Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-12-08

portation, under the Erdman act, joint
ly with the chairman of the interstate
commerce commission.
Il cannot speak in too high terms OF
the success OF the two officers in con-
Citation and settlement of controver-
sizes which, but for their interposition,
would have resulted disastrously to all
interests.
Civil Service Commission.
The civil service commission has
continued its useful duties during the
year. The necessity for the mainte-
| nance Of the provisions of the civil
service law was never greater than to-
| day. Officers 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 it would support a bill
| providing a secure tenure during eff
| cheney for all purely administrative
| officials. entertain the profound con
v1ct1on that it would greatly aid the
cause of efficient and economical gov
eminent and of better politics If con-
gress could enact a bill providing that
| the executive shall have the power
| to include in the classified service all
local offices under the treasury depart
ment, the department of justice, the
postoffice department, the interior de-
! partment and the department of COM
ON re To
which now require the confirmation
of the senate, and that upon such
classification the advice and consent
or the senate shall cease to be re-
| CURED in such appointments. By
their certainty of tenure, dependent on
good service, and by their freedom
from the necessity for political activ-
ity, these local officers would be in
duced to become more efficient public
servants
Economy and Efficiency
THE increase in the activities and
in the annual expenditures of the fed
eral government has been so rapid
and so 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 is
being carried on. The responsibility
rests upon the head of the administra-
ton. He is held accountable by the
public, and properly so. 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 I'M
detected of waste, duplication, and bad
management is the lack of prompt, &C
curate information.
Il have requested the head of each
department to appoint committees on
economy and efficiency in order to Sc
cure full cooperation in the movement
by the employees of the government
themselves
Il urge the continuance Of the ap-
preparation of 100000 requested for
the fiscal year 1912.
my experience leads me to believe
that while government methods are
much criticized, the bad results-if we
do have bad results-are not due to a
lack of zeal or willingness on the part
of the civil servants"
Interstate Commerce.
F'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 IS,
1910. The law as enacted did not con-
tain all the features which l recon-
mended. 1t 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 it 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
it authorize the making of temporary
agreements between railroads limited
to 80 days, fixing the same rates for
traffic between the same places.
Il do not press the consideration of
any of these objects upon congress at
this session.
"The interstate commerce commits
sion has recommended appropriations
for the purpose of enabling it to enter
upon a valuation of ali railroads. This
has always been within the jurisdic-
ton of the commission, but the requi-
site funds have been wanting. Stats
tics to the value of each railroad would
cially if we ultimately enact any linn
itations upon the power of the inter
state railroads to issue stocks and
bonds, as l 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 of
a law under which one who in good J
faith, advances money or credit upon /
a bill of Iading issued by a common /
carrier upon an interstate or foreign |
shipment can hold the carrier liable !
for the value of the goods described :
in the bill at the valuation specified
in the bill, at least to the extent of the
advances made in reliance upon it.
81 further recommend that a punish
ment of fine and imprisonment be i'm
posed upon railroad agents and ship
pers for fraud or Misrepresentation In
connection with the issue of bills OF
lading issued upon interstate and for
eign shipments.
Except as above, l do not recon-
mend any amendment to the interstate
commerce law as it stands. I do not
now recommend any amendment to
the antitrust law. In other words, ii
seems to me that the existing Iegisla
ton with reference to the regulation
of corporations and the restraint OF
their business has reached a point
where we can stop for a while and wit
ness the effect of the vigorous execu
Aior, Of the Laws of the statute books