Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1912-04-25
FISCAL REFORMS
PRODUCE RESULTS
Treasury Department Ex mple Of
Economical Administration
EVEN DEMOCRATS APPROVE,
Under Taft Reorganization Accom-
pIished, Frauds Stopped and Law
vioIators Punished-Divorced From
Wall Street.

vioIators Punished-Divoreed From
Wall Street.
The treasury department has recent
ly received the commentator of the
Demoo ratio appropriation committee OF
the house Of representatives for the re
suits achieved in bringing about econ
omy and efficiency in that department
The general basis Of this unusual
praise is the fact that 1t is costing 81,
100000 a year less to run this big bust
ness machine of the government than
it did three years ago when President
Taft began his administration and mi.
tiated his campaign for governmental
economy by placing an experienced
business man, Secretary MacVeagh. al
the head of the treasury department.
The Economy Effected.
The amount new saved each year is
a 10 per cent reduction In the previous
cost. 1t tells but half the story Of the
actual economy effected, for there has
been a 10 per cent increase In the bust
ness Of the department during this
time. making a total gain in the inter.
est of the taxpayer Of 20 per cent.
The eagerness that now exists to
make political capital out of criticism
makes the fact eminently striking that
through this period of investigation and
inquiry the treasury department has
been found a fruitless field OF opera
ton. 1t has not even been mentioned
in connection with the alleged money
trust" for the reason that the treasury
department Is now for the first time
wholly independent Of the big bank
ers Of the country In its operations.
That the department should always be
above the slightest ground for moral
criticism is of curse one Of the funda-
mentals Of its administration.
Frauds Are Punished.
The vigor with which the administra-
ton has gone after those who have
attempted frauds on the customs rev.
enue Is illustrated by the fact that
more than 100000 has been collect
ed in fines against dishonest importers
and attempted smugglers. Jail SEN
fences In umerou instances have been
added to the fines. The result has been
the creation of a wholesome respect for
the law on the part Of importers and
Americans who travel in foreign lands.
The entire machinery for the collection
Of customs has been overhauled, with
the result that valuations are made
more accurately, and many channels
for frauds have beer stopped. One Of
the special aids in this connection has
been the special agents service, which
the secretary has taken personally in
hand.
The other collection agency. the in
ternal ven service. has been
brought to a high degree Of efficiency.
Its collections last year were the high
est in its hlstory-$322 600, OOO-which
was collected at the expense Of 1 6S-100
cents for each dollar, a substa ntial de-
crease in cost. Internal revenue col
lectors are now giving the major por-
tion Of their time to their official du-
ties, an innovation brought about for
the first time through the insistence Of
the president that efficiency of admin
istration was more to be desired than
the developing Of political machines.
Where Savings Resulted.
Savings in the method Of printing the
paper money Of the country have been
made to the extent of 5000. 900 annu-
ally, while similar work in the minis
has resulted in cutting down the ex-
penses annually to the extent OF $685.
600. BY using the mails instead Of the
express a saving of 100000 a year is
effected in sending wornout notes to
the treasury for redemption. Nearly
$4,000 a year is being saved through
improved methods In handling the pa
per on which money and postage and
internal revenue stamps is printed. A
similar amount is being saved through
closer scrutiny and economy in print
ing the stationery for the department.
The revenue cutter service adds to the
list a saving of 100000 a year with IN
tIcdScu uCuStltS, 81 dlSO uOeS the pup
lie health service. T-r-e are many
more details of savings. all telling the
same story.
Genuine Reforms Made.
And this story Is the strongest kind
Of a denial Of the charge that Presi-
dent Taft has used the government
employee to further his own political
advantage. There have been 1901 un-
necessary places abolished under the
treasury department in the last three
years. Five hundred and forty-two Of
these have been in the department
service in Washington. None OF those
In Washington whose places were abol-
ished have been separated from the
service by that fact. Secretary Mac
Veagh has rigidly adhered to the pol
icy Of saving the vacancies which oc-
Cured In the department by resigna-
ton and death, and these places have
been filed by those who would other
wise have been dropped.
The facts above set forth are con-
vincing proof that under the admins
fration Of President Taft rcuuino ra-