Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-12-08

portation. under the Erdman act, Joint.
ly with the chairman OF the interstats
commerce commission.
Il cannot speak in too high terms Of
the success of the two officers in con-
Citation and settlement OF controvcr.
sizes which, but for their interposition,
would have resulted disastrously to an
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 judy
Ment: public opinion has advanced To
the point where 1t would support bin
providing secure tenure during eff-
cheney for all purely administrative
officials. | entertain the profound con.
v1ction that 1t would greatly aid the
cause of efficient and economical gov
ernment and Of better politics II con-
gress could enact bill providing that
the executive shall have the power
to include in the classified service all
local offices under the treasury depart
ment. the department OF Justice, the
postoffice department. the interior de-
partment and the department Of COM
nerce and labor, appointments 70
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 eficient publS
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 tho expansion of government
activities in new directions until we
have tested the economy and efficiency
with which the government Of today 10
being carried on. The responsibility
rests upon the head of the administra.
ton. He Is held accountable by the
public, and properly SO, Despite the
unselfish and patriotic efforts OF the
heads of departments and others
charged with responsibility OF govern.
ment, there has grown up in this coun-
try conviction that the expenses OF
government are too great. The fun.
damental reason for the existence un.
detected of waste, duplication, and bad
management is the lack of prompt, ae-
curate information.
II have requested the head OF each
department to appoint committees ON
economy and efficiency in order to Sc
cure full cooperation In the movement
by the employees of the government
themselves
Il urge the continuance OF the ap
preparation of 100000 requested for
tho fiscal year 1912.
MY experience leads me to believe
that while government methods are
much criticized. thebad results-if wa
do have bad resuits-are not due to
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 49,
1910. The law as enacted did not con.
tain all the features which | recon-
niended. 1t did not specifically de
nounce as unlawful the purchase by
one OF two parallel and competing
roads of the stock of the other. Nor
did it subject to the restraining infiu.
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 so days, fixing the same rates for
traffic between the same places.
Il 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 1t to enter
upon a valuation of all railroads. This
has always been within the jurisGic-
ton of the commission, but the reaui-
site funds have been 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 | hope we may.
'lfor the protection of cur own
people and the preservation of our
credit in foreign trade, urge upon
congress the immediate enactment OF
law under which one who, in good
faith, advances money or credit upon