Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-02


and professional man. But IN actual
human comfort and happines prosperity
10 vastly more important 20 the wage
Garner than to the wealthy.
Hence IL IL legitimate once OF tnose
charged with governmental responsibility
to do what they can to- prevent the
spreading Of fears which will drive capital
to its boarding. place and prevent the in
vestMentB necessary to carry on the wide
ly expanded business of this country,
from which our people derive their nren-
hood. Business men now view with favor
rather than with alarm q strict enforce
ment OF lar.
Favor Enforcement OF Law.
There are other directions In which
governmental progress can be made. The
extension of the merit system has. on the
whole, greatly improved conditions in the
government. For this reason I have
within the last week placed 4.JoO assistant
postmasters and clerks. appointees OF
postmasters. on the classified list Of the
civil service. Fourth class postmasters
not requiring confirmation are. many OF
them, already in the classified service.
but postmasters Of the first. second and
third class, collectors of internal revenue,
collectors of customs. surveyors OF Gus
toms and appraisers are not in the classi-
ned service and receive their appoint
ments on rhe recommendation of either
the senator's OF the congressman In whose
districts they reside. All Of these offices
ought ultimately to he in the classified
service. They would then be more eff
GENTLY and economically administered
The giving W. of the power of con-
hrmation Is d great concession from the
70 be made in respect to all local offices
at once. i shall urge upon the Congress
a change in the method Of appointing post
masters. so that at least the 7.19S second
fed and taken out Of the category Of
political patronage. We can then patient
ly push on for further progress toward
an elimination Of all local Offices from
the field of politics This Is. however, but
the beginning Of civil service reform. The
problem is not merely to take on the en-
ploye through honest competitive exami-
nation, but to maintain and to improve.
If possible, the initial efficiency of that
ennploye; to infuse into his work the same
zeal which he would display In private
business.
I'VE must also be on our guard against
certain evils that have accompanied the
giving Of q permanent tenure to large
classes of civil servants. Useful asso-
Citations of classified civil servants have
been at times perverted into combina-
tons to force Congress and the execu-
tive against their better judgment un-
the burden Of their duties. The general
public is not aware Of the existence and
exercise of such influence. and do not
to daner at es
legislative and executive action.
Economy In Departments.
II am now directing an inquiry into
the efficiency and economy Of the de-
partments, the aim being to improve the
service and lower the cost of govern
| ment.
Our population has vastly increased,
our tax-producing capacity has grown
in proportion, and the annual expenses
OF the government under the new epndi-
by many millions Our democratic
our government Is taking out from the
people in taxes a billion dollars year
government This is an erroneous state
ment. The net expense Of running this
| government. derived from the proceeds
| Of taxation, is. about $780, 100000 per
year. not q billion dollars per year. Tho
total Of appropriations is not true
| indication Of the expenses derived from
| taxation. AS an illustration, I cite the
Post Office Department In addition to
appropriated for by Congress last year.
there was also appropriated for the ex-
penditures Of the Post Office Department
alone approximately 50,0OO. O0O But
to the postal expenditures. and the bur-
den Of that department upon taxpayers
this year will therefore be practically
nothing.
Our democratic friends are saving that
if the democratic party came into power
1t would reduce the expenses OF this
government $500 OOO. GEO. Do they mean
that the democrats would abolish the
pension list? Do they mean that they
would give UP the navy and disband the
army? Do they mean that they would
abandon Porto Rico and the Sandwich
Islands and the Philippines? Let us have
a little specification. What are such
statements worth unless the gentlemen
who make them give US the details Of the
expenditures that they criticise and ex-
pect to avoid if they are let into power
and become themselves the national
government
Possible to Save Money.
1T is possible to save money in carry
ing on this government. and we are
struggling in this administration to find
out how modern principles of business
organization and efficiency may be ap-
piled to governmental structure that
has been handed down for a hundred
years and has never been reorganized
with the idea of securing modern business
economy. But 1t Is hard work, and when
one speaks gliby of $500. 100000 being
of the government, and when that saving
is to be made under the direction of a
party so lacking In everything that goes
to make up business cohesiveness and
singleness Of aim and view as the demo-
cratic party, We may regard the state
ment as Pickwlckan.
Il cannot close these remarks without
a reference to the action taken by our
party in the state of New York during
the present week. The cause of repub-
licanism has been heartened by brave
declaration of principle and by the norni-
nation of an exceptionally satisfactory
ticket, with a candidate for governor of
the highest character and ability. Henry
L. Stimson has been the powerful ally of
good government in this administration
and the last. He has been terror to evil
doors. 1 rejoice IN his selection.
1T is possible in such a government as
ours to lose deserved popular approval
through Misrepresentation and misunder-
standing. But mistakes Of this kind are
not permanent. Let US constantly remem-
Der that If we stick to our principles, If
we insist upon efficiency in government
II we perform our promises in the future
as in the past when opportunity offers,
If we stand shoulder to shoulder in the
determination to carry on the work of
progress as we have understood It. then,
hecause we are an effective nd proore q sf,,e