The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-24

1911, also amounted TO 10000, 600.
The reduction in the interior depart |
ment of estimated expenses for 1911 |
below the appropriation for 1910 |
amounted to 100000. The reduc- |
ton in the treasury and in the post
Office made up the balance of the s42.- |
100000. Speaking with reference to |
the army and the navy the reduction
is a postponer,ent only of expenditures
that are necessary until the income
shall be sufficient to meet them.
Let us take the war department
There is needed at the mouth of Chesa-
peake bay between Cape Henry and
Cape Charles an artificial island upon
the so-called middle ground which shall
command the entrance to Chesapeake
bay. Chesapeake bay is the most inn
portant body of water from a strategic
naval standpoint on the whole Atlantic
coast, and it must be defended.
80 too, now we have determined
that the great naval base of the Pacific
for us is TO be Pearl harbor near Homo
lulu. For years there was discussion as
to whether we ought to make the naval
base at Subig bay or at Cavite, in Ma
Mia bay, in the Philippines. BY unani-
nous consent of naval and military au-
thorities it is now conceded that we do
not need naval base in the Philippines
at all; that we ought to make Corrige-
dor island, at the mouth of Manila bay,
impregnabIe and establish naval sup
ply station in Subig bay, but rely upon
the Sandwich islands as our base. This
will all involve a heavy expenditure at
Honolulu but for the present the
amount provided is comparatively
small.
Naval Expenditures.
I'm the naval expenditures we have
retained a provision for two battle
ships of the large $4,000 ton capacity
and we have done this on the ground
that until the Panama canal is COM
pleted We ought to go on and add to
our naval strength. The Panama canal
will certainly be completed in 1915, and
if we have two battleships year until
that time the opening of the canal will
SO double the efficiency of our navy for
the protection of our Pacific and At
lantic coasts that we can abate and re-
duce our expenditures In new construc-
ton. The reduction in the interior de-
partment-$7, 000, 000-was due to a re-
duction in the amount of the pensions
to be paid out and we may reasonably
hope that as the years now go on this
amount will gradually be reduced.
"On the other hand, there are certain
of our departments which as the oppor-
tun1tleS for lettering the condition Of
the people should grow in importance
and cost and we ought not to expect a
reduction either in the expenses grow
ing out Of conservation of our re-
sources.
For some time it has been said we
have billion dollar congresses. The
statement in itself is an unjust one be-
cause it is generally construed to mean
that the total expense Of the department
to be paid out of taxation amounts to a
billion dollars year.
This is quite an error, for the rea-v
son that in making up the billion dol
lars, the expenses for the postoffice
department are always included,
whereas, the expenses of the postof-
flee department are not paid for out
of the proceeds of taxes.
They are paid for out of the re-
ceipts of that department from the
| sale of stamps, with the exception of
| the cost of the postoffice department
| last year over its receipts This,
therefore reduces the cost by taxation
OF the government each year to some
| thing like $3.50, 100000. $50
cit is now proposed to appoint a
congressional commission to look into
| the question of a general reorganiza-
| ton of the department of the govern
ment with a view tosreducing the ex-
pense of administering. the govern
ment.
To Cut OF 500, 900, 900.
1T has been stated on the floor of
| the senate that it will be possible by
| this commission to reduce the cost of
| administering the government $780,
| 100000 a year and that if free hand
were given to a business man the re-
| duction in the expense of administra-
| ton might be doubled or tripled.
| am unable to confirm these state
ments as to exact amount, but I am
very sure that a conservative, prudent
| and fearless commission could make
| a most material reduction in the cost
| of administering the government
| They will find opposition in congress
| there is no branch or bureau so hum
| BILE that it can not secure its adher-
ents and defenders within the legis1a-
tive halls. But if by the totals that
| it shows this commission shall justify
| its existence, it is pre- able that it can
secure a majority sufficient to carry
/ through it's proposed reforms. This
| government has been constructed not
| all at one time but bureau has been
| added to bureau and department to
| department and it has been impossible
to avoid duplication and expensive
methods.
''This proposed commission as I
| understand it, is to take up the bu-
| reaus of all of the departments. is to
see whether they may not often be
connected, and also to lay down such
| rules governing the civil service as
will secure the utmost efficiency.
| Too Many Employees.
| ut is undoubtedly true today that
We have q great many more persons
| employed in the government than we
| would need, if everv perscn in the gov
| eInment rendered to the. government
| a service Of high degree of efficiency
| ibis comm ission will have to take up
| the question which has troubled great
| industrial corporations and great rail
| re ads rs to the method of disposing of
| .uperannuated servants. Our military
| PENSIONS have reached so large an an
| nral sum, towit: $15H.0OO.O00, that we
| have avoided the suggestion of civil
| pensions but I am convinced Same
method must be adopted by which SUI
perannuated civil service servants may
/ be retired, on an income.
| TT has been reported by the post
| master general we are carrying in the
] postoffice department the weekly peri
4 odicals and magazines at cost to that
| dc partnlent of upward of $50, 900, 900 and
| that the business of the government in
the nostoffice department is run at a