Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-02-24

at all; that we ought to make Cor
regidor island, at the mouth of Manila
may, impregnable, establish a naval
supply station in Subig bay. but rely
upon the Hawaiian islands as our
base. This will involve a heavy
expenditure at Honolulu, but for the
present the amount provided is COM
paratively small.
In the naval expenses we have
retained appropriations for two bat
tleships of the 25,QO0-ton capacity
and we have done this on the ground
that until the Panama canal Is COM
pleted we ought to go on and add
to our naval strength. The Panama
canal certainly will be completed in
1915 and If we build two battleships
year until that time the opening
of the canal will so double the eff
cheney of our navy for the protec-
tion of our Pacific and Atlantic
coasts that we can reduce our ex-
penditures in new construction.
Commission plan Proposed.
1T is now proposed to appoint a
congressional commission to look in
to the question of a general reor-
ganization of the departments of
government with a view to reducing
the expense of administering the
government. 1t has been stated on
the floor of the senate that 1t will
be possible by this commission to re-
duce the cost of administering gov
eminent 800, 100000 year, and
that if a free hand were given to a
business man the reduction in the
expense of administration might be
doubled or trebled. ] am unable to
confirm these statements as to exact
amount, but l am sure that CON
sentative. prudent and fearless COM
mission can make a most material
reduction in the cost of administer
ing the government
They will find opposition In con-
gress to every change recommended
because there is no branch or bureau
so humble that it can not secure its
adherents and defenders within the
legislative halls. But If, by the totals
it shows, this commission shall JUS
tify its existence. 1t is probable It
can secure a majority sufficient to
carry through it's proposed reforms.
This government has been construct
ed not all at once, but bureau has
been added to bureau and depart
ment to department, and it has been
impossible to avoid duplication and
expensive methods.
This proposed commission, as
understand it, is to take up the bu-
reaus of all the departments, is to
see whether they may not often be
connected and also to lay down such
rules governing their services as may
secure the utmost efficiency.
at is undoubtedly true today that
we have a great many more persons
employed In the government than we
would need if every person in the
government rendered to the govern
ment a service of high degree of eff
f1ciency. This commission will have
to take up the question. which has
troubled great industrial corporations
and great railroads, as to the method
of disposing of superannuated ser
wants Our military pensions have
reached so large an annual sum. tc
wit, $4,000, 600, that we have
avoided the suggestion of civil pen
sions, but am convinced that some
method must be adopted by which
superannuated civil servants may BIZ
retired on an income.
"It has been reported by the post
master-general that we are carrying
in the postoffice department the
weekly periodicals and magazines al
a cost to that department Of up
wards of $50, 100000 and that th'
business of the government in tbs
postofEiee department is run at gen
eraI loss of $17,5O0. eco. The com
miitee of congress are investigating
Tie owners Of magazines dispute th'
correctness of the figures. Should
the two postal committees not b
able to reach a conclusion the who'll
matter may well be left to the com
mission.
ut win be essential for this com