The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-04-26
FISCAL REFORMS
PRODUCE RESULTS
Treasury Department Example Of
Economical Administration.
EVEN DEMOCRATS APPROVE
Under Taft Reorganization Accom-
pIished, Frauds Stopped and Law
vIoiators PunIshed-Dlvorced
from Wall Street.

the Democratic appropriation commit
toe 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
q 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 bust
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. It tells but half the story
Of the actual economy effected; for
there has been 10 per cent. increase
in the business Of the department dur
In this time. making total gain in
the interest Of the taxpayer of 20 per
| cent.
The eaEerness that now exists to
make political capital out of criticism
makes the fact emfnently striking that
through this period Of investigation
and inquiry the treasury department
has been found Q fruitless field of op
GRAFTON. It has not even been men
toned in connection with the alleged
money trust" for the reason that the
treasury department now, for the
first time, wholly Independent of the
big bankers Of the country in its oper.
atoms. 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 Ave 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 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 Gus
toms has been overhauled. with the
result that valuations are made more
accurately and many channels for
frauds have been 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 revenue service, has been
brought to high degree Of efficiency.
Its collections last year were the high
est in its history-$322, 900, 000-which
was collected at the expense of one
cent and sixty-eight hundredths Of
cent for each dollar, q substantial de-
crease in cost Internal revenue col
iectors are now giving the major por.
ton 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 ad.
minfstration 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 5000, 900
annually. while similar work in the
mints has resulted in cutting down the
expenses annually to the extent OF
$483, 900. BY using the mails instead
OF the express . saving OF $4,000 q
year iss effected In sending WORKOUT
notes to the treasury for redemption.
Nearly $4,000 . year II being saved
through improved methods In handling
the paper on which money and postage
and internal revenue stamps IL print
cd. A simiiar amount II being saved
through closer scrutiny and economy
In, printing the stationery for the de-
partment. The revenue cutter service
adds to the Hist saving OF 800 900 q
year with increased activities, 80 also
does the public health service.
And this story II the strongest kind |
Of Q denial Of the charge that Presi. |
dent Taft has Used the government |
employee to further his own political |
advantage. There have been eighteen |
hundred and one unnecessary places |
abolished under the treasury depart. |
ment in the last three years. Five |
hundred and fortty-two Of these have
been In the department service in
Washington. None Of those in Wash
ington whose places were abolished |
havs been separated from the service
by that fact. Secretary Macveagh
has rigidiy adhered to tho policy Of
saving the vacancies which occurred in
the department by resignation and
death. and these places have been
filled by those who would Otherwise
have been dropped.
The facts above set forth are con-
vincing proof that under tho admins
tration Of President Taft genuine re-
forms In administration have been 80
complished in bringing the govern
ment business to the most practical
and economical basis IN the interest
Of the whole people