The Falls City tribune., 1910-12-09

portation. under the Erdman act. Joint
ly with the chairman of the interstate
commerce commission.
4 cannot speak in TOO high terms OF
the success of the two officers in con-
ciliation and settlement of controver-
sizes which. but for their in%terposition,
would have resulted disastrously to all
interests.
Civil Service Commission.
THE civil service commission has
continued its useful duties during the
year. The necessity for TIE mainte-
nance of the provisions of the civil
service law was never greater than to-
day. officers responsible for the pol
icy of the administration. and their
immediate personal assistants or depu-
ties, should not be included within the
classified service, but In m judg-
ment, public opinion has advanced to
the point where 1t would support a bill
providing a ecu tenure during eff
cheney for all purely administrative
officials. | entertain the profound con,
viction that IL would greatly aid The
cause of efficient and economical gov
eminent and of better politics II n
gress could a n bill providing that
the executive shall have the power
to include in the classified service ali
local ofices under the treasury depart
.ment, the department Of justice, the
p~ostofice department, the interior de-
partment and the department of com
merce and labor, appointments TO
which 10Y require the confirmation
Of the senate, and that upon sueh
classification the advice and consent
of the senate shall cease to be re-
CURED In such appointments. By
their certainty of tenure, dependent on
good service, and by their freedom
from the necessity for political activ.
ity, these local officers would be In
duced to become more efficient public
servants.
Economy and Efficiency.
"The increase In the activities and
in the annual expenditures of the fed.
eral government has been SO rapid
and so 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 Ia
being carried on. The responsibility
rests upon the head of the administra
ton. He Is held accountable by the
public, and properly 80. Despite the
unsellsh and patriotic efforts of the
heads Of departments and others
charged with responsibility of govern
ment. there has grown up In this coun,
try " conviction that the expenses OF
government are toe great. The fun
damentai reason for the existence TN.
detected Of waste. duplication, and bat
management 10 the lack of prompt. Ne
earate information.
II have requested the head of easA
department. to appoint committees On
economy and efficiency In order to pc.
cure full cooperation In the movement
by the employees Of the government
themselves.
Il r the continuance of the ap
preparation Of 500, 900 requested 70,
tho fiscal ear 1912.
my experience leads M to believe
that while government methods are
much criticized. the bad results-if We
do have bad results-are not due to a
lack of zeal or willingness on the part
Of the civil servants"
Interstate Commerce.
There has not been time to test the
benefit and utility of the amendments
to the interstate law con-
tanned in the act approved June 10,
1910. The law as enacted did not con.
tain all the features which l recon-
mended. 1t did not specifically de.
nounce as unlawful the purchase by
one Of two parallel and competing
roads of the stock of the other. MOI
did 1t subject to the restraining infu.
ence of the Interstate Commerce com.
mission the power of corporations en-.
gagged in operating interstate railroads
to issue new stock and bonds; nor did
1t authorize the making of temporary
agreements between railroads limited
to 80 days, fixing the same rates for
traffic between the same places.
Il do not press the consideration Of
any of these objects upon congress at
this session.
THE interstate m commits,
sion has recommended appropriations
for the purpose of enabling 1t to enter
upon a valuation of all railroads. This
has always been within the jurisdic.
ton of the commission, but the requi-
site funds have been wanting. Stats
tics to the value of each railroad would
be valuable for many purposes, espe-
cially If we ultimately enact n linn
itations upon the power of the inter.
state railroads to issue stocks and
bonds, as l hope we may.
For the protection of our own
people and the preservation of our
credit in foreign trade, l urge upon
congress the immediate enactment of
a law under which n who, In good
faith, advances money or credit upon
a bill of lading issued by a common
carrier upon an interstate or foreign