The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-12-08

IL with the chairman Of the interstate
commerce commission.
Il cannot speak in too high terms Of
the success of the two officers 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 duripg the
year. The necessity for the mainte-
nance Of the provisions Of the civil
service law was never greater than TO-
day. Officers responsible for the pol
icy of the administration, and their
immediate personal assistants or depu-
ties, should not be included within the
classified service, but in my judg-
ment, public opinion has advanced to
the point where it would support a bill
providing a secure tenure during eff
cheney for all purely administrative
officials. l entertain the profound con.
viction that it would greatly aid the
cause of efficient and economical gov
ernment and of better politics II con-
gress could enact a bill providing that
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
postoflce 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
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 is
being carried on. The responsibility
rests upon the head of the administra
ton. He is held accountable by the
public, and properly so. Despite the
unselfish and patriotic efforts of the
heads of departments and others
charged with responsibility of govern
ment, there has grown up in this coun.
try u 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 fol
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 g
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
tanned in the act approved June Is
1910. The law as enacted did not con
| tain all the features which l recon
mended. 1t did not specifically de
nounce as unlawful the purchase b!
one of TWO parallel and competing
| roads of the stock of the other. No
did it subject to the restraining infu
| ence of the Interstate Commerce com
mission the power of corporations en-
| gagged in operating interstate railroads
| to issue new stock and bonds; nor die
| it authorize the making of temporar,
agreements between railroads limited
to 80 days, fixing the same rates TO
traffic between the same places.
81 do not press the consideration o
any of these objects upon congress a
this session.
"The interstate commerce commits
sion has recommended appropriation
for the purpose of enabling 1t to ente
upon a valuation Of all railroads. Thi
has always been within the jurisdic
| ton of the commission, but the requ1
site funds have been wanting. Stats
tics to the value of each railroad woulc
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 ant
bonds, as l hope we may.
For the protection of our owl
people and the preservation Of ou
credit in foreign trade, l urge upol
congress the immediate enactment O
a law under which one who, in goo,
faith, advances money or credit upol
a bill of lading issued by commo
carrier upon an interstate or foreig
shipment can hold the carrier liabl
for the value Of the goods describe
in the bill at the valuation specific
in the bill, at least to the extent of tn
advances made in reliance upon it.
81 further recommend that punish
ment of fine and Imprisonment be i'm
posed upon railroad agents and ship
pers for fraud or misrepresentation il
connection with the issue of bills @
lading issued upon interstate and fol
eign shipments.
Except as above, do not recon
mend any amendment to the interstat
commerce law as it stands. l do nc
now recommend any amendment t
| the antitrust law, In other words