Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-01
IN THE DEPARTMENTS.

OF general interest to all workers in
the government departments was the
progress in the movement to secure
the adoption of pension system by
which the men and women who have
spent the better part of their lives in
the service of Uncle Sam might be as
sured of an income in their declining
years Various pension plans were
suggested during the year 1911. some
of them differing In essential features
from plans which have been projected
in the past, but the chief advantage
which the year showed apparently was
the closer welding of all the interests
which are striving to make pensions
an actually.
Two changes occurred In the cabinet
in the year. President Taft appointing
Henry L. Stimson as Secretary of War
to succeed Jacob NJ. Dickinson, re-
signed. and Walter L. Fisher as Secre-
tary OF the Interior to succeed Richard
a. Ballinger, resigned.
In the Treasury Department the wear
vas most active one many changes
taking place. both in the personnel and
interior architecture of the depart
ment. Throughout the year architects
were supervising forces of men engaged
in making important changes to the
building. These changes included the
creation of new central entrance on
18th street nearly opposite F street. the
installation Of elevators there, the clos
ing of many of the doors formerly in
use for employees. the concentration Of
all money and bond bureaus and di-
visions in the basement Of the west
side. where the employees have been
barred off from the public. and the
shifting of various divisions and bureaus
to conform to a plan long ago reached
by Secretary MacVeagh. The personnel
of the force was changed to con-
the year 1910. when nearly 200 people
were dismissed. although the majority
were later cared for in other positions.
At the close of the fiscal year 1911.
government were $701.372.3 74.sS. and
Panama canal, $654.137. 997.S9, showing
a surplus Of $47.234.377.10.
Several times. during the year. in
speeches. in interviews and in his annual
report to Congress Secretary MacVeagh
urged q pension system for the clerks of
the government. pointing to the serious
need for such = system
Secretary MacVeagh favored a copcen-
tration Of the auditors for the govern
ment under one head. but Controller
Tracewel in his annual report. said this
would accomplish nothing. declared that
the auditors ought to be removed from
places at the hands Of persons higher up.
and urged Congress to place the whole
accounting system OF the government d.
rectly under the legislative body Of the
country. the body that makes the ap-
preparations for the expenditure Of money.
Senator SmOot and others attempted to
do away with hand presses in the print.
ing Of government currency and notes,
asserting that the saving to the govern
ment each year would soon amount to
millions. The plate printers Of the bureau
opposed this contention. fighting the bill
of Senator Smoot to the end. Director
Ralph Of the bureau went after the loan
sharks in his establishment early in the
year. suspending ten men and removing
several for practicing usury.
r. O. Bailey was appointed assistant
secretary in February in succession to
Charles d. Hilles chosen by the Presi-
dent to become his private secretary in
place of e. D. Norton.
Miss Margaret Kelly was promoted
twice during the year in the ONCE Of the
director Of the Mint, the last promotion
carrying with It a salary Of eA300 year
and the rank Of assistant director Of the