The Glenwood post., 1910-12-10
portation. under the Erdman act. 3ofnt

portation under the Erdman act. 3oiHt
ly 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 controvert
sizes which, but for their interposition,
would have resulted dsastrously to all
interests.
Civil Service Commission.
THE civil service commission has
continued its useful duties during the
year. The necessity for the mainto-
nance Of the provisions Of the civ1
service law was never greater than to-
day. Officers responsible for the pok
icy of the administration, and thet1
immediate personal assistants or depur
ties. should not be included within the
classified service but IN my judG
ment, public opinion has advanced to
the point where 1t would support bin
providing a secure tenure during en-
cheney for all purely administrative
officials. l entertain the profound con-
| viction that 1t would greatly aid the
| cause of efficient and economical gov.
gress could enact a bill providing that
the executive shall have the power
| to include in the classified service an
| local offices under the treasury depart
ment, the department of Justice, the
| postofiice department, the interior do
| 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
| qured 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 ID
being carried on. The responsibility
rests upon the head Of the administrA
tion. He is held accountable by tha
public, and properly so. Despite tbs
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 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 30
cure full cooperation in the movement
by the employees OF the government
themselves.
81 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 w
do have bad results-are not due to
lack of zeal or willingness on the paI1
of the civil servants"
Interstate Commerce.
There has not been time to test tbs
benefit and utility of the amendments
to the interstate commerce law con
tanned 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 Nos
did it subject to the restraining influ
ence of the Interstate Commerce com
mission the power of corporations en-
gagged in operating interstate railroads
to issue new stock and bonds; nor dA
1t authorize the making of temporary
agreements between railroads limited
to 80 days, fixing the same rates roH
traffic between the same places.
Il do not press the consideration n
any of these objects upon congress nj
this session.
| The Interstate commerce CONS
sion has recommended appropriation
for the purpose of enabling 1t to cnt7r
upon a valuation of all railroads TITS
has always been within the jurisS,a.
tion of the commission. but the reu-:.
site funds have been wanting. Stl'.t
tics to the value of each railroad wol'l
be valuable for many purposes, eEDe
cially If we ultimately enact any In.
itations upon the power of the inter
state railroads to issue stocks and
bonds, as l hope we may.
For the protection of our own
people and the preservation of our
credit in foreign trade, | urge upon
congress the immediate enactment Of
law under which one who In good
faith, advances money or credit upon
bill OF lading Issued by common