The Detroit times., 1910-12-06

eign service. =, ,a,,.
During many years past appeals nave
been made from time 10 time 10 con
| kress In favor OF government oMntl
ship OF embassy and legation prrlS
abroad. The arguments In la.o' al VI
such ownership have been many ".a
loft-repeated and are wei kh"M" W
the congress. The acquisition py 'ns
government Of suitable residences Au''
OFFICES for it's diplomatic OFFICERS, ss-
pecially I'm the capitals of the LATIN
American states and OF Europe - :"
important and necessary 20 az ~,
proved diplomatic service that hsse
no hesitation In urging upon the con-
gross the passage OF some nneasui .
similar tn that fayorably rsportso 70
the house committee on Iorslsn anaiI
on Feb. IL. 1910 (Report No tsep; tna'
nual acquisition OF premises Tor u'pio-
matte use.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT..
Estimates for Next Years Expenses.
Every effort has been made by each
department. chief to reduce ths EST
mated cost OF his department Tor the
ensuing fiscal year ending June so,
ll9l3 I say this In order mat congress
may understand that these estimates
thus made present the smaiIest sum
which will maintain the departmehts,
bureaus and offices OF the government
and meet its other obligations under
leAisting law, and that cut OF tnese
estimates would result in emoarrass
\
| ernment IN the performance OF us
duties. This remark does not Apply
generally TO the river and harbor es-
| tin ates.
| The nnal estimates for the year end =
ing June so. 1917, as they have been
sent 10 the treasury, on Nov. ~ OF this
year. for the ordinary expenses OF tnc
| government. including those for pubic
buildings. rivers and harbors, and the
navy building program, amount TO
s630.49s. This is 80, s6t, ss' 80
less than the appropriations Tor the Ms :
cal year ending June so. 1911. IL IL
sl6,ss3.I5s.4t less than the total esti-
mates, including supplemental esti-
| mates submitted to congress by the
treasury for the year 1911, and Is Vs.
5T4,6Ss.S9 less than the original esti-
| mates submitted by the treasury Tor
1911.
| These figures do not include the ap-
Ipropriations for the Panama canal. the
policy In respect 10 which ought TO be.
| and Is, to spend as much each year AS
| can be economically and effectively eN-
IpeHded in order TO complete the canal
as promptly as possible. and. there
fore. the ordinary motive for cutting
down the expense or the government
does not apply TO appropriations FOR
| this purpose. IL VIII be noted That the
estimates for the Panama canal for the
| ensuing year are more than hfty-slx
millions Of dollars, an increase OF
| twenty millions over the amount APP
propriated for this year-a difference
due to the fact that the estimates for
1912 include something over nineteen
millions for the fertilization or the
canal
Against the estimates OF expend!-
lures. S6S0.is4.olS.i2, We have estimat-
! ed receipts for next year s6so.0Oo.ooo,
making a probable surplus OF ordinary
receipts oven ordinary expenditures Of
| about $50. 00o.00 or, takins into ac-
canal. which are ,5s,s2o.si7Gs, and
which will ultimately be paid in bonds.
| II will leave deficit for the next year
OF about $1,000, GOO, II congress shall
conclude To fortify the canal The cost
! Of the Notifications Is about $4,000
| 600. Should there he NJ appropriations
this year for fortifcations. then there
would be. cen vineluding the Panama
about $4,000, 900. according to the
treasury department estimates
The treasury department is one OF the
original departments OF the govern
tary system made from time 10 time
and with the creation or national
banks, II was thought necessary to or
gaDize new bureaus and divisions when
way and resulted in u duplication OF
duties which might we'll now DC ended.
This lack OF system and economic CO.
ordination has attracted the attention
OF the head OF that department who
has been giving his time for the last
two years. with the al dof experts and
/ by consulting his bureau chiefs. TO its
| reformation. He has abolished 400
........ I'm the civil service. Without at
fecting the efficiency of the department
In the collection OF the revenues. es-
pecially the customs revenues, very
great Improvement has been effected,
and further improvements are contem-
plated. by the detection OF frauds in
Weighing sugar upwards of $1,000. 900
| have been recovered .frcm the bench
| Charles Of the fraud. and an entirely
"a 4 Ia
! of such abuse has been devised. The
department has perfected the method
OF collecting duties at the port OF New
| York so az to save the government up
wards OF ten or eleven million dollars
and tae same spirit OF change and re-
| form has been Infused into the other
customs Offices OF the country.
| The methods used at many places are
! ackaic' There would seem TO be no
reason at all why the surveyor of the
port. who really acts for the collector,
should not be subordinate OF the col
lector at less salary and directly IN
der mis- control, and there Is but little
reason for the existence or the naval
officer, who Is a kind OF local auditor
His work is mainly an examination OF
accounts which IS conducted again In
Washington and which results In no
greater security to the government.
There are entirely too many customs
districts and too mahy customs coilec-
tors. These districts should be con-
solidated and the collectors in charge
OF them, who draw good salaries, many
or them cut OF proportion 10 the col
lections madc, sh ould be abolished or
treated as mere branch offices, in ac-
cordance with the plan OF the treasury
department. which will be presented for
the consideration of congress.
1t In not essential 10 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
more economically. by the revenue-cut-
ter service and by the use of the spe-
cial agent travelling force OF the treas
ury department.. reorganization OF
the special customs agents has been
perfected with view to retaining only
those who have special knowledge OF
the customs laws, regulations. and
usual methods OF evasion. and 9th this
Improvement. there Will be no danger
TO the government from the recon-
mended consolidation and abolition Of
customs districts
Fable Buildings.
In our public buildings We still suf-
which has been so much criticised la
correction with our rivers and harbors
Some method should be devised for
controlling the supply o. public build
ings, so that they Will harmonize with
the actual needs OF the government
By congress which are not needed, and
buildings left uneppropriated for by
congress which are needed, but when
~ comes to the actual construction
there mas been In the past too little
stuay OF the building plans and sites
WIN view 10 the actual needs OF the
government. Postoffice buildings which
are In effect warehouses for me eco
nemieal handling OF TRANSPORTATION az
, .mousano- OF tons OF mali have been