The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-02

gest corporations II would give, and II
ought 10 give, no immunity from the anti
trust law. But it would have this adj
vantage-it would give the government
the benefit of direct supervision of these
powerful corporations. and 1t would af-
ford TO these corporations ample oppor-
tunity to do a legitimate business within
the State borders.
1t gives me the greatest satisfaction 10
say that In spite of all the rumors of pos
sible business stagnation. our basic pros
perity is assured for the coming year. in
that the great volume OF the crops now
being harvested in value will exceed the
products of our fields at any period in the
past Our corn crop. our cotton crop. and
our oats crop will equal. approximately
100000, and the significance of this fact
In its bearing on the business OF next
year can hardly be oysrstated.
The millionaire. the great manufacturer
and the capitalist seem to derive more
benefit, measured in dollars and cents.
from prosperity than do the individual
workman. farmer. small merchant, clerk
and professional man. But In actual
human comfort and happiness. prosperity
is vastly more important to the wage
Garner than TO the wealthy
Hence IT is legitimate Office of those
charged with governmental responsibility
to do what they can to prevent the
spreading of fears which viii drive cap
ital to its boarding place and prevent the
investments necessary to carry on the
| widely expanded business of this coun-
try, from which our people derive their
livelihood. Business men now view with
favor. rather than with alarm. strict
enforcement of law.
The Merit system.
There are other directions I'm which gov
ernmental progress can be made. The
extension of the merit system has. on the
whole greatly improved conditions In the
government. For this reason l have
within the last week placed $500 assistant
lpostmasters and clerks, appointees of
postmasters, on the classified list of the
civil service Fourth-class postmasters
not requiring confirmation are, many OF
them. already in the classified service
but postmasters of the first, second, and
third class, collectors of internal revenue.
I
toms. and appraisers are not IN the CLASH
fed service. and receive their appoint
ments on the recommendation of either
the Senators or the Congressman in
whose district they reside. All of these
Offices ought ultimately to be In the clas-
sified service. They would then be more
efficiently and economically administered
The giving up of the power of confirma-
ton is a great concession from the SEN
ate and we can perhaps not expect II TO
be made in respect 20 all local Offices at
once.
/ shall urge upon the Congress change
in the method Of appointing postmasters.
so that at least the 7.19S second and third
class postmasters can be classified and
taken cat of the category of political pa
tronage. We can then patiently push on
for further progress toward an elimina-
ton of all local Offices from the field Of
politics
This is. however, but the beginning OF
civil service reform. The problem is not
merely TO take on the employee through
honest competitive examination, but TO
maintain and to improve. If possible. the
initial efficiency of that empioye; TO in
fuse into his work the same zeal which
he would display in private business.
Guard Against Evils.
We must also be on our guard against
certain evils that have accompanied the
giving OF a permanent tenure 10 large
classes OF civil servants Useful assocla-
tons OF classified civil servants have been
at times perverted into combinations to
force the Congress and the Executive
against their better judgment uHduly TO
Increase their pay or reduce the burden
OF their duties.
The general public is not aware OF the
existence and exercise Of such influence.
and | do not hesitate to pronounce it a
serious governmental danger that calls
for wise legislative and Executive action
I am now directing an inquiry into the
efficiency and economy OF the depart
ments. the aim being 10 improve the
service and lower the cost OF govern
ment.
Cost of Government.
Our population has vastly increased. our
tax producing capacity has grown in pro-
portion, and the annual expenses OF the
government under the new conditions
that surround it has become greater by
many millions. Our Democratic friends
are In the habit of saying that our gov
eminent is taking out from the people in
taxes a billion dollars a year and spend
ing 1t for the expenses Of government
This IS an erroneous statement.
The net expense of running this govern
ment. derived from the proceeds of tax
alton. Is abou; $3.50. 900 per year, not a
billion dollars per year The total of ap-
propriations is not a true indication of
the expenses derived from taxation. As
an illustration, | cite the Post-ofice De-
partment In addition TO the net ordinary
expenses Of $3.50 100000 appropriated for by
Congress last year. there was also appro-
priated for the expenditures of the Post
Office Department alone approximately
600. But the postal revenues are
practically equal to the postal expendi-
lures, and the burden of that department
upon taxpayers this year will therefore
be practically nothing.
| Our Democratic friends are saying that
if the Democratic party came into power
II would reduce the expenses of this gov
ernnient sS10.000.OO0. Do they mean that
the Democrats would abolish the pension
list? Do they mean that they would give
up the navy and disband the army? Do
they mean that they would abandon
Porto Rico and the Sandwich Islands and
the Philippines
Let us have little specification. What
are such statements worth unless the
gentlemen VINO make them give us the
details Of tie expenditures that they crit
icise and ex- & 70 avoid If they are let
into powe become themselves the