The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1910-12-06

issa5 t5e
tiisia made lJfe ~ he len sum
tYtlicli VIII maintain the departments
l.bttFaaus and onlea Of the geyerrlmel
and meet It's other obligations under
existing law and thata cutG OF these
estimates would result in eTII3a IRA sing
the execuuYei branch OF the govern
Isment IN the performance OF tts duties
This remark does not apply to the
river and harbOr estimates. except tc
those for expenses OF maintenance ana
the meeting of obligations under au-
thorized contracts, nor does It apply
to the public building bill nor TO the
navy building program. OF course as
to these congress could Withhold any
part OF all Of the estimates for them
without interfering with the discharge
OF the ordinary obligations OF the gov
eminent or the performances Of the
functions Of its departments, bureaus
ana omces.
The final estimates for the year end
ing June 80, 1912, as they have been
sent TO the treasury on Nov. 20 OF this
year for the ordinary expenses OF the
government including those for publIc.
buildings, rivers and liarbors and the
navy building program, amount to $3.50
! 404. o13.12. This is $52,964. SST.S6 less
than the appropriations for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1911 It Is $46-
$50, l53. A less than the total estimates,
including supplemental estimates sub
mItted to congress by the treasury tor
the year 1911, and is T4.659.39 less
than the original estimates submitted
by the treasury for 1911.
H. lNFA
preparations for the Panama canal. the
poIicy in. respect to which ought to be
and is to spend as much each year as
can be economically and effectively
expended in order to complete the ca
nal as promptly as possible. ind there
| fore the ordinary motive for cuttlns
down the expense of the government
does not apply to APPROPRIATIONS for
this purpose. 1t will be noted that the
estimates for the Panama canal for
the ensuing year are more than S''i-
| 600 600, an Increase of $2O0o9.ooO over
the amount appropriated for this year,
n difference due to the fact that tho
/ estimates for 1912 include something
| over $19,OOO,OOO for the ratification OF
tile canaG
Against the estimates OF expendi.
/ lures, $3.50, 494, o13.12, we have esd-
/ mated receipts for next year $6So,oOO,-
! 600, making a probable surplus of or
binary receipts over ordinary expendi-
lures of about $5o,0oo,o0O, or. taGlng
! into account the estimates for the Pan
/ anna canal, which are $56.920.S4I.Go
| and which will ultimately be paid In
/ bonds, 1t will leave deficit for the
| next year of about $T,0OO,Ooo If con
grcss shall conclude to fortify the ca
| nal. The cost Of the Notifications Is
! about $19.OOO.00o Should there be no
appropriations this year for fortitica=
tons, then there would be. even in
! Guiding the Panama canal appropria-
! ton, a surplus of about $12.OOo.oOo.
] The treasury department is one OF
/ the original departments of the gov
. eminent. With the changes in the
; monetary system made from time to
time and with the creation of nation
7 al banks, it was thought necessary to
! organize new bureaus and divisions.
which were added in n somewhat hap
hazard way and resulted In II dupll'
cation OF duties which might well now
be ended.
This lack OF system and economic
coordination has attracted the atten-
ton of the head of that department.
who has been giving his time for the
last two years, with the mid of ex-
perts and by consulting his bureau
chiefs, to its reformation. and mt the
risk of being tedious. out merely to
illustrate the character of the reforms
that are possible, I shall comment on
n number of changes that are being
made or ought to be made by leGis-
lative aid.
| The auditing system in vogue Is ms
! old as the government, and the meth
] DDS used are Anticipated. There are
six auditors and seven assistant au-
tlltors for the nine departments, and
under the present system the only
function which the auditor of de-
partment exercises is to determine. on
accounts presented by dsbursing Of
ficers, that the object of the eXpendi-
ture was within the law and the ap-
( preparation made by congress for the
purpose on its face and that the calcu-
! Iatlons in the accounts are correct. He
| does not examine the merits OF the
transaction or determine the reason
ableness Of the price paid for the ar
| ticles purchased, nor does he furnish
I any substantial check upon dlsburS-
/ ing officers and the hends OF depart
ments or bureaus with sufficient
| Dromptness to ena BILE the government
| to recoup itself In full measure for
unlawful expenditure.
! A careful plan is being devised and
] will be presented to congress with the
recommendation that the force OF audi
rVnn kFl