The Detroit times., 1910-12-06


entire freedom f,om narrow prejudice
In this regard.
Cisn service Commission.
The civil service commission has
continued It's useful duties during the
year. The necessity for the mainten-
anCe % tho provisions of the ciNil-sef-
vice law was never greater than today.
entertain the profound conviction
that II would greatly aid the cause Of
efficient and economical COVE rnment,
and OF better politics N congress could
enact "A bin providing that the eNecu-
tive shall have the power to include
Ia thc classified service all local offices
under the treasure DEPARTING the de-
psrtment OF justice. III" postofficc de-
pGrtment. the interior department., and
the department OF conimcrr" and labor.
appointments 10 which now require ia"
confirmation of the senate, and that
upon such classification the advice and
consent OF the senate shall cease TO be
required Ina such appointments 49,
their certainty OF tenure, dependent on
good service. and by their freedom
from the necessity fog political activ-
ity. these local officers would be in
duced To become more efficient public
servants.
Inquiry Into Economy md Efficiency.
The increase Ina the activities and In
the annual expenditures or the federal
government has been rapid and 30
great that the time has come 10 check
the expansion OF government activities
In new directions until We have tested
the economy and efficiency with which
the government of today is being car
ried on. The responsibility rests upon
the head of the administration. He Is
held accountable by the public, and
properly SO. Despite the unselfish and
patriotic efforts OF the heads OF depart
meDts and others charged with respon
sibility OF government, there has grown
up in this country conviction that the
expenses or government are too great.
The committees on appropriations OF
congress have diligently worked to re-
duce the expenses OF government and
have found their efforts often blocked
by lack OF accurate information con-
tanning proper analysis OF require
ments and OF actual and reasonable
costs. The result OF this inquiry should
enable the executive IN his communi-
cations to congress to give information
to which congress is entitled and which
VIII enable II to promote economy.
have requested the hea dof each de-
partmeht to appoint committees on
economy and efficiency In order to Sc
cure full cooperation In Tn. movemeh.
by the employees of the government
themselves
l urge the continuance of the appro-
priatoin of 100000 requested for the
fiscal year 1872.
Civil Service Retirement.
The Gillett bill provides that the gov
erpfaent snail contribute to the pension
fund of those employees who are now
so advanced in age that Their personal
contributions will not be sufficient TO
create their annuities before reaching
the retirement age. Ia my judgment
this provision should be amended SO
that the annuities OF those employees
shall be paid out OF the salaries appro-
priated for the positions vacated by
retirement, and that the Ctnerence De-
tween the annuities thus granted ana
the salaries may be used for the en-
ploymnt of efficient clerks AZ the lower
grades. II the bill can be thus amend.
ed ! recommend it's passage, as II Will
initiate a valuable system and ulti-
mately result In great saving III the
public expenditures.
Interstate Commerce COn,mssstOn.
There has not been time TO test the
benefit and utility OF the amendments
to the interstate commerce law COLI
tained In the act approved June IL.
1914 The law AS enacted did not con-
tain all the features which l recon-
IN. nded. Ii 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 IL subject to the restraining innu-
ence OF the interstate. commerce com
mission the power or corporations en-
gagged I'm operating interstate railroads
to issls new stock and bonds; nor did
Ii authorize the making or temporary
agreements between railroads. limiteo
to thirty days, fixing the same rates
for traffic between the same places.
do not press the consideration OF
any OF these objects upon congress- al
this session. the object OF the hrst
prsvisionais probably generally covered
by the antitrust law. The second pro-
vision was in the act referred 10 the
consideration Of commission 10 De
appointed by the executive and TO re-
port upon the matter to congress. Thst
commission has been appointed and Is
engaged In the invest, cation and con
sideration OF the question: submitted
under the law. II consists or PRESIDENT
Arthur r Hadley, of Yale university
as chairman; Frederick c. Strauss.
Frederick n. Judson. Prof. p. II: Meyer.
and Walter l.. Fisher, with William r..
$ Griswold. as secretary.
The third proposal led to SO much
OF its object, as being
that OF weakening the effect or the an
THRUST law. that i am not disposed 10
press IL for further consiueration IL
was intended to permit railroad COM
panies to avoid useless rate-cutting by
n mere temporary acquiescence In the
same rates for the same service over
compe ting railroads, with no obligation
" hatever to maintain those rates for
any time.
safety Appliances and Provisions.
The protection OF railroad employees
from personal injury Is subject or
the highest Importance and demands
attention. There have been
two measures pending In congress-. one
for the supervision OF boilers and the
other for the enlargement OF danger
Gus clearances Certainly some meas
es ought to be adopted looking 10
OF accidents from these
causes. II seems TO me that with re-
spect TO boilers A bin might we'll be
drawn requiring and enforcing by pen
atty a proper system OF inspection by
the railway companies themselves
which would accomplish our purpose.
1 suggest that the interstate commerce
be requested TO make Il
SD, cial report az 20 injuries from out
side clcarances ana the best method or
reducing them.
Valuation Of Railroads.
The Interstate commerce commission
has recommended apr opriations for
the purpose OF enabling IL TO enter
upon n valuation of all railroads. This
has always been within the jurisdiction
of the commits sion, bat the requisite
funds have been wanting. statistics
of the value OF each railroad would be
valuable for many purposes. especially
II We ultimately enact any limitations
tlDon the power OF the interstate rail
roads To- issue stocks and bonds. as !
hone we may. I think, therefore. that
I'm order TO permit a correct understand
ing OF the facts, II would be wise To
make a reasonable appropriation To
enable the interstate commerce com
mission to proceed with due dispatch
to the valuation of all railroads.
have no doubt that railroad companies
can and viii greatly facili-
tate this valuation ana make II much
less costly In time and money than has
been supposed.
Fraudulent nils Of Inding.
Forged and fraudulent bills of ladiug
to he issued against cotton,
some months since. resulted In losses
of several millions or dollars 10
American and foreign banking and cot