Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-12-17

departments IN kIlt preparation SL their
estimates to make them as low as possible
consistent with imperative governmental
necessity. The result has been as l am
advised by the secretary of the treasury
that the for the expenses of
the government for the next fiscal year
ending June so, 1911, are less than the
appropriations for this current fiscal year
by S42,S1S,O 600. So far as the secretary
of the treasury is able to form a judg-
ment as to future income and compare It
with the expenditures for the next fiscal
year ending June so, 1911, and exclud-
ing payments on account of the Panaua
canal which will doubtless be taken up
by bonds, there will be a surplus of $35,-
90 1000.
In the present estimates the needs of
the departments and of the government
have been cut to the quick. so to speak,,
and any assumption on the part of Con-
gresS, so 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
administration
The secretary of the treasury points out
what should be carefully noted in respect
to this reduction in governmental ex-
penses for the next fiscal year, that. the
economies are two kinds-frst. there is a
saving in the permanent administration of
the departments. bureaus, and offices of
the government; and, second, there is a
present reduction in expenses by a post
ponement of projects and improvements
that ultimately will have TO be carried
out, but which are now delayed with the
hope that additional revenue in the future
Will permit their execution without pro-
ducing a deficit.
am aware that there is a strong feel
ing in both houses of Congress-, and pos
sibly in the country, against the estab-
lishment OF civil pensions, and that this
has naturally grown out of the heavy
burden of military pensions, which it has
always been the policy of our government
to assume but l am strongly convinced
that no other practical solution of the
difficulties presented by the S"uperannua-
ton of civil servants can be found than
that of a system of civil pensions.
The business and expenditures of the
government have expanded enormously
since the Spanish war, but as the rev
enues have increased in nearly the same
proportion as the expenditures until re-
Gently, the attention of the public, and
of those responsible for the government,
has not been fastened upon the question
of reducing the cost OF administration,
We cannot, in view OF the advancing prices
of living, hope to save money by a re-
duction in the standard of salaries paid.
Indeed, if any change is made in that
regard, an increase rather thar a de-
crease will be necessary; and the only
means of economy will be in reducing
the number OF employees and in obtaining
a greater average of efficiency from those
retained in the service.
Frauds in the Customs Service.
| 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 a number Of the subordi-
nate employees in the weighing and other
departments We're directly concerned. and
in which the beneiciaries We're the Amer
lean Sugar Refining Company and others.
The frauds consisted in the payment of
duty on underweights of sugar. The gov
ernrnent has recovered from the American
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 suit against the beneficiary of fraud,
but there was an express 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 proceed
ln G AGAINST a number of the government
officers. 1t would seem to me that an
investigation of the frauds by Congress
at present. pending the probing by the
treasury department and the department
of justice, as proposed. might by giving
immunity and otherwise prove an en-
barrassment in securing conviction of the
guilty parties.
The New Tariff Law.
Two features of the new tariff act call
clause known as the Maximum and Min
imum' clause, it is the duty of the exec
utive to consider the laws and practices
of other countries with reference to the i'm
portation into those countries of the prod
ucts and merchandise of the United
States, and If the executive finds such laws
in&tcry a. inst the United states. al"
lniu!-.um Gult"S provided in the bin are
To- 70 i"t" "OjCV uulo"s ;hr Prcstden:
r. I%t~ 'uHlr - iinh!us, tncu TIE IluNimuu.
duties p.oyided in the bill, that is, an IN
crease of IS per cent ad valorem over the
minimum duties, are to be in force. Fear
has been expressed that this power con
ferred and duly imposed on the executive
is likely to cad to a tariff war. l beg to
express the hope and belief that no such
result need be anticipated.
The discretion granted to the Executive
by the terms "unduly discriminatory is
wide. In order that the maximum duty
shall be charged against the imports from
n country, it is necessary that he shall
find on the part of that country not only
determinations in it's laws or the practice
under them against the trade of the init
ed States, but that the Determinations
found. shall be undue that is, without
good and fair reason. l conceive that this
power was reposed in the President with
the hope that the maximum duties might
never be applied in any case. but that
the power to apply them would enable the
President and the state department
through friendly negotiation to secure the
elimination from the laws and the prac-
tee under them of any foreign country
of that which is unduly discriminatory.
No one is seeking a tariff war or a con-
dition in which the spirit of retaliation
shall be aroused.
The new tariff law enables me to APP
point a 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
Del I VI liz u ti liz III llt
administration of the entire law. An eX-
animation of the law and an understand
ing of the nature of the facts which
should be considered in discharging the
functions imposed upon the executive show
that | have the power to direct the tariff
board to make a comprehensive glossary
and encyclopedia of the terms used and
articles embraced in the tariff law, and
to secure information as to the cost of
production of such goods in this country
and the cost of their production in foreign
countries. / have therefore appointed a
tariff board consisting of three member
and have directed them to perform all the
duties above described.
War and Navy Departments.
In the interest of immediate economy
and because of the prospect of a deficit, !
have required a reduction in the mi
of the war department for the coming fs-
cal year, which brings the total esti-
mates down to an amount $45. 900, 900 less
than the corresponding estimates for last
year. The secretary OF war calls attan-
ton to a number of needed changes in the
army, III all of which l concur. The coast
defenses of the United States proper are
generally all that could be desired, and
in some respects they are rather more
elaborate than under present conditions
are needed to stop an enemy'S fleet from
entering the harSors defended. The mill
tary and naval joint board have unani-
mously agreed that it would be unwise
to make the large expenditures which at
one time were contemplated in the estab-
ishment of a naval base and station in
the Philippine islands. and have expressed
their Judgment, in which I fully concur,
in favor of making an extensive naval
base at Pearl harbor, near Honolulu, and
not in the Philippines.
. vFl@;s .InaS n 1iCrnnC Nrith ~ -