Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-08
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
CONTINUED from page 1.)

In 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 plan for the permanent reduction
OF 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
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
is far more difficult and important and
exacting 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 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 reduction In the standard
of salaries paid. Indeed. If any change
is made In that regard an increase
rather than decrease will be neces-
sary. and the only means Of economy
will be In reducing the number Of
employees and In obtaining greater
average of efficiency from those re-
tanned 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 number OF
the subordinate employees In the
weighing and other departments were
directly concerned and In which the
beneiciaries were the American Sugar
Refining company and others. The
frauds consisted in the payment Of du-
~ On UNDERGRADUATES nf c,,por Tho rov
eminent has recovered from the Amer
lean 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
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
eminent 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-
MES who may have been privy to the
fraud. 1t would seem to me that an
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
call for special reference. In order
that the maximum duty shall be charg
ed against the imports from a country
1T Is necessary that the executive shall
lind on the part of that country not
only determinations in its laws or the
practice under them against the trade
of the United States, but that the dis
examinations found shall be undue
that is. without good and fair reason.
No one is seeking tariff war or con-
dition in which the spirit Of retaliation
shall be aroused.
Tariff Readjustment.
The new tariff law enables me to APP
point tariff board to assist me in con-
nection with the department of state in
the administration Of the minimum and
maximum clause Of the act and also to
assist officers Of the government in the
lieye that the work Of this board Will
be of prime utility and importance
Whenever congress shall deem 1t wise
again to readjust the customs duties.
Ii the facts secured by the tariff board
are of such a character as TO show gen.
orally that the rates Of duties imposed
by the present tariff law are excessive
under the principles Of protection as
described in the platform OF the sue
cessfuI party at the late election
shall not hesitate to invite the atten-
ton Of congress to this fact and to the
necessity for action predicated there
on. Nothing. however. halts business
and interferes with the course OF pros
perity SO much as the threatened revi-
sion of the tariff. and until the facts
are at hand, after careful and deliber-
ate investigation. upon which such re-
vision can properly be undertaken, II
seems to ME unwise to attempt IT.
War Department.
= 49, s,tnraOt nf imma1i0ta econ