Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-12-09

%portation, under, the Erdman act, Joint !
ly with the chairman Of the interstate
commerce commission.
II cannot speak in too high terms Of
the success of the two officers in con
ciliation and settlement Of controver
sizes which, but for their in%terposition
would nave resulted dis%astrously to all
interests. .' ..r
Civil Service Commission
The civil service commission has
continued its useful duties during the
year. The necessity for the mainta
n OF the provisions Of the civil
service law was eve greater than to
day. Officers responsible for the pol
icy Of the administration, and theil
immediate personal assistants or depu.
ties, should not be included within the
classified service, but in my judg
ment, public opinion has advanced to
the point where 1t would support q bill
providing a secure tenure during Ell.
cheney for all purely administrative
officials. l entertain the profound con
viction that it would greatly aid the
cause of efficient and economical gov
ernment and OF better politics II con.
gress could enact a bill providing that
the executive shall have the power
to include in the classified service al
local Offices under the treasury depart
ment, he department Of justice, the
p%ostofice department., the interior de-
partment and the department of com
merce and labor. appointments to
which now require the confirmation
of the senate. and that upon such
classification the advice and consent
OF the senate shall cease to be re-
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 be in
duced to become more enic!en: public
servants. ..
Economy and Efficiency.
THE increase in the activities and
in the annual expenditures of the fed
eral government has been SO rapid
and so great that the time has come
to check the expansion of government
activities In new directions until We
nave tested the economy and efficiency
with which the governmental today ID
being carried on. The responsibility
rests upon the head of the administers
ton. He is held accountable by the
public, and properly SO. Despite the
unselish m patriotic efforts of the
heads of departments and others
charged with responsibility OF govern
ment, there has grown up in this coun
try Il conviction that the expenses Of
| r~t ~~o %~~ 900 Th~ F,,-
damental reason for the existence un
detected of waste, duplication. and bad
management is the lack Of prompt. 40
curate information.
II have requested the head Of each
department to appoint committees on
economy and efficiency in order to SO
cure full cooperation in the movement
by the employees of the government
themselves.
Il urge the continuance of the ap
preparation of 500, 900 requested fol
the fiscal year 1912.
my experience leads me to believe
that while government methods arr
much criticized, the bad results-if VI
do have bad results-are not due to Z
lack of zeal or willingness on the part
OIL INC CIVIL ~SeTtduLS. as-9 #Es+
Interstate Commerce.
There has not been time to test the
benefit and utility Of the amendments
to the interstate m law con,
tanned in the act approved June Is,
1910. The law as enacted did not con.
tain all the features which I recon-
mended. It did not specifically dc
-~,1 - ,,p1ouyF,l <ho ryrohoc1 10
M of two parallel and competing
roads Of the stock Of the other. MOI
did it subject to the restraining innu,
ence of the Interstate Commerce com
mission the power OF corporations en-,
gagged in operating interstate railroads
to issue new stock and bonds NOR did
it authorize the making OF temporary
agreements between railroads limited
to 80 days, fixing the same rates fol
traffic between the anne places.
II do not press the consideration Of
any of these objects upon congress n
this session.
"The interstate commerce commits
sion a recommended appropriations
for the purpose of enabling 1t to enter
upon a valuation OF, all railroads. This
has always been within the jurisdic
ton of the commission. but the reQui
site funds have bee wanting. Stats.
tics to the value of each railroad would
be valuable for many purposes, espe
cially if we ultimately enact any 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 foreign trade, / urge upon
congress the immediate enactment OF
a law under which n who, in good
faith, advances money OF credit upon
a bill of lading issued by a common
carrier upon an interstate or foreign
shipment can hold the carrier liable
for the value OF the goods described
in the bill at the valuation specified
in the bill, at least to the extent of the
advances made in reliance upon It.
Il further recommend that a punish
ment of fine and Imprisonment be i'm.
posed upon railroad agents and ship.
pers for fraud or Misrepresentation in
connection with the issue of bills OF
lading issued upon interstate and for.
eign shipments.
"Eycept as above. 7 do not RECON-