The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-10-03
PRES. TAFTS KEYNOTE SPEECH
BEFORE LEAGUE REP. CLUBS

Continued from Page ~
ing confirmation are, many Of them,
already in the classified service, but
postmasters of the first, second and
yaird class. collectors of internal rev.
enue. collectors of customs surveyors
CT customs and appraisers are not in
the classified service, now receive
thef appointments on the recon-
mendation OF either the senator's or
the congressman in whose distric;
they reside. All of those offices ought
ultimately to be in the classified serv-
Ice. They would then be more eff
GENTLY and economically administer
ed.
The giving up of the power of con-
hrnation Is a great concession from
the senate and we can perhaps not ex-
pect 1t to be made in respect to all
local offices at once.
We can partially push on for furth-
,er progress toward an elimination of
all local offices from the field of poll
tics.
This Is, however, but the beginning
OF civil service reform. The problem
Is not merely to take on the employee
through honest competitive examine
tion, but to maintain and to improve,
II possible, the initial efficiency of
that employee; to infhse into his work
the same zeal which he would display
IN private business.
Useful assertions Of classified civil
servants have been at times peryert-
cd into combinations to force the con-
gress and the executive, against their
better Judgment, unduly to increase
their pay or reduce the burden of their
duties.
The general public is not aware of
the existence and exercise of such in
fuence, and do not hesitate to pro-
nounce 1t a serious governmental dan
ger that calls for wise legislation and
executive action.
l 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 gov
eminent.
Our population has vastly increas-
ed, our tax producing capacity has
grown In proportion and the annual
expenses OF the government under the
new conditions that surround 1t have
become greater by many millions Our
Democratic friends are in the habit of
saying that our government is taking
from the people In taxes billion dol
lars year and spending 1t for the
expenses OF government. This 10 an
erroneous statement.
Democratic Economy.
The net expense Of running this
government, derived from proceeds of
taxation is about $650,0O0,O00 per
year. not a billion dollars year. The
total Of appropriations Is not true
Indication of the expenses derived
from taxation. AS an illustration 1
cite the postoffice department. In ad-
dltion to the net ordinary expenses of
S660,OO0,000 appropriated by congress
penditures, and the burden of that de-
last year there was also appropriated
for the expenditures of the postoffice
department alone approximately $780,
100000. But the postal revenues
practically are equal to the postal ex-
partment upon taxpayers this year
therefore will be practically nothing.
Our Democratic friends are saying
that II the Democratic party came in
to power 1t world reduce the expenses
OF this government $300,000000. 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 Philippines? Let us have
a little specification. What are such
statements worth unless the gentle
men who make them give US the de-
tails of the expenditures that they
criticise and expect to avoid If they
are let into power and become them
selves the national government.
1t Is possible to save money in this
government and we are struggling to
find out how many principles of bust
ness organization and efficiency may
be applied to Il governmental struc-
tUre that has hcen handed down for
a hundred years and has never been
reorganized with the idea of securing
modern business economy. BUT It is
hard work, anu when one speaks of
$500, 100000 being saved each year in
the ordinary conduct of the govern
ment, and when that saving is to be
made under the direction of party
80 lacking in everything that goes
to make up business cohesiveness and
singleness of aim and view as the
Democratic party, we may regard the
statement as pic wickian.
cannot close these remarks with
out a reference to the action taken by
our party In the state of New York
during the present week. The cause
of Republication, has been heightened
by a brave declaration of principle
and by the nomination of a nexcep~
tionally satisfactory ticket, with a
candidate for governor. Of the high
est character. Henry L. Stimson has
been a powerful ally Of good govern
ment in this administration and the
last.
1t is possible in such government
as ours to lose deserved popular ap-
prevail through misrepl esentation and
Misunderstanding. But mistakes Of