The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1910-12-09

portation. under the Erdman act, joint.
ly with the chairman Of the interstate
commerce commission.
Il canno speak In too high terms Of
the success of the two officers In coz
ciliation and settlement OF controver-
sizes which, but for their interpretation,
would have resulted d~isastrously to all
interests.
Civil Service Commission.
THE civil service commission has
continued its useful duties during the
year. The necessity for the mainte-
nance of the provisions of the civil
service law was never greater than to-
day. Officers responsible for the pol
icy of the administration, and their
immediate personal assistants or depu-
ties, should not be included within the
classified service. but in my judg-
nent. public opinion has advanced to
The point where 1t would support q bill
providing a secure tenure during en-
cheney for all purely administrative
officials. l entertain the profound con.
fiction that 1t would greatly aid the
cause Of efficient and economical gov
eminent and Of better politics II SON
gress could enact a bill providing that
the executive shall have the power
to include in the classified service an
,ocal offices under the treasury depart
nent. the department of justice. the
p~ostofice department, the interior de-
Dartment and the department OF con-
nerce and labor. appointments -
which now require the confirmation
Of the senate. and that upon such
classification the advice and consent
Of the senate shall cease to be -
quired in such appointments. BY
their certainty Of tenure, dependent On
good service. and by their freedom
from the necessity for political activ-
ity. these local officers would bo In
duced to become more eficient public
servants.
Economy and Efficiency.
The increase In the activities Al
In the annual expenditures Of the fed.
eral government has been 20 rapid
and 90 great that the time has come
to check the expansion Of government
activities In new directions until VI
have tested the economy and efficiency
with which the government Of today h
being carried On. The responsibility
rests upon the head of the administrar
ton. He is held accountable BY the
public, and properly SO. Despite tbs
unselish and patriotic efforts OF ths
heads Of departments and others
charged with responsibility OF govern
ment. there has grown up in this coun
try u conviction that the expenses OF
government are too great. The fun
damental reason for the existence un-
detected OF waste. duplication, and bad
management il the lack OF prompt, Ne
curate information.
II have requested the head OF each
department to appoint committees On
economy and efficiency in order to 30
cure full cooperation In the movement
by the employees Of the government
themselves.
II urge the continuance of the ap-
preparation of 100000 requested for
the fiscal year 1912.
my experience leads me to believe
that while government methods are
much criticized, h e..bad results-if We
do have bad results-are not due to 4
lack of zeal or willingness on the part
Of the civil servants"
Interstate Commerce.
There has not been time to test the
benefit and utility of the amendments
to the interstate commerce law con.
tanned in the act approved June Is.
1910. The law as enacted did not con
tain all the features which / recon-
mended. 1t did not specifically de-
nounce as unlawful the purchase by
one of two parallel and competing
roads of the stock of the other. MOI
did it subject to the restraining infiu-
ence of the Interstate Commerce com
mission the power of corporations
gagged in operating interstate railroads
to Issue new stock and bonds; nor did
1t authorize the making of temporary
agreements between railroads limited
to 30 days. fixing the same rates for
traffic between the same places.
ri do not press the consideration Of
any OF these objects upon congress at
this session.
"The interstate commerce commits
sion has recommended appropriations
for the purpose of enabling it to enter
upon a valuation Of all railroads. This
has always been within the juriscic-
ton of the commission, but the requi
site funds have been wanting. Stats
tics to the value of each railroad would
be valuable for many purposes,
cially If we ultimately enact IN linn
itations upon the power of the inter
state railroads to issue stocks and
bonds. as I hope we may.
For the protection of our own
people and the preservation OF our
credit in yoreign trade, / urge upon
congress the immediate enactment Of
a law under which one who, In good
faith, advances money or credit upon
a bill of lading issued by a common
carriar uppn nm intarSfafo mr. forofvn