Milford chronicle., 1909-12-10

Is far more difficult and important and
exactlng than that Of the other. Su.
periOr ability is not rewarded or en-
cOuraged.
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 made so
that their lration from the service
shall be ed and inevitable. 1t is i'm
possible to axe such provision unless
there is adopted a plan Of civil pen
siOns. We cannot. in view Of the ad-
vancing prices of living. hope to save
/ money by a reduction In the standard
Of salaries paid. Indeed. II any change
is made In that regard an increase
rather than a decrease will be neces-
sary, and the only means OF economy
will be in reducing the number OF
employees and in obtaining a greater
average Of efficiency from those re-
tained In the service.
Frauds In the Collection Of Customs.
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 and other departments were
directly concerned and in which the
benefciaries were the American Sugar
Refining company and others. The
frauds consisted IN the payment Of du-
ty on underweights Of sugar. The gov
ernment has recovered from the Amer
ican Sugar Refining company all that
It is shown TO have been defrauded Of
The sum was received in full Of the
amount due which might have been
recovered by civil action against the |
beneficiary Of the fraud. but there was |
an excess reservation In the contract !
Of settlement by which the settlement /
should not interfere with or prevent 4
the criminal prosecution Of every one
who was found to be subject to the
same.
Criminal prosecutions are now pro-
ceeding against a number of the gov
ernment officers. The treasury de-
partment and the department Of Jus
tice are exerting every effort to dis
cover all the wrOngdOers. including the
officers and employees Of the cOmpa-
nies who may have been privy to the
fraud II would seem to me that an
investigation Of the frauds by con-
gress at present, pending the probing
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 parties.
Maximum and Minimum Clause In
Tariff Act.
Two features Of the new tariff act
,all for special reference. In order
hat the maximum duty shall be charg
ID against he imports from a country
t is necessary that the executive shall
ind on the part Of that country not
,nly determinations in its laws or the
,ractice under them against the trade
4 the United States, but that the dis
found shall be undue
hat Is. without good and fair reason.
10 one is seeking a tariff war or a con {
ltion in which the spirit Of retaliation
hall be aroused.
Tariff Readjustment. /.
The new tariff law enables me to ap- !
oint a tariff board to assist me in con !
ection with the department Of state in !
ie administration Of the minimum and !
Maximum clause Of the act and also to !,
ssist officers Of the government IN tho !.
of the entire law. | be-
eve that '''e work Of this board will 5
e Of prime utility and importance Il
henever congress shall deem it wise 2
gain to readjust the customs duties. =
the facts secured by the tariff board d
e Of such q character as to show gen Il
ally that the rates of duties imposed a.
? the present tariff law are excessiv u
lder the principles Of protection as >
,scribed IN the platform Of the sue j.
ssful party at the late election u
lall not hesitate to invite the atten y
)n of congress- to this fact and to the A
,cessity action predicated there
!. Nothing. however halts business
ID interfefes with the course Of pros eF
rity so much as the threatened revi le
IN Of the tariff ard until the facts IS
e Mt hand. after careful and deliber te
e Investigation. upon which such re ar
sion can properly be undertaken It OF
ems to me unwise 70 attempt It. Gu
War Department. an
N the interest Of immediate econ be
~ ] have required reduction in Pa
e estimates Of tho war department
+ the comlug fiscal year which
ings the total estimates down to an "A
lount forty-Hle millions less than