The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1912-05-10
FISCAL REFORMS
PRODUCE RESULTS
Treasury Department Example Of
Economical Administration.
EVEN DEMOCRATS APPROVE
Under Taft Reorganization Accom-
pIlshed, Frauds Stopped and Law
Vlolators Punished-Dlvorced
from Wall Street.

The treasury department has re-
the Democratic appropriation commit
tee OF the house of representatives
for the results achieved in bringing
about economy and efficiency in that
department. The general basis of this
unusual praise is the fact that 1t is
costing two and half million dollars
a year less TO run this big business
machine Of the government than 1t did
three years ago when President Taft
began his administration and initiated
his campaign for governmental econ
omy by placing an experienced BUSH
ness man-Secretary MacVeagh-at
the head OF the treasury department.
The amount now saved each year
Is ten per cent reduction in the pre-
vious cost 1t tells but half the story
of the actual economy effected; for
there has been a 10 per cent. increase
in the business of the department dur
in this time, making a total gain In
the interest 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 op-
Grafton II has not even been men
toned 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 bankers Of the country in It's oper'
ations That the department should
always be above the slightest ground
for moral criticism is, of course. one
OF the fundamentals Of its administra
ton.
Frauds Are Punished.
The vigor with which the admins
tration has gone after those who have
attempted frauds on the customs rev
enue Is illustrated by the fact that
more than five million dollars has
been collected in fines against dis
honest importers and attempted snug
glers. Jail sentences in numerous in
stances have been added to the fines
The result has been the creation Of q
wholesome respect for the law on the
part Of importers and Americans who
travel in foreign lands. The entire
machinery for the collection of Gus
toms has been overhauled, with the
result that valuations are made more
accurately and many channels fol
frauds have been stopped. One of the
special aids in this connection has
been the special agents service which
the secretary has taken personally II
hand.
The ether collection agency, the in
ternal revenue service, has beer
brought to high degree of efficiency
It's collections last year were the high
est in it's history-S322, 600. 000-whicl
was collected at the expense Of one
cent and sixty-eight hundredths of &
cent for each dollar, substantial de
crease in cost Internal revenue col
lectors are now giving the major por
ton OF their time to their official du
ties, an innovation brought about TO
the first time through the insistence o
the president that efficiency Of ad
ministration was more to be desired
than the developing OF political ma
chimes.
Where Savings Resulted.
Savings in the method of printing
the paper money of the country have
been made to the extent of $600,00t
annually, while similar work in tn,
minis mas resulted in cutting down tn,
expenses annually to the extent o
1888, 900. BY using the mails instead
Of the express a saving of 100000 {
year is effected in sending wornou
notes to the treasury for redemption
Nearly $4,000 year is being savet
through improved methods in handlini