Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-24


IT can secure a majority sufftcient 10
carry through its proposed reforms This
government has been constructed not all
at one time, but bur eau has been added
to bureau and 1t has been impossible to
avoid duplication. This proposed commits
sion. as I understand 1t, is to see whether
the bureaus Of each department may not
often be closed and also to lay down such
a rule governing the civil service as will
secure the utmost efficiency. 1t Is I'M
doubtedly true today that we have a
great many more persons employed In the
government than we would need II every
person in the government rendered to
the government a service of high degree
of efficiency. This cohpmission will have
to take up the question which has
troubled great Industrial corporations and
great railroads as to the method OF dis
posing of superannuated servants. Our
military pensions have reached so large
an annual sum, to wit S15O!0O0,0O0, that We
have avoided the suggestion OF civil pen
sion, but I am convinced that some meth
DDS must be adopted, to support them, and
that such a provision will ultimately
bring about great economy in the admin
istration. 1t has been reported by the
postmaster general that we are carrying
in the postoffice department the weekly
periodicals and magazines at loss to
that department of upwards of $6O,OOO,0OO,
and that the business Of the government
in the postoffice department is now run
at a general loss Of ST 100000. The COM
mittees of Congress are investigating the
correctness of this view. The owners or
magazines dispute the correctness OF the
figures There ought to be some way
certainly of determining this fact, and If
it is fact it calls for reform and an
increase in the postage Of sufficient
amount to at least take away the deficit
in the postoffice department.
SHOULD the two postal committees not
be able to reach conclusion satisfacto-
ry to them under this question, the whole
matter may we'll be left to the commits
sion to consider The truth is that the
success of modern business has been the
adoption Of successful economies and the
time has come for us to make an effort at
least to introduce something of these
economies into an administration Of the
general business that we have in this
country, the business Of our federal gov
ernment.
II am quite aware that things done by
the government are done under condi-
tions so different from those of a bust
ness concern that there are certain ex-
penditures necessary in view of the fact
that the government business is done for
the benefit of all the people. and that
there fore all the people are entitled to
know how it is done, and a number of
them are entitled to be selected in fair
way to share in it's doings. But in spite
of the added expenditures of admins
tration incident to the requirements of
popular government, everyone familiar
with government methods now in vogue
must recognize the possibility of reforms
leading to great economy if the Congress
shall have the courage to adopt plans
which may be recommended by this COM
mission after a full examination by bus
mess exports. -r
Il have already occupied time too much
and I perhaps have not made this state
ment very informing or interesting, but
cannot close without congratulating you
and myself on the prospect that the pres
ent tariff bill offers of such an increased
income as to make deficits under any con-
ditions unnecessary,eLO Of course II there
was to be halt in our prosperity and
a panic, the reduction in imports might
be so substantial as to lead to deficits
again. Let us hope. however. that the
prosperity Of our country is founded on
such a substantial basis that no furry
in the stock market and no other tenn
porary cause may prevent the continu-
ance of good business on a substantial
basis"