Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-04
Expenses Being Cut and Rev.
enues Being Increased.
DAVID PASHA'S METHODS
Honest Collection of Customs Results
in Greater National Income.
WILL RAISE THE TARIFF
Money That Was Formerly Wasted
Will Be Devoted to the Army,
: Navy and Education.
BY WILLIAM F.. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM F.. CURTIS
Special Correspondence of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald
CONSTANTINOPLE. September 1. 1910.
The new Turkish government is In an
embarrassing situation financially. but
conditions are improving. and there Is no
doubt that it will pull through without
any serious catastrophe. The greatest
trouble will he the sacrifices that will
have to be made in order to secure the
necessary funds to carry out the reforms
and the public improvements that nave
been promised to the people. and the eX-
actions that will be required by the gov
ernments where the money is borrowed
Like every other bankrupt. however
Turkey must accept what she can get.
Beggars are not often allowed to be
choosers, but it must be said that D1avld
Pasha, the minister of finance, mas
shown extraordinary sagacity ana
shrewdness in making terms. The 3eal-
ousies of the great powers-Austria. Rus
ssa, Germany. England and France-have
helped him a good deal, and he has taken
advantage of them. but at the same time
has been compelled to pay high price
for the sympathy as well as the loans ne
has obtained.
An Able F1nancler.
david Pasha is one of the most pic
turesque and attractive characters in the
Turkish government. He belongs TO
what is called the Dommeh OF Saloniki-
that is. Jewish converts to Mohammed-
ism His ancestors. with large COM
munity Of the same faith, changed their
religion under pressure during the reign
OF Mahomet II.
ity of manner as well as business abil-
ity, and his reputation as q f1nancier was
gained several years ago In hanonne
large interests in Saloniki He is also
an orator of great ability and the author
Of several works on economic subjects.
david Bey Is very liberal In his views
and one of the most progressive men IN
Turkey. He Joined the revolutionary
movement in Saloniki at the second
meeting Of the patriots. and has been
with II as a leader from the start. his
knowledge and natural shrewdness ana
his rare judgment and foresight nave
made him of the greatest value as an al.
wiser. and since the responsibility or
government has been on the shoulders OF
the committee of union and progress. OF
which he Is q member. he has shown
himself perfectly capable OF performing
any task that may be placed upon him.
He 10 q familiar figure in the American
colony in Constantinople and has given
substantial encouragement to American
ENTERPRISES.
eistance to Robert College and the Ameri-
can College for Girls In securing permits
for the improvements that are contem-
vlated, and last June delivered an eio-
quent address to the graduates OF the lat
ter institution.
Largely Reduced Expenses.
In the ministry Of finance david Pasha
10 assisted by three advisers. Mr.. Graves.
IN Englishman; NJ. Jolly, a F'renchman.
and Signor Steez, an Italian, with whom
he became acquainted while they were in
charge Of the reorganization of the
finances Of Macedonia, his native prov
ince. He has also called around him
Turks and Armenians OF experience from
the Imperial Ottoman Bank, the Agrtcul-
tural Bank and other financial institu-
tions, and has discharged several thou-
sand clerks and other employees who nave
been holding Sinecures In the treasury, In
the tax department and in the customs
service. In this way he has been able to
reduce the expenses OF the finance de-
partment about 100000 year. besides
increasing its efficiency to degree tnat
is surprising.
NJ Jolly, the French adviser, has in
ausurated a very thorough and complete
system of inspection for the purpose OF
keeping the employees of the several reve-
nue. departments and the disbursing off,
GERS in a state of honesty and efficiency,
and the consequent stopping OF leaks has
already saved the government several
million dollars year. 1t has been neces-
sary to grant pensions to a large num-
Der of old public servants who have spent
their ives in office and cannot be turned
out in the cold without violating the laws
Of humanity and causing public uproar.
The pensions, however are very small
and they have been reduced in number as
much as possible.
Increase in the Revenues.
The collection of customs taxes is in
charge of an Englishman named Craw-
ford, who for many years occupied a
similar position in Egypt. where he reor-
ganized the customs service with conspic-
uous success. He has already made
himself felt here and the revenue has
been increased several millions Of dollars
upon the existing rates of duty by an
impartial and honest administration
Formerly il was possible for certain mer-
chants to get their goods through the
custom house without paying much duty
This was done by making a permanent
arrangement with the collector. who re-
ceived salary from the government
and who was compelled to get his living
the best way he could. 1t was common
for large importers to have not only one
hut several officials of the custom house
upon their regular pay roll and the bene-
fcaries were able to square the matter
with their superiors in their own way.
When Mr.. Crawford took hold. he exacted
pledge that the salaries of his subordi-
mates In the customs sevice should be in
creased and paid promptly. and that he
should have authority TO dismiss every
person who was detected in accepting
backsheesh.
This stipulation was arranged by Sir
Nicholas OConor. the British ambassa-
dor. and the British government would
not consent to the increase of the tariff
by per cent until 1t was given. Mr..
Crawford has been a strict disciplinarian.
He has enforced the regulations with an
inf1exible determination, and the result
has not only been a diversion of several
millions of dollars annually from the
pockets of rhe officials into the public
treasury, but he commands the respect
and confidence of his subordinates and
the importers, who are enthusiastic in
commencing his reforms
Tariff to Be Increased.
The Turkish government is now trying
20 secure the corsent of the powers to an
increase in the customs duties from IL to
Is per cent ad valorem. and 1t Is practi-
cally agreed to. Germany which has
been holding out alone. is expected to
consent now that she has been able 70
unload a squadron of obsolete gunboats
upon the Turkish government.
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