Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-06

over S19,OOU,OOO Tor tue fordncatioD OF
the canal
Against the estimates of expendi-
lures, $3.50, 494, 013.12, we have esti-
mated receipts for next year $3.50, O0O,-
600, making a probable surplus of or
binary receipts over ordinary expendi-
lures of about $4,000, 900, or. taking
into account the estimates for the Pan
ANA canal, which are SOC, 800, SAT 90
and which will ultimately be paid in
bonds, 1t will leave q deficit for the
next year Of about 100000 If con-
gress shall conclude to fortify the ca
nal The cost of the fortificatiops IS
about S1e.OO0,ooo. Should there be no
appropriations this year for fortifica-
tons, then there would be, even in
GLIDING the Panama canal appropria-
ton, surplus of about $12,OOO.OOO
The treasury department is one of
the original departments of the gov
eminent. With the changes IN the
monetary system made from time, to
time and with the creation of nation
al banks, 1t was thought necessary TO
organize new bureaus and divisions.
which were added in a somewhat hap
hazard way and resulted in a dupli-
cation of duties which might well now
be ended.
This lack of system and economic
coordination has attracted the atten-
ton of the head of that department,
who has been giving his time for the
last two years, with the aid of ex-
perts and by consulting his bureau
chiefs, to its reformation. and at the
risk of being tedious. bt merely to
illustrate the character of the reforms
that are possible. shall comment on
a number of changes that are being
made or ought to be made by legis-
lative aid.
The auditing system in vogue is as
old as the government. and the meth
DDS used are antiquated. There are
six auditors and seven assistant au-
ditors for the nine departments, and
under the present system the only
function which the auditor of a de-
partment exercises is to determine, on
accounts presented by diSbursing of
fcers. that the object of the expendi-
ture was within the law and the ap-
preparation made by congress for the
purpose On its face and that the calcu-
lations IN the accounts are correct. He
does not examine the merits of the
transaction or determine the reason
sbleness OF the price paid for the ar
ticles purchased, nor does he furnish
sny substantial check upon disburs-
ing officers and the heads of depart
lnenSs or bureaus with sufficient
pr0mptness to enable the government
to recoup itself IN full measure for
unlawful expenditure
A careful plan is be!Gs t-'' ',-l .ld
will be presented TO c1nt-..>-- H..n he
recommendation thGs tn fer. e.. audi
tors and emp,o fsH5 UDccr chem be
greatly reduced, thereby eGecring sub
stantial economy. But rlis economy
VIII be small compared vvith the larger
economy that can be effected by con
soIidation and change of methods. The
possibilities in this regard have becn
shown IN the reduction OF expenses
and the Importance OF methods and
efficiency in the Office of the auditor
for the postoffice department. who.
without IL the slightest degree impair
ing tba coInprehonsivenes and eff
cfency of his work, has cut down the
expenses of his Office $4,000 year.
Again, II the collection OF the reve-
Hues, especially the customs revenues,
very great Improvement has been eff
fectcd, and further improvements are
contemplated. BY the detection Of
frauds IL weighing sugar upward of
S3,400,0O0 have been recovered from
the beneficiaries of the fraud, and an
entirely new system free from the pos
sibilties Of such abuse has been de-
TiS ha ~, h..
the method of collecting duties at the
port OF New York so as to save the
government upward of ten or eleven
million dollars. and the same spirit of
change and reform has been infused
into the other customs offices of the
country.
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 col
lectOr, should not be a subordinate OF
the collector at a less salary and di-
rectly under his control, and there is
but little reason for the existence of
the naval officer. who is a kind of local
auditor. His work is mainly an eX-
animation of accounts which is con-
Quoted again in Washington and
which results in no greater security
to the government. 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 sys-
TEN.
There are entirely too many customs
districts and too many customs col
lectOrs. These districts should be con-
solidated and the collectors in charge
of them who draw good salaries, many
of them out Of proportion TO the col
lections made, should be abolished or
treated as mere branch offices, in ac-
cordance with the plan of the treas
ury department, which will be present
ed for the consideration of congress.
AS an illustration, the cost of collect
ing 81 of revenue at typical small
ports like the port of York. Me-, was