The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-08
The Fight Against Extravaganza.

men StHdlOT AIullCu Sdlu uc
could save $500. 900, 900 year by y
business administration of the gov
acy. But as the campaign against
extravaganza continues, and inciden-
tai savings here and there Of hun
dred thousand dollars or more are
recorded. it looks as though the
statement of the Rhode Island sena-
tor was none too rash. One of the
most expensive departments is that
of the postoffice. "It COSTS" says
Senator Carter, chairman Of the post
office committee, about $241, 600, 900
a year to run the postoffice depart
ment. For $125,O00, 900, a good busi-
ness man who could conduct this
business on the merit system, as the
Pennsylvania Railroad is conducted,
could give us better service in ev-
cry respect and make a profit be-
sides" To save the next sum of
s116,000,000 is worth at least an ef-
fort. That the postoffice department
Is doing something along this line
Is shown by Postmaster General
Hitchcock's declaration that the de-
ficit this year will be s10,000,000 less
than last. Still other economies are
proposed. The bill to abolish the
return postcard receipt for register
ed mail, except when such as Is re-
quested by the sender, will effect a
saving of 100000 year; a second
measure, abolishing the letter Of
advice for money orders, a saving Of
100000; and a third bill requiring
receptacles for mail at the entrances
to all buildings, an economy of four
or five million dallars annually. And
a further provision that where mail
bears insufficient postage, double the
deficiency shall be collected on de-
liver will produce a saving Of several
hundred thousand dollars. In these
incidental ways between five and six
million Of dollars may be saved every
year.
Practically there is no branch OF
any department which does not fur
nish q rich field for economy. a
bill reported to the senate by Sena-
tor omoot for the committee on
printing, will secure a saving of
100000 year in the binding OF pub
lie documents for members OF con-
gress alone. Heretofore it has been
the custom. at the end of the session.
and usually at the behest Of the
hookbindCrs' union, for members of
congress to give a blanket order for
the binding of all volumes in the re-
serve. Much Of this was then sent
ont at just the time the mails were
being weighed in certain states. 10
fix the cOmpensations Of the rail
roads, while the balance would be
sold as waste paper at nine-tenths OF
a cent pound. Discoveries like this
show that Senator AIdrich was not
cNaggcrating with his $500. 900, 900
announcement and lead one to accept
also the statement made recently by
"N-GoNcrnOr IIcrrick, Of Oohio, him
self a banker and business man. that
any department Of the government
could be run by man who could run
"a Iank or factory, ut one-half of
tE" present system" The whole eX-
traNagcnt system which has fasten-
cd itself upon the government Illus
/ u'trS' too, the contention recently
mad" in these columns that "an
urgent need in the cabinets Of prcsi-
+ dents in our day is q large sprinklina
"i men selected from his position
!n che world Of trade" If we are
4 t" attain economy IN all departments
ct government, from the highest to
Ia" lowest, it will Lc largely. if not
/ altogether through business mon
ln the turmoil of politics and dcmag-
/ "SiSm' the Importance of cconomizinr
ia public expenditures has been
overlooked, but the startling ytqi,
mcnt Of Senator Aldrlch and the
good work of President Taft and hi
cabinet officers, are beginning to at
tract the attention they deserve.