davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
Safety Appliances and Pro
visions.

The protection OF railroad employees
from personal injury is subject Of
the highest Importance and demands
continuing attention There have been
two measures pending IN Congress.
one for the supervision Of boilers and
the other for tho enlargement OF dan
geTOus clearances- Certainly some
measures ought 10 be adopted looking
10 a prevention or accidents from
these causes. II seems to me that
with respect to boilers a bill might
wei be drawn requiring and eufOTC-
INK by penalty a proper system Of in
SpecJion by the railway companfes
themselves which would accom- pIish
our purpose The entire removal OF
outside clearanCes would be attended
by such enormous expense that some
other remedy must be adopted. BY
act Of May 6. 1910. the Interstate
Commerce Commission Is authorized
and directed TO Investigate accidents.
TO report their causes and its recon-
n1endations- I suggest that the com
mission Be requested 10 make a spe-
cial report as 10 Injuries from out
side clearances and the best method
Of reducing them
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
Civil Service Commission.

The Civil Service Commission has con-
tinUed its useful duties during the year.
The necessity for the maintenance or the
provisions Of the civil-seTvice law was
never greater than today. Officers re-
sDonsibIe for the policy Of the Admins
tratiCn and their immediate personal as
SiStanIS or deputies, should NOT be in
cluded within the classified service: but
in my judgment, public opinion has ad-
vsnced TO the point where It would sup
port bill providing a secure tenUr~
during efficiency for all purely admin
iSjTative officials 7 entertain the pro-
found conviction that il would greatly
aid the cause Of efficient and economical
government, and Of better politics IL
Congress could enact a bill providinE
that the Executive shall have the power
to include IN the classified service all
local offices under the Treasury Depart
mPnt, tho Department OF Justice. the
POstOfflce Department. the Interior
Department, and the Department IF
Commerce and Labor, appointments to
which now require the confirmation Of
the Senate. and that upon such CLASH
ficatiOn the advice and consent of the
such appointments Bv their certainty
of tenure. dependent on good service.
and by their freedom from the neces-
SIty for political activity, these local Of
nCers would be induced 10 become more
efficient public servants.
The civil service law IS an attempt to
solve the problem Of the proper SseIec-
ton OF those who enter the service A
better system under that law for pro
motions ought to be devised, but given
the selected emplOye, there remains
still the question Of promoting his eff
cheney and his usefulness to the Gov
eTnment. and that can be brought about
only by a careful comparison Of unit
work done by the individual and a
pointing out OF the necessity for i'm
prOveFent in this regard where i'm
provement is possible
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06

and H streets northeast, 5000; for build
Ing and site for an addition TO No. %
engine house at Teuleytown, SS,165-
Health Department Needs.
The needs Of the Health Department
are estimated at s13at4e This includes
$1,000 for tha erection OF a new pound
and stable for the department
For the condemnation Of square So.
known as Willow Tree Alley. and its
conversion into a playground, the sum OF
$4,000 is included The estimated cost
Of condemning the lands with improve
,ments IS $500. and Of constructing a
-UeiShborhood house as contemplated,
S5o.eoO-
Among other appropriations contained
in the est, mates are tuberculosis Hos
pitaI. SIS. so. Board Of ChHdren's Guar
dams. $3.50. Industrial Home School.
$50 Industrial Home School for Col
Ored Children. s.. SO. Municipal Lodg-
iEg House, 5000; Temporary Home FOR
Soldiers ard Sailors. $50 Hope and
Pep Mission, 5000; for support OF In
dis7ent insane OF the District SO. 800:
juvenile Court. S15,5-G, Police Court.
81 SO municipal Court 80. 49, National
TrainirC School for Bows. $4,000. Re-
form S-hOOI for Girls, SIS, 50
Funds for Fairgrounds.
The Comm fssioners recommend an
Apr --sriation Of S1S565 for the main
tersa =, Of the eleven Fairgrounds and
are &c pared 20 present strong argU-
nent for Chis item when the estimates
are con sideTed by the Senate and House
Committees On the District Of Columbia
In the preparation Of the budget the
Commissioners gave careful cOnsidera-
ton to every item Economy vas re-
quired owing to the provision OF law
which limits the estimates 20 twice the
amount OF the District revenues May
OF the individual estimates OF the vari-
Gus departments suffered reductions Fl
many instances before they were includ-
ed in the tosal budget With the IN
crease in revenues. the Commissioners
believe that the District is entitled to
larger appropriations and are hopeful
that similar views viii be entertained
by Congress when the District appro-
priation bin comes up for consideration
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
Inquiry Into Economy and
Efficiency.

The increase in the activities and in
the annual expenditures OF the Federal
Government has been so rapid and 50
great that the time has come TO check
the expansion Of government activities
in new directions until We have tested
the economy and efficiency with which
the Government Of today Is beng car
ried on The responsibility rests upon
the head Of the Administration He is
held accountable by the pubic and
properly So Despite the urlseifiSh and
patriotic e.-OTtS Of the heads OF DEPART
mems and others charged with re-
spOnsibility Of government, there has
grown up in this country a conviction
that the expenses Of government are
too great The Fundamental reason for
the existence undetscted Of waste. du-
plicatiOn, and bad management is the
lack Of prompt, accurate information
The tt ssident Of a private corporation
doing 50 vast business as the Govern
ment C-ansacts would, through compe-
tent SPECIALISTS. maintain the closest
scrutiny on the comparative efficiency
and comparative costs IN each division
or department OF the business. He would
know precisely what the duties and the
activities OF each bureau or division
are in order 10 prevent overlapping
No adequate machinery at present ex-
lists for supplying the President Of the
United States With such information
respecting the business for which he is
responsible For the first time IN the
history of the Government, Congress
in the last session supplied this need
and made an appropriation to enable
the President 10 inquire into the econ
omy and efficiency Of the executive de-
partmentS, and am now assembling
an organization for the purpose
At the outset I find comparison be
tween de paCtments and bureaus i'm
possible for the reason that in no two
DEPARTMENTS are the estimates and ex-
pendftures displayed and CLASSIFIED alike
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06

|, to make a small separate specific
charge in addition 10 the rate OF
transportation for such guaranteed
bill as an insurance premium against
loss from the added risk thus re-
moving the principal objection which
! understand is made by the railroad
companies 10 the imposition Of the
liability suggested. viz. that the ordf-
nary spOrt2tiOn rate would not
compensate them for the liability as
Sumed BY the absolute guaranty Of
the accuracy OF the bills Of fading
Recommends Punishment
For the Violatcrs.
] further recommend that a punish
ment Of fine and imprisonment be in
posed upon railroad agents and shippers
for fraud or mfsrepresentatfon in con
nectiOn with the issue OF bills OF aiding
issued upon interstate and foreign shin
ments-
Except as above, I do not recommend
any amendment 10 the interstate com
meTce law as il stands / 90 not now
recommend any amendment 70 the anti
trust law In other words. IL seems 10
ne that the existing legislation with
reference 10 the regulation Of c0rpo-z-
tons and the restraint Of their business
has reached point where we can SOP
for 2 while and witness the effect OF tie
vigorous execution Of the laws on the
statute BOOKS IN restraining TIE abuses
which certainly did exist and which
reused the public 70 demand reform II
this test develops a need for further
legislation. well and good, but until then
let us execute what we have Due to
the reform movements Of the present
decade there has undoubtedly been a
great Improvement in business methods
and standards
The great body Of business men CT
this country those who are responsfbIe
Tor its commercial DEVELOPMENT. now
: have an earnest desire 20 obey the law
and 10 square their conduct Of bust
ness TO its requirements and Iimita tons
These VIII doubtless be made clearer
by the decisions Of the Supreme Court
. in cases pending before II
It believe fl to be in the interest OF
all the people OF the country that for
the time being the activities of govern
ment. In addition 20 enforcing the exist
ing law be directed toward the economy
OF administration and the enlargement
OF opportunities for foreign trade the
conservation and Improvement OF our
agricultural lands, the building I'd Of
home Industries, and the strengthening
OF confidence Of capital in domestic in
vestment-
WILLIAM II TAFT
The White House, December 6. 1910
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
North Washingtonians
Want Two Car Stations

Waiting stations al North Capitol
and " Streets. and at North Capitol
street and AIassachuset avenue are
desired by patrons OF the Washington
Railway and Electric Company, who ex-
pressed their sentiments IN a resolution
adopted by the North Washington Citi-
zens' Association last night
A proposal that the Offices Of secre-
tary and treasurer Of the association be
consolidated into one bearing 6 salary,
was considered.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
Bureau of immigration.

The immigration into this country is
Increasing each year. 4 large part Of
f. comes through the immigration sta
tion at Ellis Island in the city Of New
York An examination of the station
and the methods pursued satisfies me
that a difficult task is there performed
by the commissioner and his force with
common sense. the stTiCtest fairness.
and with the most earnest desire L,
enforce the law eQUitably and merci-
fully II has been proposed to enlarge
the accommodations so as to allow more
of the immigrants to come By that
port I do not think il wise policy 10
90 this I have no objection tom the
contrary, 7 recommend-the construc-
ton Of additional buildings for the pur-
pose Of facilitating closer and more
careful examination Of eacn immigrant
as he comes in, but deprecate the en-
largemeut Of the buildings and of tire
force for the purpose OF permitting the
examination Of more immigrants per
DAY than are now examined If Il Is
understood that no more immigrants
can be taken in at New York than are
now taken in. and the steamship CON-
pennies thus are given a reason and 4
motive for transferring immigrants t.
other ports, we can be confident that
they viii he better distributed thrOuG 4
the country, and that there viii not Be
that congestion In the city OF New
York which does not make for the bet
ter condition Of the immigrant or in
crease his usefulness as a new mem
Der OF this community Every thing
which tends TO send the Immigrants
West and South into rural life helps
the country
/ concur with the Secretary in his
recommendations as to the amendments
10 the immigration law in increasing
the fine against the companies for viz
l4tion Of the regulations, and in. giving
greater power TO the commissioner 20
enforce more care on the part Of the
steamship companies in accepting i'm
migrants. The recommendation OF the
Secretary. in which ne urges that the
law may be amended so as to discour-
age the separation OF families IS.
think q good one
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
Interstate Commerce Com
mission.
mission.

There has not been time 10 test the
benefit and utility Of the amendments 20
the interstate commerce law contained
in the act approved June IS, 1916 The
law as enacted did not contain all the
features which I recommended Il did
not specifically. denOunce as unlawful
the purchase by one Of two parallel and
competing rocds Of the stock Of the
other. Nor did il subject 10 the
restraining influence Of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission the
r,oyye- Of corporations engaged In
0Derating interstate railroads 70 issue
new stock and bonds; nor did II author
fze the making OF temporary agreements
between railroads, limited 70 thirty
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
OMITS SUGGESTIONS
ON ANTITRUST ACT
Believes 1t Well TO Stop and Observe Effects of Vigor
Gus Enforcement of Present Law, as Provided by
Department of Justice.

those Government agencies outside OF
The War and Navy Departments which
are now directed toward the preserve
ton Of public health OF exercise func-
tons geruane 10 that subject / renstN
this recommendation j greatly regret
that the agitation in favor Of this 5u-
reau has aroused a COuntera citation
against its creation. on the ground tha-
the establishment Of such q bureau is
20 be in the interest of particular
school Of medicine 1t seems 10 me that
this assumption Is wholly t'1WarrantSd-
and that those responsible fC- the Gov
eminent can be trusted TO secure in the
personnel Of the bureau the appoint
ment of representatives Of all recognized
schools Of medicine, and in the mana ge-
ment OF the bureau entire freedom from
narrow prejudice IN this regard
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
Civil Service Retirement.

Il is impossible 20 proceed far in such
an investigation without perceiviug the
need OF a suitable means OF eliminating
from the service the superannuated-
This can be done in one Of two ways.
either by straight civil pension or BY
some form Of cOntributory plan
Careful study of experiments mace
By foreign governments shows tnat
three serious objections to the civil per
sion navabIe out Of the public treasury
NAV be brought againSt IL by the tax
payer, the administrative officer, and
the civil eTIpiOye, respectively y
civil pension Is bound to become an
enormous, continuous, and increasing
tax on the public eXchecQueT, IL is
dSmoraIiziuE to the service since Il
makes difficult the dismissal OF in
competent employees after they have
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
Workmen's COMPENSATION.

IN view Of the keen. widespread in
terest now felt in the United. States
in a system Of compensation for in
dustrial accidents to suppIant our
present thoroughly unsatisfactory
system Of employers liability a sub
1ect the Importance Of which Con-
zreSs has already recognized by the
appointment of commission. I
recOInme end that the International
Congress on Industrial Insurance be
invited 10 hold its meeting in 1913 in
Washington. and that an appropria-
ton Of $4,000 be made to cover the
necessary expenses OF organizing and
CARRYING on the meeting
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
Recommends EnlaTging
Scope Of Act.

I recommend that instead Of enact
ing the proposed bill, the meaning
Of which is not clear and definite and
might be given a construction en-
barrassinE 10 the public interest. the
present act be enlarged by providing
that public works shall be construed
TO include not only buildings and
work upon public ground but also
ships. armOT. and large guns when
manufactured in private yards OF
factories
one OF the great difficulties in en-
forcing this eight-hOuT law is that
its application under certain emeT-
Eencies becomes exceedingly oppres-
sfve and there Is great temp
taticu 10 subordinate officials TO
evaLe it I think that il would be
wiser 10 allow the President. by
Executive order, TO declare an emer-
Eency in special instances in which
the Limitation might not apply and
in such cases. TO permit the payment
by the Government Of extra cOmpen-
sation for the time worked each day
in excess of eight hours may add
that my suggestions IN respect to
this legislation have the fun con-
currence Of the Commissioner OF
Labor
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
Fraudulent Bills of Lading.

Forged and fraudulent bills Of lad
ing pUrpOrtinE to be issued against
cotton, some months since, resulted in
losses Of several millions of dollars
to American and foreign banking
and cotton interests Foreign bank
ers then notified American bankers
that. after October 81. 1910. they would
not accept bills Of exchange drawn
against bills Of lading for cotton issued
By American railroad companies, unless
American bankers would g1ara ntee the
integrity OF the bill OF lading- The
American bankers rightly maintained
that they were not justified in giving
such guarantees. and. that, II they did 50,
the United States would be the only
country in tire world whose bills were
50 diSc-edited. and whose foreign trade
was carried on under such guarantees
The foreign bankers extended the
time at which these guarantees were
demanded until Decem Der 81 1910.
relying upon US for protection in the
meantime. as the money which they
furnish TO move our cotton crop is
OF great value TO this cOuutrv
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
[COMON OF EXPERTS FOR HANDLING THE RIVERS AND HARBORS
AND TARIFF PROBLEMS ARE URGENTLY RECOMMENDED BY THE PRESIDENT

The frs step is to reduce all to a
common standard for classification and
Judgment and this work is now being
done When II is completed, the foun-
dalton VIII be laid for a business like
national budget, and for such "A just
cheney with which the several bureaus
and divisions are conducted as will en-
able the President and the heads Of
departments TO detect waste eliminate
duplication. encourage the inteiligen.
and effective civil servants whose #
forts too often go unnOticed. and Sc
cure the public service at the lowest
possible cost
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
BRIEF IS SUMMARY
GIVEN CONSERVATION
SPECIFICATIONS for Aid of Those Injured in
Fighting Forest Fires.

to proceed with due dispatch to the
valuation Of all railroads I have no
doubt that railroad companies them
selves can and viii greatly facilitate
this valuation and make IL much less
costly in time and money than has
been supposed
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
Construction of Law
Prevents Application.

Construction Of Law
Prevents Application.
This law has been constructed TO limit
the application of the requirement to
those V-h0 are directly employed by
the Government or TO those who are
employed upOl public works situate
Upon land owned by the United States
ms construction prevented its appli-
CduOn 10 government battle Sniqs and
other vessels built ia private shipyards
and 10 heavy guns and armOr plaUe
contracted for and made At private
establishments
The proposed act provides that no
Iab0rer or mechanic doing any part OF
the work contemplated BY a contract
with the United States IN the employ
or the contractor or any subcontractor
shall be required or permitted 10 work
more than eight hours a day IN any one
calendar day
Il seems 10 me from the past history
that the Government has been commit
TED 10 policy OF enCOuTa ging the linn
1tatIOn OF the days work to eight hours
IN al works OF construction initiated
py itself, and Ii seems to me ILLOGICAL
10 maintain difference between gov
eminent work done on government soil
and government work done in q Drf-
Vate esta bhShment, when the work is
OF Sucn large dimensions and involves
INC expenditure of much labor for a
considerable period. so that the private
manufacture may adjust himself and
LIS eSldullSLllieIL 10 lHe SDeclai terms
Of employment that he must make with
his WOrEmen for this particular job
To require. however, that every small
contract OF manufacture entered into
BY the Government should be carried
out by the contractor with men working
at eight hours would be 10 impose an
intolerable burden upon the Government
by limiting its sources Of supply and
excluding altogether the great ma jOTity
of those who would otherwise compete
for its business
The proposed act recognizes this in
the exceptions which II makes 10 con-
tracts for transportation by land or
water, for the transmission Of inteIli-
EenCe. and for such material OF ar
ticles as may usually be bought in the
open market whether made to conform
TO particular specifications or not, or
for the purchase Of supplies b. the
Government whether manufactured TO
conform TO particular specifications or
not"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
Urges Legislation
For elf-Protection.

For the protection Of our own peo-
pie and the preservation Of our credit
IN foreign trade, I urge upon Con
gress the immediate enactment Of a
law under which one who. in good
faith. advances money OF credit upon
a bill Of lading issued by a common
carrier upon an interstate or foreign
shipment can hold the carrier liable
for the value Of the goods described
in the bill at the valuation specified
in the bill, at least 10 the extent OF
the advances made IN reliance upon
IT. Such liability exists under the
laws OF many Of the States 7 see no
objection to permitting two classes
Of bills OF ladinE to be issued Cd
Those under which a carrier shall
be absolutely liable. as above sug-
gested. and 90 those with respect TO
which the carrier shall assume no
liability except for the goods actual
" delivered 10 the agent issuing the
bill The carrier might be permitted
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
Negro Exposition.

I also renew my Recommendation thar
steps be taken looking to the holding OF
a negro exposition IN celebration OF the
nftieth anniversary Of the Issuing by
Mr. Lincoln Of the Emancipation Proc
IaInatio-l.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
Freedmen's Bank.

I renew NY recommendation that the
claims of the depOsitoTs in the Freed
mans Bank he recognized and paid BY
the passage Of the pending bill on that
subject.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06
MISCELLANEOUS SUB
JECTS.
Bureau Of Health.

IN my message last year I recon-
mended the creation OF q Bureau OF
Heestn, IN which should be embraced all
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06

and CT the said District Of COlumbis
is hereby restricted &c eight hours i
any one calendar day. and it shall b,
unlawful, etc. etc