The Clovis news. [volume] (Clovis, N.M.) 1907-1929, 1912-05-09
FISCAL REFORMS
PRODUCE RESULTS
Treasury Department. EHsmplo Of
Economical Administration
EVEN DEMOCRATS APPROVE.
Under TaH Rsorsaniration Accom-
plished, Frauds Stopped and Law
Violators Punished-Divoroed From
Wall street.


plished, Frauds Stopped and Law
Violators Punished-Divoroed Fram
We'll Street.
The treasury department has recent
ly received the commendatlon Of the
Democratic appropriation committee OF
the house OF Representatives for tile re-.
suits achieved in bringing about ccon-
omy and efficiency in That department.
The general basls of this unusual
praise IS the fact that it IS costing So
/ 5CO.OO0 a year less to run this big bust
ness machine Of the government than
It did three years ago when President
/ Taft began bis administration and ini
dated his campaign for governmental
economy by placing an experienced
business man, Secretary MacNeagh, nc
the head Of the TREASURY department.
The Economy Effected.
The amount new saved each year 10
q 10 per cent reduction in the previous
cost. 1t tells but half the story OF tho
| actual economy effected, for there has
been a 10 per cent increase IN Tie 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 frultless field Of opera
tioa. 1t has not even been mentioned
in connection with the alleged "moneyN
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 course one Of the funda-
mentsls OF its administration.
Frauds Are Punished.
The vigor with which the administra-
tlon has gone after those who have
attempted frauds on the customs rev
enue Is illustrated by the fact that
more than S5,O00,OO0 has been collect
ed in fines against dishonest importers
and attempted %smugglers. jail sen
fences I'm numerous 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 I'm 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 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 a high degree Of efficiency.
Its collections last year were the high
est In its history-S322 000,000-which
was collected Mt the expense of / G8-10f
cents for each dollar, a substantial c.
crease In cost. Internal revenue col
l%ectors are now giving the major por-
tion Of their time to their official du-
ties. Rn innovation brought about for
the first time through the msistence 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 beer
made to the extent Of 100000 annu-
ally, while similar work in the minis
has resulted in cutting down the ex-
penses annually to the extent OF S4S3.-
600. By using the mails instead Of the
express a saving Of 100000 n year is
effected in sending wornout notes TO
the treasury for redemption. Nearly
$4,000 a year is being saved throuG|
improved methods ia 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 I'm print
ing the stationery for the department.
The revenue cutter service adds to the
list a saving of 100000 a year with in-
creased activities, so also does the pub
lie health service. There are many
more details Of savings. all telling the
same story.
Genuine Reforms Made.
-t NAAH RANAa - AAA DAANAkANN AAA
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 No.
necessary places abolished under the,
treasury department ia the last three
years. Five hundred and %forty-two OF
these have been I'm 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
%tration Of President Taft genuine re-
forms IN administration have been ac-
lUnmnIfnnnN fw hrFnmfu. an. mnrrnnmrannH