The Ordway new era., 1910-12-09

~ Win SAC SuAu AtSh VI se~S
commerce commission.
II cannot speak In too high terms Of
the success OF the two oficers In con-
ciliation and settlement OF controver-
sizes which. but for their interposition.
would have resulted disastrously to all
interests.
Civil Service Commission.
THE civil service commission has
continued its useful duties during tho
year. The necessity for the mainto-
nance of the provisions OF the civil
service law was never greater than TO-
day. Ohicers responsible for the pol
Icy Of the administration. and theiS
immediate personal assistants or depu-
ties. should not be included within the
classified service. bpt in my 1ud9.
ment, public opinion has advanced to
the point where 1t would support bin
providing a secure tenure during EN-.
cheney for all purely administrative
ofIlcials. ! entertain the profound con.
viction that 1t would greatly aid the
cause Of efficient and economical gov.
crnment and of better politics II con.
gress could enact bill providing thaA
the executive shall have the power
to include In the classified service all
local Offices under the treasury depart
ment. the department OF justice. the
postofIice department. the interior de-
partment and the department OF com [
merce and labor. appointments 70.
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 tho necessity for political activ.
ity. these local oflcers would be In
duced to become more efflcient public
servants.
Economy and Efficiency.
THE Increase In the activities and
In the annual expenditures Of tho fed
eral government has been SO rapid
and SO great that the time has come
to check the expansion OF government
activities In new directions until We
have tested the economy and efficiency
with which the government OF today u
being carried on. The responsibility
rests upon the head OF the administrs
tion. He Is held accountable by the
public. and properly SO. Despite the
unselfsh and patriotic efforts OF tho
heads of departments and others
charged with responsibility Of govern
mcnt. there has grown up In this coun
try IL 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. 40
curate Information.
Il have requested the head OF each
department to appoint committees on
| economy and efficiency In order to SO
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
tho fiscal year 1912.
my experience leads me to believe
that while government methods are
much criticized. the bA'l results-if we
do have bad results-are not due to
lack of zeal or willingness on the part
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
talned in the act approved June ia
1910. The law as enacted did not con
| tain all the features which | recon-
mended. 1t did not specifically do
nounce as unlawful the purchase BY
one OF two parallel and competing
| roads OF the stock Of the other. Nof
| did It subject to the restraining infl,k
| ence Of the Interstate Commerce com
mission the power of corporations en-
| gagged in operating interstate railronda
| to issue new stock and bonds: nor I'D
1t authorize the making of temporary
agreements between railroads Invited
to 30 days. fixing the same rates '"s
traffic between the same places.
| Il do not press the consideration n
any of these objects upon concre~~ Il
| this session.
| THE interstate commerce
sion has recommended appropr.o io
for the purpose of enabling 1t to N {
upon valuation OF all railroads.
| has always been within the jur! y
ton of the commission. but the re .
site funds have been wanting. 6
Tics to the value of each railroad VIC ]
be valuable for many purposes,
cially II we ultimately enact any TT
itations upon the power of the r. -
state railroads to Issue stocks nd
bonds. as hope we may.
! For the protection of our o'n
| people and the preservation OF -
| credit in foreign trade, l urg. T..
| congress the immediate enactmC :: 4
a law under which one who. In s
faith, advances money or credit upon
a bill of lading Issued by a con- Gu
carrier upon an interstate or for, 1
shinnent can hold the carrier IinlL a