Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-12-09

of the needs and the eXigencles of our
manufacturers and exporters with the
department of commerce and labor in
its relation to the domestic aspect of
the subject of foreign commerce.
AS a consequence Of section 2 of the
tariff act of Aug. 8, 1909, 1t becomes the
duty of the secretary of state to con
duct as diplomatic business all the
negotiations necessary to place him In
a position to advise me as TO whether
or not 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 ques
ton presented to this administration
is that of economy in expenditures and
sutticiency of revenue
The report of the secretary shows
that the ordinary expenditures tor the
current fiscal year. ending June 80,
1910, will exceed the estimated re-
ceipts by S34O75.620. If 10 this deficit
are added the sum 20 be disbursed for
the Panama canal. amounting 10 $3S,-
100000. and Sl,0O0.00O to be paid on
the public debt. the deficit of ordinary
receipts and expenditures will be in
creased 10 q total deficit of $I3. .07J, ,G20.
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 10y which a part at least of the
burden of the cost of the canal shall
fall upon our posterity. who are to
enjoy it, 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. l, 1915. shows that the cost of
engineering and construction will be
S297. .766. 900 instead Of $139, ,705,2 200, 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 S75,435,000 to a
total of S375, ,201 900. The increase in
the cost of engineering and construc-
ton is due to q substantial enlarge
ment of the plan of construction by
widening the canal 100 feet In the Gu
Zebra cut and by increasing the di-
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 of the cost of la
Dor and materials. both of which have
greatly enhanced In price since the
original estimate was made.
Government Economy.
In order TO avoid a deficit for the
ensuing fiscal year | directed the
heads of departments In the prepara-
ton of their estimates TO make them
MS low as possible consistent with i'm
result has been. rs I am advised by
the secretary OF the treasury, that the
estimates of the expenses Of the gov
ernment for the fiscal year ending
June so, 1911-that is, for the next
fiscal year-are less by 500, 100000
than the total of appropriations for
the current fiscal year and less by
ha hot
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 80, 1911,
but a small surplus of $712,0O0.
In the present estimates the needs
of the departments and of the gov
ernment have been cut to the quick.
For the purpose of securing informa-
tion which may enable the executive
and the legislative branches to unite
in a 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
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-
couraged.
Civil Pensions.
AS the degree of efficiency I'm all the
departments is much lessened by the re-
tention of old employees who have out
lived their energy and usefulness II
Is Indispensable to any proper system
Of economy that provision be made so
that thei' separation from the service
shall be easy and inevitable. 1t is i'm