. 10 met by
the expansion Of the bureau Of trade
relations a. set forth In the estimates
| for the department OF state.
Government Expenditure and Revs.
nues.
Perhaps the most important question
presented to this administration II that
OF economy In expenditures and sum-
last fiscal year. and tina certain dencit
Of the current year. prompted congress
to throw . greater responsibility on
the executive and the secretary OF the
treasury than had heretofore been de-
clared by statute. This declaration
treasury the duty OF Assembling all the
estimates Of the executive departments
bureaus. and omces. OF the sxpendi-
lures necessary In the ensuing fiscal
| year. and OF making An estimate Of
the revenues OF the government for
the same period: and II . probable
deficit II thus shown. Il II made the
duty OF the president to recommend
the method by which such deficit can
be met.
| The report Of the secretary shows
that the ordinary expenditures for the
current fiscal year ending June 80. 1910.
| will exceed the estimated receipts by
| S3l.o7s.e20. II to this deiicit is added
the sum to be disbursed for the Pam
anna Canal. amounting to SIS, o00. 0OO
and 31.000.o0o to be paid on the public
debt. the dencit Of ordinary receipts
| and expenditures will be Increased to
total deficit Of s73.o75.e2o. This de-
l 80 ~
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 Issues
was adopted in the spooner act Of
1890. and there seems to be no good
reason for departing from the prin-
ctple by which part at least Of the
burden OF the cost of the canal shall
fall upon our posterity who are to en-
Joy II: and there II all the more rea-
son Tor this view because the actual
cost to date of the canal. which 10 now
half done and which will be completed
anuary !. 1915. shows that the cost OF
engineering and construction will be
S9s7 10000. instead Of $3.50. 7o5. 200. ~
originally estimated. In addition to
expenses. including sanitation and gov
eminent, and the amount paid for the
properties. the franchise, and the privi-
leEe OF building the canal. increase the
cost Of S75.436.oo0. to q total Of S37S.-
100000. The increase in the cost Of
engineering and construction IL due to
q substantial enlargement OF the plan
OF construction by widening the canal
100 feet In the Culebra cut and by In
creasing the dimensions Of the locks
to the underestimate Of tho quantity OF
the work to be done under the orig
inal plan. and to an underestimate of
the cost OF labor and materials. both of
which have greatly enhanced in price
since the original estimate was made.
In order to avoid a deficit for the
ensuing fiscal year. I directed the
heads of departments In the prepare
tion 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 tho treasury, that the es-
Inmates for the expenses of the gov
eminent for the next fiscal year end
Ing June 80. 1911. are less than the APP
propriations for this current fiscal
year by S42.S1S.o0o. So far AZ the sec
rotary Of the treasury II able to form
judgment as to future income and
compare II with the expenditures for
the next fiscal year ending June 20.
1911. and excluding payments on ac-
count OF the Panama Canal. which will
doubtless be taken up by bonds. there
will be . surplus OF $35,S3i, 900.
In the present estimates the needs
or the departments and OF the govern
ment have been cut to tho quick. 10 to
speak. and any assumption on the
part OF congress. 30 often made in
times past. that the estimates have
been prepared with the expectation
that they may be reduced, will result
In seriously hampering proper admin
istration.
To reduce the cost OF permanent
administration, says the president, .
thorough reorganization Of bureaus,
onaces and departments would be nee
essary. An expert accountant has
been making an Investigation into this
matter and the result Of his work
shows opportunity for both substan.
tial reductions In cost and increase Of
efficiency.
Frauds In the Collection Of Customs.
regret to refer to the fact OF the dis
covery OF extensive frauds in the collec-
ton OF the customs revenue at New York
city. In which . number OF tho subor-
dinats employees In the weighing and
other departments were directly con-
cerned. and in which the benenciariss
were the American Sugar Refining Com
pany and others. The frauds consisted
In the payment Of duty on undsrwsights
OF sugar. The government has recovered
from the American Sugar Refining Com
pany all that II II shown to have been de-
frauded OF. The sum was received In fun
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 GRIM |
inal prosecution OF everyone who was
found to be subject to the sane.
Criminal prosecutions are now proceed |
ing against Q number OF the government
officers. The treasury department and the |
department OF Justice are exerting every
effort to discover all the wrongdoers, In |
GLIDING the ofhcers and employees Of the |
companies who may have been privy' to |
the fraud. II would seem to mo that an |
Of the frauds by congress at |
present. pending the probing by the treas |
ury department and the department OF |
Justice. a. proposed. might by giving i'm |
munity and otherwise prove an embar-
rassment in securing conviction OF the |
guilty parties.