davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23
SENATOR ALDRICH STARTED 1T.

Senator Aldrich first drew attention 10
the possibilities for economy IN the gov
err,ment by declaring that ScOc0"o could
he saved annually II a competent business
wan pould run the government on busi-
ness basis. But that would mean cutting
ON, many of the bureaus and cutting Of
rsnv activities that are now looked upon
as inportant lines Of endeavor for the gov
eriment 10 engage IN.
The experts now finishing their first year.
and entering upon the most important stage
Of their work, have gone at the problem
uith the idea Of interfering with no phase
~ the governments work, but Of seeing
that that work is performed with the great
est economy OF men and money. and that
the covernment gets 100 cents worm OF
work for every dolav spent
AS pleasant little curtain raiser for the
bie show that is TO come later. they have
uoked their finger into Uncle Sans travel
ling expense account and have declared
that il is too big. Chairman Cleveland Of
the Economy Commission pointed IL oui tu
Mr. Norton. then the Presidents secretary
Secretary Norton explained. II 10 President
Taft and President Taft took the country
into his confidence.
Think of spending $l2.cOO")9 year simply
for travelling expenses. Enough TO give
every one of Uncle Sans fiye hundred thou'
sand employees a first class trip from New
Work tn Chicago with Pullman fare thrown
in and something left to tip the porter
Enough 10 give the population OF good
s.zed city trip around the world
Was as much u surprise 10 The ffesi-
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23
SOURCES OF WASTE.

The blow is not likely TO fall here. how
ever. The real waste In government trav-
elling expenses. according to leading Off
cials Of the government. comes from two
primary causes
First, trips that are not vitally neces-
sary: and second. travel that could lie pur-
chased for a less figure than f. actually
paid for II.
Suppose We find ihat one of the bureaus
IS spending N.500ooo for travelling ex-
penses.' said eX-Secretary Norton. and
we ind that there are ten or nfteen or
twenty ways in which travelling expense
money can be spent-hrst class single trip
tickets. mileage. round trip tickets. etc
and we put an expert TO work and he finds
that the bureau spent only $4,000 for
mileage. whereas IL spen, Sl.l50OU for first
class single trip tickets.
From the analysis and the questions
which would naturally follow. IL Is found
that il H. the custom OF the department TO
issue transportation orders 10 the rail
roads 10 issue tickets, which orders. in
turn, are honored and settled for al tn
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23
TRAVEL NEVER SUMMARIZED.

Never before was il known how much
| the government expended or expected TO
spend in travel expenses in any one year.
said Mr.. Norton recently. just before he
resigned as private secretary to the Presi-
dent
Travel expenses are buried away in mis-
cellaneous and contingent expense ac-
counts. where they cannot be reached and
! cannot be analyZed The very fact that so
much as sl2.O0oOOO gees into travelling ex-
penses arouses curiosity. and. although the
| inquiry has hardly begun. it has already
| been discovered that in many well run
| bureaus the government gets the benefits
| OF the lowest mileage rate, while in one of
! the greatest departments a system Of trans
/ bortation orders results IN that department
I paying 10 per cent more for a trip from
/ Washington 10 New York and return than
an Individual would have 10 pay"
/ Here is the key TO the whole situation
| The waste Of money. If there has been any
/ in the matter OF travelling expenses 10
carry on the government business, has been
waste due to the complexity Of systems
followed in the different departments.
rather than to the padding Of expense ac-
| counts by government employees.
/
count for the government? There is no
| item Of entertainment OF customers" /:
nothing for incidental expenses; nothing
for "taxicabs" or theatres" To pass a
/ padded account successfully through the
/ censOrs Of a government bureau at Wash
ington is a feat that few employees in
Uncle Sans establishment can boast Of
Most Of the departments pass upon every
travel account at least four times before
I il is finally approved and the bill paid.
/ There are bureaus in those departments
where much travelling occurs, equipped
with all the latest passenger-fare tariffs.
and with the rates of the Pullman Com
I pany between all points.
When an expense account comes in. the
/ items for tickets are carefully checked up
on these rate sheets When the rate clerk
/ finally approves the expense statement IT
/ Is proof that the charges for the tickets
| and Pullman nave agreed exactly with tie
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23

first class single trip rates. This would
mean that the department spends. let ns
say. Sio for ticket t. New York and back,
81 more tran a private Individual would
spend hy the use of mileage.
The individual buys perhaps $50 or Sl0i
worth of such transportation where the
government buys SloCOoool worth and pays
for such "trip as | describe 10 per cent
NOR than the :nt.yidual would. II there
is any aupreciable portion OF 100000 or
$1,000 .00) on which ! per cent or per cent
or 10 per cent can be saved. that is an item
Of waste for which an administration
might well be held justly responsible. and
an amount large enough 10 engage the
attention Of Congress"
Ex-Secretary Norton Is well qualified to
speak as an economist In travelling ex-
penses. The records Of his various trips
about the country show an amazing ability
TO get over long distances al small ox-
uense ON one trip from Chicago to Wash
ngton. where the ordinary fare is 81. Mr.
Norton turned ia an expense account OF
only 81 20. while he often rJade round trips
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23
This Is Only One of Many Valuable Tips to Come from
This Commission Which, Before Its Work Is Finished
Will Analyze and Locate Every Dollar Spent by the
Government in the Hope of Saving Part of It..

assistant director of the census; a'
Merritt q. Chance. former auditor lor "
Postoftice Department. There is fnnas
advisory board OH economy ana
cheney" from the departments: eaen "
partment has its own board OF eeonc"s
and under Chairman Cleveland Is y
staff OF experts.
Every dollar spent by the soVernm''
To he analyzed and located.
I'VE intend tn show each year
mates reclassified In such way US
man can tell how much the go'e' :.
has spent for any given ohiect ~"
every object for which the go''",
spends money" said ex-Secretar!
recently. ,+
Ex-Secretary Norton Cire'ted tue
zaiion of the work. The sucoe .,
Charles II. Hilles to the post OF se' ',,.s
to the President transfers 10 MS s"V ,r.,
the work 81 supervising the inquiry ..s
in the next few months interes'l~ "a
are likely to come from the
beard as tn the real sources "i 80
the MANAGEMENT of billion doiia'
ment. ,, u,prss
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23

published rates between the points named.
Then there is definite standard of eX-
rcnse allowed for each legitimate item.
You may have your laundry done once
week at government expense in some de-
uartments when YOU are travelling. but
YOU may not have your trousers pressed
on Uncle Sam" Clean laundry is con-
sidered Il neces sity; carefully creased trou-
sers a luxury. Other departments 90 not
allow even the weekly laundry bill a. an
item of legitimate expense.
You may use cab from the depot 10
destination in strange city. The en-
poye who lives in Washington. however.
and takes "A cab from his home to the
depot there. will find that the vigilant eye
Of the censor of expense accounts has cut
out this item and allowed only cents for
a streetcar ride to the depot The tray
eller is supposed to journey as he would at
his own expense.
A tip of % cents a day is allowed for the
Pullman porter If tips are given To wait
ers they must be included in the price of
the meals and these must always be with
in reason Tips To the courtroom boy, "a
dime to the bootblack and similar little
items come out of the employees pocket,
and not out Of Uncle Sans.
In view of these rigid interpretations Of
travelling expenses that have prevailed for
some time in most of the departments in
Washington, President Tafts desire that
the first test of economy be made on the
travelling expenses OF the government has
aroused some CONSERVATION amcng the
men who travel regularly in the service OF
the government. These include the reve-
nue.. posloifice. treasury ana customs in
spectors, pension examiners, secret service
men and special agents of the Department
Of Justice, and others whose duties keep
them ON the road most of tho time.
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23

the fort and fired upon It, The for' re-
turned the fire. 1t is not certain from the
tes,imonv who was at fault. but 1ngoidspy
killed and wounded several OF Le's'er
soldiers.
Leisler continued to hold the fort uh'n
Slaughter arrived two months later ana
sent Ingoldsby in his name to receive !"
Here again Is confusion in the evidence
and II is not clear how promptly Le'sie'
obeyed the order He eventually did. now
ever. but Slaughter Immediately ordered
his trial and that Of his council for Ihur.
der and treason. Whom he had murderer
IS not indicated. unless 1t Is supposed tha'
he was responsible for the death oi I'''
own soldiers through his resistance 10 IN
goldsby. Six OF those tried with nun
nleaded guilty. but he and Milbourne. MS
son-in-law and secretary, refused to pieau
rntu the court had decided whether the
Kings letter addressed to whomsoever WAS
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23
NIcHoLsoN's NERVOUS TERROR

You rascal. what do YOU here?
Il am come as an interpreter" the inno-
cent man replied.
Then Nicholson tore down pistol from
the wall and threaten to shoot him.
drove him out of the room.
There are so many rogues In the town
said Nicholson. when ne came back, that
| am not sure of my life. 1 am afraid to
walk the streets. If this goes on much
longer | shall fire the town.
He had some difference with the militia
about the stores of powder and other am
munition in the fort, of which they hau
not had a glimpse. as thy were not per-
mitted 10 enter IT, They. naturally. wanted
10 know its condition. and If it was sur
ncient i'm quantity to serve in resisting an
enemy.
"You retelsr' he shouted at them when
they preferred their request. The sight one
morning of guns pointed toward the houses
Of the town from over the parapet OF the
fort lent weight 10 the threat of "hrlng
the town" Fearful that all Of the actions
of Nicholson were parts OF the plot the pep-
,,le were aroused more than ever, and the
fact that permission was finally given Tor
an examination of the powder which was
found TO be i'm bad condition, did not serve
t. allay their fears. Lcisler arose to the
occasion.
The date for the company of which ne
was commander to guard the fort was ap-
proaching He gave notice that on that
date he should call all the train bands on
uarade ana ask the inhabitants to unite IN
srlpport Of William and Mary. In the
,,car time. a rumor spread that French
e,ot was living outside the Hook Leislers
enemies afterward charged that ne started
the runor for his own purposes. However
that may hc Leisler was not slow 10 make
Use Of H. thus demonstrating his capacity
fnr commanding tho ~Itua ton
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23
VINDICATION FOR LEISLER.

Slaughter himself died suddenly about
two months after the execution OF Leisls
There were suspicious that he had been
poisoned. but medical examination Ind.
Gated that this was not true. AppareatIy
he was accustomed TO drinking hayuy
Within three years. on the application Of
Le!slers son, Parliament, after full dk:
cussiOn. removed the stain from his mana
and he was declared not guilty Of treasm
Such reparation as money could give N,
made to his family. he having spent On
out Of his private purse for the expenses II
the government Bellomont. who succeed
ed him as Governor, few years later aH
that the evidence taken at the trial coz.
yinced him that Lesler had been murdex
judicially His body and that Of Milbouns
were taken up. In order that they m.gt,
have Christian burial. Despite much 10
lent opposition permission was granted q
place them in the crypt OF the old D1,c,
church. which then stood in the fort
The midnight funeral. as the disintermr,
If the bodies at midnight in the mN1s
, Of October. 1895. was styled, was dramais
scene. II was bitter night "A faft
storm blew" The Governor sent eris
Of one hundred to assist in the certmsrA
/ and enforce the law il there should be nl
| disturbance "A vast concourse OF pec9s
with lighted torches" assembled st MI
night. The bodies were disinterred AZ
with muf'ieI drums escorted to the st&
/ Huys. or first City Hall, which stood on "
! present site of the warehouses at Nos
and 70 Pearl street. facing Coenes ~
The spectacle when the collins reached "
/ Stadt Huys was one OF the most impress"
! that old building ever witnessed. The nut
/ aed drums. the beating Of the rain upa
the street, the driving wind. the dashis
waves on the shore in front OF the ouE
| ing. all combined 10 make the scene
memorable one. A few days later, on "
tober ~. the bodies Of the two men ITO
/ had witnessed such turbulence In ther ona
season Of power were laid in the old ehu'a
With their Indictments about them,
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23
FIXED SUMS FOR TRAVEL.

Inc travel OF this department, has mn
doubtedly been held down closely duripo
tNe last year or two. but the wide oc,iyi
Ties OF the department have mada ,b.
OIL large In spite OF efforts a, economy
In many OF the depar;mcnts OF the Cavern
nth' there Is stated sum for travel allow
ahcc' such as s. or 81 day. given :, ad-
di'ion to the cost Of the railroad trans
portation. In he case of o,,cers nro
Vided Tor by law, such as heads az h,,ro,us
there Is an allowance FOR trav., ~, :, i,
day. but their expense accounts r,,,., ~
turned in Nv
president Tafts inquiry viii updouh,o1,,
determine the most economical m.,ho, :,
h"hu'ihS travel expense. IL will resu,, Il,
the cutting Off OF many trims. I'm, no.,
important OF all. 1t will put the ,r.v., .,
'he government upon scientihc hasis
where the cheapest rate is oh,ai,s, ror
every item of expense WI
The travel expense, althouyh 4, ,, -.
un'us' forward by the attention given ~ q,
u' '"e PRESIDENT Is actually only a small
''"' 'o"'Paten TO the great deyelonmen,s .
'""' 10 come from the board of OK
p'" onairman Gle, Gland has with him
~" william +. wiloushby. until recently
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23

The first of these reports. for the year
1909, showed scre unexpected items. IL
was found that employees of the Agricult-
ulal Department had been sent out at
the request OF members of Congress to de-
liver addresses on various subjects in their
districts during the campaign.
They were accompanied by the members
of Congress. said Mr.. Tawney. ION the
trips through their districts. The member
would preside at the meeting. and the
officer Of the Agricultural Department in
delivering the address always expressed
some fine complimentary thing regarding
the member, to insure his return to Con-
gress"
The law requiring travelling expenses to
he reported To Congress effectually stopped
that practice. Chairman Tawncy. just be-
fore his retirement this year. said on the
hoor OF the House that II had also been
used by Secretary Wilson 10 cut off some
OF the outside travel of his department.
II was only few days ago" Mr.. Taw-
ney quotes Secretary Wilson as saving "a
him that some of my boys came To mo
| ana wanted to take "A trip to E.urope for
certain investigative purposes and | said
To them Why boys, YOU know we must
now report To Congress the cost NJ all
travel OF that kind and it would not look
very wei on report Of that kind to gate
the cost of such trip"
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23
GENTLE ReMlNDen'

II was midnight. The burglar -. nj
tered the house rs quietly as rosss "a
his shoes were net padded. ana '"s ~
scme noise. lie had Just reache" " -
of the bedroom when lie heard ~, y
moving in the bed as II about ",s ..,f
and he paused The sound OF W"
y, fee foated 10 his ears. .xH
III YOU don't take yonr boots y" -
YOU come into this honsc." II sa"'. .fIt
going "a bc trouble. and a who'e '"
Here it's been raining TOR three '"'V a
YOU dare TO tramp over my '"lo 81
your muddy boots on, Go dowhs'e"
take them of this minute. .,,d =
lie went downstairs without a1 :
he dtin't Tux. on his boots; 'nssia -
went straight out into the nisht An s,m ~
the pal" who was waitius iof ."1
"A tear glisten in his eye. "a, - p
Il can't rob that house. ne saw"
minds me ot home. Tit -litS.
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23

signed the document lying thereon SlN
.optains and four hundred men attached
their signatures to the paper.
From that day the power OF Nlch"iS"H
and his council grew less and less. whlle
that of I.esler grew more ana more. III
June following Nicholson sailed Tor Eng
land. and in the following December. TINS
was 1859. "A messenger came from England
l.earing a paper addressed 10 Francis Mich
olson. and. in his absence. "to such as Tor
the time being take care FOR preserving the
ucace and administering the laws. II
was an appointment as Lieutenant Gov
ornor. Nicholson not being there. Leislcr
thought that the document might be con-
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23

q" OR NEARLY a year commission
headed by Frederick a, Cleveland l,I,, an
Il economy expert, has been at WORK
under the direction of President Tait ana
his secretary. investigating the system uh-
der which the United states government
spends s, coo 10000 year.
Can any part of this enormous scm De
saved? is the question at the bottom OF
the inquiry. Can methods be revised sEs-
TENS made more systematic, useless work
and expense cut out. and the cost OF doing
brsiness cut down. so as to save something
out of the gigantic amount that annually
goes TO the support of Uncle sam ana his
large and growing family?
The experts have reached their hrst con
cIrsions-something can be saved. II II Is
only 1 per cent Of the whole, II means slV'-
nno 900 a year-a tidy sum. even in the pres
ant dav OF big figures. II 10 per cent can
he saved, II means an annual return 10
the rockets Of the American people OF s.
for every man. woman and child IN the
I'rited States.
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23

sidcrcd addressed 90 lin. He thcreupon
opened il. and concluded that h" was there
by authorized by William and Mary To act
as Gov "rnor.
The activity of the French on the north
under Frontenac called forth all Of the
energies Of the colonies. and Loisler called
q Colonial Congress. the first ever held. in
tie future land Of the United States He
sent out rriyatc"rs to pres upon French
vessels. These occasionally brought in
Irizes While hc did things with energy
apparently his steam" was TOO much for
many of his ncighbors in the city. for he
made many enemies. Not al those opposed
tc him had left the town. They were ac-
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23
NOT HIS FAULT.

Little Augustus johnson had e.' s,, =
things about the face of eio'"
quite all there is 10 know. ~ a
What time is il. 'Gustusv~ as"'N
ployer one nisht TO test nun, .hoy. sisd
Its les O'Clock, said 'n'
careful survey OF the clock ,.,s smpcyc
mo, you're wrong. saiu % whle "
1T won't be : o'clock Tor a"'''
not FOR twenty minutes. =, sight. t,
straight % "' as dey can pint" .O,as ssid ds "a usl
stubbornly. III dey ain ts,n"eisS, ts,.,
cyant help youths .So'"f's =
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23
CAREER FULL OF INCIDENT.

Leisler's rise TO power in the American
city Of his adoption and the year or more
of his occupancy Of the seat OF authority IN
the colony OF New York as the Governor
OF ten thousand souls. scattered over
wide area was full of lively incidents.
Commissioner Slower of the Park Depart
ment, in explaining the reasons for giving
q permit for the planting of the tree. said:
''Ieisler was. in my opinion. the forerun-
ner Of the patriots of 1716 He was the
democratic leader. opposed to the rule Of
the aristocrats of his day and always on
the side Of the people. although he was
large land owner himself
I.esler was merchant who had once
been soldier. No one knows the date of
his birth. but he came to New York in leb0,
when 1t was still known as New Amster-
dam As a soldier in the service of the
Dutch West India Company. He settled
down in the town and in course OF time
acquired such wealth that he became the
owner Of considerable land. some of II in
the neighborhood of the present city Hall
Park The city was built up as far north
as the wall along the line of the present
Wall street. His aggressive and progressive
characteristics have not few Illustrations
For instance. when he built his house
facing the water in Whitehall street, south
Of Pearl street he used brick, this being
the first time this durable material had
been SO employed in the little city. As a
merchant he was Jealous for his rights. aS
indicated by the fact that upon receiving
cargo OF wines socn after the accession
of William and Mary. he refused TO pay the
duties amounting 10 f1n, to the revenue
officer. who was still serving under King
James's commission. ana claimed no other
authority He is considered To have been a
self-taught man and uuskiled in public
affairs beyond those connected with the
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23
PROMPT STEPS IN BOSTON.

The news OF the flight Of King James TO
France and the succession of William and
Nary reached the colonies in due season.
The New EuGlan1crs at Boston imprisoned
Sir Edmund AndroS the Governor appoint
ed bv James and a committee of safety
took chargc II affairs. The representatives
of James and AndrOs in New York. being
rather slow of wit and lacking i'm az
gressiveness. did not take prompt steps 10
meet the changed conditions.
In New York there was great fear among
the common people as to the results of the
change on the English throne, James being
a Catholic and William and Mary Prot
estants. They feared campaigns AGAINST
them from Canada. then a French colony,
for there was war between France and
England. and James. the deposed English
King. was the guest Of the French King.
Nicholson and his council, being a weak
kneed sort, did not take the bull by the
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23
Experts Showing Uncle Sam Some Ways Reduce Ills Travelling Expense

from Washington to New York for an even
$40
But back of the economy in purchasing
transportation is the bigger question OF
what travel l. necessary. The President =
demand for a test of economy in the travel
department is likely to he followed by
tightening cf the lines and the reduction
Of some Of the travel that has been de-
yeloping during the last few years.
Such an economy would undoubtedly mt
the Agricultural Department with ccnsid-
eratle force. one statement from the
economy experts shows that the travel OF
this department amounted 10 about sl.9OJ.-
O0o for the last wear. Much az this Is un-
auestiona nly necessary. but other portions
of il may come in for question. The heavy
travel item in this department H. due To the
important experiments that Secretary VIII
sons force has been conducting throughout
the Middle West. the arid regions and the
Pacific Coast country. where experts IN
many lines are at work with new plants
and new methods of culture.
New-York tribune., 1911-04-23
President Tas Board Headed by Frederick A. Cleveland
Points Out That by the Use of Mileage Books and
Other Economies Part of the Present Annual
Outlay of 900 Could Be Saved.

dent and his advisers 10 see this bill for
travel as it may have been TO the public
Appropriations have grown so rapidly in
the government departments, and they are
distributed among such a variety of SUR
iects. that no definite idea Of the amount
spcpt i'm any one class OF service has been
possible until Mr. Cleveland and his eX-
perts had reduced the whole, fabric Of ex-
penditures to a scientific basis.