Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
tcontinued from Page Five.)

other practical scfqt1on of the diff
culties presented by the superan-
nuation Of civil servants can be found
than that of a system of civil PEN
sions.
The business and expenditures Of
the Government have expanded enor-
mously since the Spanish war, but as
the revenues have increased in nearly
the same proportion as the expendi-
lures until recently, the attention of
tho public, and of those responsible
for the Government, has not been fas-
tened upon the question of reducing
the cost of administration. We can
not, in view of the advancing prices OF
living, hope to save money by re-
duction in the standard of salaries
paid. Indeed, if any change is made in
that regard, an increase rather than a
decrease will be necessary; and the
only means Of economy will be in re-
ducing the number of employees and
in Obtaining a greater average of eff
cheney from those retained in the SER
vice.
Close investigation and study need
ed to make definite recommendations
in this regard will consume at least
two years. note with much satisfac-
ton the organization in the Senate Of
a Committee on Public Expenditures,
charged with the duty Of conducting
such an investigation, and tender to
that. committee all the assistance
which the executive branch of the
Government can possibly render.
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 number of
the subordinate employees in the
weighing and other departments were
directly concerned, and in which the
teneficiaries 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 all
t!at it is shown to have been defraud-
cd 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 contrac.
of settlement by which the settlement
should not interfere with, or prevent
the criminal prosecution of everyone
who WAS found to be subject to the
same.
Criminal prosecutions are now pro-
ceeding against number of the Gov
errment officers. The Treasury De.
partment and the Department of JUS
'ice are eXerting every effort to dis
cover all the wrongdoers, including the
officers and employees of the compa-
MOS who may have been privy to the
fraud. 1t would seem TO me that an
of the frauds by Con-
aress at present, pending the probing
by the Treasury Department and the
nenartment 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
e.. IN TARIFF ACT.
Two features of the new tariff act
call for special reference. By virtue of
the clause known as the Maximum
dlAu ClduStp IL .!iC uuly
of the Executive to consider the laws
and practices of other countries with
reference to the importation into those
countries If the products and mer-
chandise of the United States. and If
the Executive finds such laws and
practices not to be unduly discrimina-
tory against the United States, the
minimum duties provided in the bill
are to go into force. Unless the Prcsi-
dent makes such a finding, then the
maximum duties provided in the bill,
that is. an increase of twenty-five per
cent. ad valorem over the minimum
duties, are to be in force. Fear has
been expressed that this power con-
ferred and duty imposed on the Exc
cutive is likely to lead to a tariff war.
beg to express the hope and belief
that no such result need be anticipa-
ted.
The discretion granted to the Execu-
tive by the terms "unduly discrimina-
tory" is wide. In order that the max.
imum duty shall be charged against
the imports from country, it is nee
essary that he shall find On the part of
that country not only determinations
80 ava Ass"" VI SiS lJi stCtlCc uIiueI LIltIil
against the, trade of the United States,
but that the determinations found
shall be undue: that is, without good
ard fair reason. l conceive that this
power was reposcd in the President
with the hope that the maximum du-
ties might never be applied in any
case, but that the power to apply them
would enable the President and the
state Department through friendly me-
gotiatfon to secure the elimination
from the laws and the practice under
them of any foreign country Of that
which is unduly discriminatory. No
one is seeking tariff war or condi-
ton in which the spirit of retaliation
shall be aroused
USES OF THE NEW TARIFF
BOARD.
The new tariff law enables me to an.
point tariff board to assist me in
connection with the Department of
State in the administration of the MIN
imum and maximum clause of the act
and also to assist officers of the Gov
ernment in the administration of the
entire law. An examination of the
law and an understanding of the ma
ture of the facts which should be con.
StCered in diScharyinc tho f,no+;o,s