The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-12-08

even Two percent would nave the ef-
feet of making them improbable for
banks to use for such a purpose and
at the same time would make them
attractive to investors without injur-
ing the two per cents of which more
than $100,OOO,000 are outstanding. An
other means of accomplishing the
same end, the secretary suggests,
would be for congress to authorize an
issue of $5O.OOO,OOO or $1OO,OOO,O 900 of
the bonds at three percent without
the circulation provision.
If there is no prospect of immed-
late change in the monetary system
the secretary thinks the American
national banking system should be
developed to perform an International
function. There is a clear need of
banking facilities in foreign coun-
tries where there is American COM
merce, he says.
I'VE shall never be full-fledged
commercial nation," he says, unless
we have merchant ships of our own
and foreign banks of our aown. We
should have banks at all ports that
are important to our commerce"
The treasury's relations with the
business communities are unbusiness-
like, artificial and burdensome, the
secretary declares and he recon-
mends legislation to permit the pay
ment of revenue to the government by
certified check guarding the govern
ment against loss.
The recommendation that the treas
ury be authorized to issue gold certifi-
Gates against bold bullion and for
eign gold coin it renewed.
Reviewing the discovery of frauds
and the subsequent reorganization of
the customs service. Secretary Mac
Veagh urges appropriations for re-
wards to those who aid the govern
ment.
The rehabilitation of the customs
service at New York has been mark
ed, he says, by decided elimination
of spoils, influences and practical pol
itics
American travellers are more and
more realizing the indefensibleness of
smuggling. its rank dishonesty and
bad example and influence" says the
report.
Recommending study Of the clas-
sified system of employees the secre-
tary declares that civil service re-
tirement is absolutely the requisite
of a satisfactory system. The contri-
butory system of retiring allowances
the secretary recommends as the only
one which has chance of adoption
and as best for the men and women
Of the service. He urges their friends
to concentrate upon that movement.
1ot@ k1t1 30 @H H1so iI, t,0
government departments, he says, is
impossible without some way of re-
tiring clerks in just and humane
manner.
Nom Political Offices
Secretary NIacVeagh strongly rec
ommends that all non-political Off
ces be included in the classified serv-
ice. Assistant appraisers of customs
should be detached from politics for
the efficiency of the service. he says.
The secretary pays high tribute to
the men of the life-saving service and
urges some form of retirement for
them.
AS the economies of the administra-
ton which have been infected in the
treasury department are reviewed, the
secretary pauses to take notice to a
statement made by a United States
senator, that the business of the gov
ernment could be conducted with a
saving of $3O0,000.O00 a year.
Secretary MacVeagh says:
The popular impression as to the
extent of possible economies in the
administration of the executive de-
partments is singularly exaggerated,
and this misconception is very HARM
full. When the public expects that
the government can save $S00,000.00O
year, such small. laborious savings
as can be made in the executive de-
partmcnts hardly seem worth while.
And it is astonishing that under such
circumstances in these comparatively
small savings can be maintained.
These savings can only be disappoint-
ing to the public who have such fig
ures as $500, 100000 in mind; and
they cannot receive any popular cred
it, for they can only seem to be small
trifings with great things. And yet
they can only be produced by labor
ious, painstaking and persistent meth
DDS and devotion.
when It is the fact that the entire
ordinary expenditures OF the govern
ment last year were less than $780,
OOO, 900, and when great part of
those expenditures is not reduced at
all, as. for example, the interest on
the debt, and the pensions, one can
readily see that there probably is not
very much more than 100000, 900
gross left on which to save $3O0,00O,-
600. Now, to effect saving of $780,
100000 when the whole expenditures
amenable to any saving is $300.00O,-
900. is, Of course, not easy. l appeal
to the sense of proportion of congress
and the American people: for it is
very important to have these impress
sions corrected in order that there
may be some encouragement given to
those men scattered through the de-
partments who want to bring about
all the improvement possible"
SuperfluOus customs house, mints
and assay Offices should he abolished,
the report says. There is an over
supply Of the latter and the mints in
San Francisco. Denver and Philadel-
phia are not fully employed. The
secretary also promises to send to
congress a list Of customs houses
which he says "are no use under the