Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-06


sent to the treasury en- Nov. % Of this
! year for the ordinary expenses OF the
| government. including those for pub
! lie buildings. rivers and harbors and
! the navy building program. amount to
| $3.50. 94.0l3.1c. This is $52,964.SS1 So
! less than the appropriations for the
| fiscal year ending June 80, 1911. 1t IL
| sic. SIS. 15G.4i less than the total estt.
mates. including supplemental est.
| mates submitted to congress by the
treasury for the year 1911. and Is So.
57i.659.3o less than the origina! est.
; mates submitted by the treasury for
1911.
These figures do not include the APP
propria tip,.s for the Panama canal. the
policy III respect 10 which ought to be
| and is to spend * much each year as
can be economically and effectively ex-
pended il order TO complete the canal
as promptly as possible. and there
fore the Ordinary motive for cutting
down the expense of the government
does not apply 10 appropriations for
this purpose. Il will be noted that the
estimates for the Panama canal for
the ensuing year are more than S56-
G0oQCO. an increase OF S2o,OOO.0OO
over the amount appropriated for this
Year. 4 difference due 10 the fact that
the estimates for 1912 include some
thing over $l9.Co1.QQo for the fortifica-
ton Of the canal.
Against the estimates of eXpepdi-
lures. $3.50. 4o4.ul3l2. we have est.
mated receipts for next year $GSo,-
Qoo.000 making a probable surplus OF
ordinary receipts over ordinary eI-
pendilu-es OF about S5o.O0o.ooo. or.
taking into account tue estimates for
the Panama canal. which are SJG920,
S41.69 ana which viii ultimately be
paid in bonds it will leave a deficit
for the next year Of about $1,000. 900
if congress shall conclude 10 fortify the
canal. The cost OF the Qualifications
is about S19,pGu,GQ0. Should there be
10 appropriations this year for fortih-
cations then there would be. even in
Guiding the Panama canal appropria-
ton, a surplus OF about S12,ooc.0Q0.
1t IS net essential 10 the preventing
of smuggling that customs districts
should be Increased in number. The
violation Of the customs laws can be
quite as easily prevented and much
more economically by the revenue cut
ter service and 10y the use of the spe-
cial agent travelling force Of the treas
ury department.
Very grea; inlproy ements have been
made in RESPECT to the minis and as
say Offices diminished appropriations
have been asked fc- those whose con-
tinuaace Is unnecessary, and this
years estimate Of expenses is 1926, 900
less than TWO gears ago.
In the bureau of engraving and
printing great economies have been
effected. Useless divisions have been
abolished with the result of saving
$4,000 this year in the total ex-
penses OF the bureau despite increased
business.
As the treasury department is the
one through which the income of the
government is collected and its e1pend-
lures are discussed this seems a
proper place 10 consider the operation
of the existing tariff bill, which be-
came a law Aug 6. 1909. AS an In
come producing measure the existing
tariff bill has never been exceeded by
any customs bill in the history of the
country.
The corporation excise tax, proper
toned 70 the net income OF every bust
ness corporation il the country, has
worked well. The tax has been easily
collected. Its prompt payment indi-
Gates that the incidence Of the tax has
not been heavy. 1t offers, moreover,
an opportunity for knowledge by the
government OF the general condition
and business Of all corporations, and
that means by far the most important
part Of the business of the country. In
the original act provision was made
for the publication Of returns. This
provision was subsequently amended
by congress and the matter left to the
regulation Of the president. l have d.
rected the issue of the needed regula
tons and have made II possible for the
public generally to know from an ex-
animation Of the record tie returns Of
all corporations the stock OF hich is
listed on any public stock exchange or
is offered for sale 70 the general pub
lie by adver iseInent or otherwise. The
returns Of those corporations whose
stock is not so listed or offered for
sale ara directed 20 be open to the in
spection and examination OF creditors
and stockholders Of the corporation
whose record IS sought. The returns
Of all corporations are subject to the
inspection Of any government officer or
to the examination Of any court, in
which the return made By the corpora
ton is relevant and competent cri-
dence
The Payne Tariff Act.
The schedules Of the rates OF duty
in the Payne tariff act have been sub
jected to 4 great dea! Of criticism.
some of it just. more Of it unfounded.
and TO much misrepresentation. The
act was adopted in pursuance OF a
declaration by the party which is re-
sponsible for it that u customs bill
should be q tariff for the protection
of home industries. the measure OF the
protection TO be the difference between
the cost of producing the imported ar
ticle abroad and the cost Of producing
il at home together with such addi-
ton TO that difference as might give