The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-06

and meet Its other obligations under
existing law and that q cut of these
estimates would result In embarrassing
the executive branch OF the govern
ment in the performance Of It's duties.
This remark does not apply TO the
river and harbor estimates, except TO
those for expenses OF maintenance ana
the meeting Of obligations under au-
thorized contracts, nor does 1t apply
to the public building bill nor to the
navy building program. OF course as
to these congress could withhold any
part or al! of the estimates for them
without Interfering with the discharge
OF the ordinary obligations Of the gov
eminent or the performance of the
functions of its departments, bureaus
and offices,
The final estimates for the year end
ing June 81. 1912, as they have been
sent TO the treasury on Nov. - OF this
year for the ordinary expenses of the
government, Including those for public
buildings, rivers and harhors and the
navy building program. amount TO $780,
a4.oi3,lo. This is So. a64, SSs.36 less
than the appropriations for the fiscal
year ending June 50, 1911, 1t Is Sl6.-
$50, 1854 less than the total estimates.
including supplemental estimates sub
mitted to congress by the treasury for
the year 1911. and is $5.5I4. 659.33 less
than the original estimates submitted
by the treasury for 1911.
These figures do not include the ap-
preparations for the Panama canal, tho
policy in respect To which ought to be
nd &c tNs. 40
can be economically and effectively
| expended in order to complete the ca
nal rs promptly as possible. and there
! fore the ordinary motive for cutting
down the expense Of the government
does not apply to appropriations for
this purpose. 1t will be noted that the
estimates for the Panama canal for
| the ensuing year are more than $685.
OOO, 600, an increase of SO. 000. 900 over
| the amount appropriated for this year.
a difference due to the fact that the
estimates for 1912 include something
over $4,000. 600 for the fertilization of
the canal.
Against the estimates Of expendi-
lures, $500. 494. O13.12. We have esti-
mated receipts for next year $3.50. O0O.-
a
binary receipts over ordinary expendi-
lures Of about $5O,0O0,oo0. or. taking
into account the estimates for the Pan
anna canal, which are $56.92O. S47 60
and which will ultimately be paid In
bonds, 1t will leave n deficit for the
next year OF about $7.OOo,OO0 II con-
gress shall conclude to fortify the Ca
nal. The cost Of the Notifications Is
about $4,000, 900 Should there be no
appropriations this year for fortifca-
tions. then there would be, even In
GLIDING the Panama canal appropria-
ton, a surplus Of about $12.OOO.O0O.
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-
tfon of the head OF that department.
who has been giving his time for tho
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, but merely to
illustrate the character of the reforms
that are possible. I shall comment on
number of changes that are being
made or ought to be made by legis-
lative aid.
The auditing system in vogue Is rs
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 q de-
partment exercises Is to determine. on
accounts presented by disbursing Of
ficers, that the object OF the expendi-
ture was within the law and the ap-
preparation made by congress for the
purpose on It's face and that the calcu-
: lations In the accounts are correct. He
: does not examine the merits of the
transaction or determine the reason
ableness of the price paid for the ar
ticles purchased, nor does he furnish
any substantial check upon disbnrs-
ing officers and the heads of depart
ments or bureaus with sufficient
: promptness to enable the government
to recoup itself In full measure for
unlawful expenditure.
A careful plan is being devised ana
will be presented to congress with the
: recommendation that the force OF audi
tors and employees under them be
: greatly reduced, thereby effecting sub
stantial economy. But this economy
will be small compared with the larger
economy that can be effected by con-
solidation and change of methods. The
possibilities in this regard have been
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 in the slightest degree impair
ing the comprehensiveness and eff
cheney of his work, has cut down the
!. expenses Of his Office $12O. 900 year
Again, in the collection OF the reve-
nues, especially the customs revenues,
a very great improvement has been ef-
!, fected, and further improvements are
contemplated. By the detection of