The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-07
New Audit
Saves.

The auditing system in vogue is as
old as the government and the meth
DDS used are antiquated-
careful plan is being devised and
will be presented TO Congress with the
recommendation that the force Of aud
greatly reduced. thereby effecting sub
stantial economy. But this economy will
be small compared with the larger
economy that can be effected by con-
solicitation and change OF methods. The
possibilities in this regard have been
shown in the reduction Of expenses and
the Improvement Of methods and eff
cheney in the office of the auditor for
the pOstoffice department. who. with
out in the slightest degree impairing
/ the comprehensiveness and efficiency
I Of his work. has cut down the expenses
| OF his office $4,000 year.
Again, in the collection OF the rev
enues. especially the customs revenues,
! a very great Improvement has been
effected. and further improvements are
contemplated. BY the detection of
frauds in weighing sugar upwards OF
SO. 400. 900 has been recovered from the
l beneficiaries Of the fraud. and an en-
! tirely new system free from the posi-
bilities OF such abuse has been devised.
/ The department has perfected the meth
I cd Of collecting duties at the port OF
] New York so as TO save the government
/ upwards Of ten or eleven million dol
/ lars. and the same spirit Of change
1 and reform has been infused into the
other customs offices.
The methods used at many places are
/ archaic There would seem to be no
| reason at all why the surveyor OF the
/ port, Who really acts for the Collec-
tor, should not be a subordinate OF the
collector at less salary and directly
under his control. and there is but lit
tie reason for the existence of the naval
officer. who is a kind Of local auditor
The naval officers in the various ports
are presidential appointees. many OF
them drawing good salaries, and those
offices should be abolished or with
reduced force made part OF the central
auditing system.
There are entirely too many customs
districts ana too many customs collec-
tors. These districts should be consOli-
dated and the collectors in charge OF
them. who draw good salaries. should
be abolished or treated as mere branch
offices, In accordance with the plan Of
the treasury department. which will be
presented for the consideration OF Con-
gress- As an Illustration. the cost OF
collecting one dollar OF revenue at ty-
pical small ports like the port Of York.
Maine, was 5000. At the port Of An
napOlis. Md, it cost $3O9.4i to collect
one dollar OF revenue at Natchez,
S52T6: at Alexandria. Va. s122.49.
IL is not essential TO 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
J more economically. by the revenue cut
ter service and by the use OF the special
b agent travelling force OF the treasury
. Very great improvements have been
made in respect to the mints and as
say offices, and this year $ estimate
OF expense is $4,000 less than two
J years ago. There IS an opportunity
for further saving in the abolition Of
several mints and assay offices that
2 have now become unnecessary. During
? the past year 100 unnecessary employs
p have been dropped from the PhiladeI-
phia mint.
D In the bureau OF engraving and
, printing great economies have been ef-
fected. Useless divisions have beer
abolished with the result OF saving
$4,000 this year I'm the total expenses
I Of the bureau, despite increased bust
J ness.
{ The treasurers office and that or the
J division OF public moneys in part COW
err the same functions aad this is also
] true Of the office OF register and the
division Of loans and currency.
j Plans for the elimination Of the du-
q plication in these offices will be pre-
$ scented to Congress.
J. The office OF the comptroller Of the
currency Is one OF the most important
in preserving proper banking methods
IN the national banking system OF th'
United States and the present comp
, troilcr has impressed his subordinate
I with the necessity Of 50 CONDUCTING
their investigations as TO establish thu
/, | principle that every failure Is unneces
I. / sary because proper inspection and no
= tice OF threatening conditions 10 tn
!, / responsible directors and officers cal
: prevent IT,