The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1910-12-23

pNildtlOn, uHueT the EEumHu dCt, JOINT" r,
ly with the chairman OF the Interstate y
commerce commission.
Il cannot speak in too high terms ~
the success of the two officers in con
Citation and settlement OF controver@
sizes which. but for their interpositiOn.
would have resulted disa1troWly to III
interests. l~tA
Civil Service Commission.
The civil Service commission has
continued its useful duties during the
year The necessity for the mamie.
nance OF, the provisions OF the0 II
service law was never greater than To-
day. Ohicers responsible for the pol
icy OF the administration, and their
immediate personal assistants or depu-
Ties, should not be included within the
classified d,service. but In my judg.
ment, public opinion has advanced to
the point where 1t would support aAill
providing secure tenure during m
cheney fol-, all purely administl1 I've
officials. Ientertain the ufound con.
Vction that it would greatly aid the
cause OF efficient and economical gov
eminent and OF better politics II con-
gress could enact bill providing that
the executive shall have the power
10 Include In the classified service all
local omces under the treasury depart
ment, the department OF justice, the
postomce department, the interior de-
partment and the department of com
merce and labor, appointments to
which now require THE confirmation
OF the senate, and that upon such
classification the advice and consent
of the senate shall cease to be re-
quired 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.
cral government has been so rapid
and 50 great that the time has CONS
to check the expansion Of government
activities ia new directions until we
have tested the economy and efficiency
with which the government Of today is
being carried on. The responsibility
rests upon tho heed Of the administra
ton. He Is held accountable by the
public. and properly go. Despite the
unselhsh and patriotic Efforts of the
heads of departments and others
charged with responsibility Of govern.
mcnt, there has grown up IN this coun,
try a conviction that the expenses OF
government are too great The fun
damental reason for the existence un
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 q
, |
of the civil servants"
Interstate Commerce.
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 18
1910. The law as enacted did not con.
tain all the features which | recon.
| JiI IL
nounce as unlawful the purchase by
one of two parallel and competing
roads of the stock Of the other. Nor
did 1t subject to the restraining infiu:
, 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 30 days, fixing the same rates for
traffic between the same places.
Il do not press the consideration OF
any of these objects upon congress al
this session.
THE interstate commerce commits.
, sion has recommended appropriations
for the purpose of enabling it to enter
upon valuation Of all 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
be valuable for many purposes, espe.
cially If we ultimately enact any lin.
itations upon the power OF the inter
state railroads to issue stocks and
bonds, as | 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
law under which one who, In good
faith, advances money or credit upon
a bill Of lading issued by common
carrier upon an Interstate or foreign
shipment can hold the carrier liable
for the value of the goods described
IN tho hill the valuation ~pooiAod