Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-06
Defended as Greatest Money Producing
Actin the History Of Revenue
Legislation.
TOO MANY SOFT JOBS ARE HELD
IN CUSTOMS COLLECTION SERVICE
Changes in Treasury Auditing System, Clerks
Retirement and Extension of the Eight
Hour Law Advocated
Estimates Cut to Limit

the river and harbor estimates, except 70
those for expenses Of maintenance and
the meeting OF obligations under author
lied contracts, nor does 1t apply to the
public building bill nor to the navy build
ing program OF course, as to these Con-
gress could withhold any part or all OF
the estimates for them without interfer-
Ing with the discharge OF the ordinary
obligations Of the government or the per-
formance OF the functions Of it's depart
ments, bureaus and offices.
Estimates Cut $5s, 1894, 1877.
The final estimates for the year end
ing June 30, 1912, as they have been sent
to the Treasury, on November % OF this
year, for the ordinary expenses Of the
government, including those for public
buildings, rivers and harbors, and the
navy building program, amount to $780,.
494O13.12 This Is So, 1854, 1877 SO less than
ing June 30. 1911. 1t is sic, 1888, 1894 less
than the total estimates. including sup
Elemental estimates submitted to Con-
gress by the Treasury for the year 1911.
and is $5.574. 60930 less than the original
estimates submitted by the Treasury for
1911.
These figures do not include the appro-
priatiOns for the Panama canal, the pol-
Icy In respect to which ought to be. and
Is. to spend as much each year as can be
economically and effectively expended Ia
order to complete the canal as promptly
as possible, and. therefore, the ordinary
motive for cutting down the expense OF
the government does not apply to appro-
priations for this purpose. 1t Will b
noted that the estimates for the Panama
canal for the ensuing year are moro than
fifty-six millions Of dollars. an increase
OF twenty millions over tho amount ap-
prOpriated for this year-a difference due
to the fact that the estimates for 1917
include something over nineteen millions
for the fertilization OF the canal.
Condition Of the Treasury.
Against the estimated expenditures OF
$500. 494. O1312 the Treasury has estimated
receipts for next year $3.50. 600, 900. making
probable surplus of ordinary receipts
over ordinary expenditures Of about $780,
100000, or. taking into account the esti-
mates for the Panama canal. which are
$50, $40. S47.69, and which will ultimately
be paid in bonds, it will leave a deficit
for the next year of about $1,000. 900. IL
Congress shall conclude to fortify the
canal. The cost of the Notifications Is
about $19.OO0.OO0. Should there be no
appropriations this year for Notifications.
then there would be. even including the
Panama canal appropriation. a surplus
of about $12,OOO.UO0, according to the
Treasury estimates.
A table showing in detail the estimates
and the comparisons referred to follows:
(The table referred to Will be found
ut the end Of the messaxe.D
The Treasury Department is one OF the
original departments of the government
With the changes in the monetary system
made from time to time and with tn. ere
alton of national banks II was thought
necessary to organize new bureaus and
divisions which were added in some
what haphazard way and resulted in a
duplication of duties which might we'll
now be 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 aid of experts and by
consulting his bureau chiefs to it's refor-
nation. He has abolished 400 places in
the civil service without at all injuring
its efficiency, and at the risk Of bcins
tedious. but merely to illustrate the char
shall comment on a number of changes
that are being made, or ought 10 Ice
made, by legislative aid.
The auditing system in vogue is as old
as the government and the methods used
are antiquated There are six auditors
and seven assistant auditors for the nine
departments. and under the present sys-
tenn the only function which the auditor
of d department exercises Is TO determine
on accounts presented by disbursing Of
ficers, that the object of the expenditure
was within the law and the appropriation
made by Congress for the purpose on its
face. and that the calculations In the ac
counts are correct. He does not examine
the merits of the transaction or deter
mine the reaSonableness OF the price paid
for the articles purchased, nor does he
furnish any substantial check upon dis
bursting officers and the heads of depart
re hIIro yxifh 7nio
ness to enable the government to recoup
itself in full measure for unlawful OK.
penditure.
Reduced Auditing Force.
A careful plan is being devised and viii
be presented to Congress with the rec
concentration that the force of auditors
and employees under them be greatly re-
duced, thereby effecting substantial econ
omy. But this economy will be small
compared with the larger economy that
can be effected by consolidation and
change Of methods. The possibilities IN
this regard have been shown In the re
duction OF expenses and the Importance
of methods and efficiency In the ONCE OF
the auditor for the Post ONCE Depart
ment, who. without in the slightest de-
gree impairing the comprehensiveness
and efficiency Of his work. has cut down
the expenses Of his Office $4,000 a year.
Again, in the collection OF the revenues.
especially the customs revenues. very
great Improvement has been effected, and
further improvements are contemplated.
BY the detection Of frauds in weighing
sugar upwards of $500. 900 have been re-
covered from the benenciaries of tho
fraud, and an entirely new system free
from the possibilities Of such abuse ha0
been devised. The department has per-
fected the method of collecting duties
at the port Of New York 80 a. to save
the government upwards of ten Or elevea