Gilpin observer., 1910-12-08

portation. under the Erdman act, JotnA
ly with the chairman Of the interstate
commerce commission.
Il cannot speak in too high terms oe
the success of the two ofncers In con-
ciliation and settlement of controver-
sizes which. but for thei- interposition.
would have resulted disastrously to all
interests.
Civil Service Commission.
THE civil service commission has
continued its useful duties during tho
year. The necessity for the mainte-
nance Of the provisions of the civn
service law was never greater than to-
day. Onicers 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.
ment, public opinion has advanced to
the point where 1t would support q bin
providing a secure tenure during EN-
cheney for all purely administrative
officials. 1 entertain the profound con-
viction that 1t would greatly aid the
cause of efficient and economical gov
crnment and Of better politics II con-
gress could enact bill providing thaA
the executive shall have the power
to include in the classified service an
local Offices under the treasury depart.
ment, the department of justice, the
postofhce 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 activs
ity. these local officers would be in
duced to become more efacient public
servants.
Economy and Ef7cIsncy.
THE increase in the activities and
in the annual expenditures Of the fed.
eral government has been SO rapid
and 80 great that the time has come
to check the expansion of government
activities in new directions until We
have tested the economy and efficiency
with which the government Of today II
being carried on. The responsibility
rests upon the head Of the administra,
ton. He is held accountable by the
public, and properly 30. 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. 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.
It urge the continuance OF the ap
propriation Of 100000 requested fos
the fiscal year 1912.
MY experience leads me to believs
that while government methods ars
much criticized, the bad results-if va
do have bad results-are not due to
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 II
1910. The law as enacted did not con,
tain all the features which recon-
mended. It did not specifically de
nounce as unlawful the purchase b.
one Of two parallel and COMPETING
roads Of the stock of the other. Nos
did 1t subject to the restraining infu
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
1t authorize the making Of temporary
agreements between railroads limited
to 30 days. fixing the same rates foo
traffic between the same places.
II do not press the consideration a
any Of these objects upon congress a
this session.
The Interstate commerce commis
sion has recommended appropriations
for the purpose of enabling II to entes
upon q valuation Of all railroads. This
has always been within the jurisdic
ton of the commission. but the reQut
site funds have been wanting. Stats
tics to the value Of each railroad would
be valuable for many purposes. espe
cially II We ultimately enact any linn
itations upon the power Of the inter-
state railroads to issue stocks and
bonds, a. I hope We may.
For the protection Of our own
people and the preservation Of our
credit In foreign trade. I urge upon
congress the immediate enactment oa
q law under which one who. IN RooA