The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1912-05-10
FISCAL REFORMS
PRODUCE RESULTS
Treasury Department Example Of
Economical Administration.
EVEN DEMOCRATS APPROVE
Under Taft Reorganization Accom-
plished, Frauds Stopped and Law
Violators Punished-Divorced
from Wall Street.


from Wall Street.
The treasury department has re-
Gently received the commentator OF
the Democratic appropriation commit.
tee of the house of represen .atives
for the results achieved in bringing
about economy and efficiency in that
department. The general basis of this
unusual praise is the fact that it is
costing two and half million dollars
a year less to run this big business
machine of the government than il 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 departm
The amount now saved each year
Is ten per cent. reduction in the pre-
yious 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 fruitless field of OPP
Grafton. It has not even been men
toned In connection with the alleged
money trust" for the reason that the
treasury department is now, for 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 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 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 ether collection agency, the in
ternal revenue service, has beer
brought to a high degree Of efficiency
Its collections last year were the high
est in its history-s322.0 900, 000-whicl
was collected at the expense of ont
cent and sixty-eight hundredths of
cent for each dollar, a substantial de
crease in cost. Internal revenue CO.
lectors are now giving the major POI
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 ao
ministraticn was more to be desire
than the developing of political ma
chimes
Where Savings Resulted.
Savings in the method of printin
the paper money Of the country hav
been made to the extent Of $600,0
annually, while similar work in tn
minis has resulted in cutting down tn
expenses annually to the extent c
S483, 900 BY using the mails instea
: of the express saving OF 100000
year Is effected in sending wornou
notes to the treasury for redemption
Nearly $4,000 a year is being save
through improved methods in handlin
the paper on which money and postag
, and internal revenue stamps is prin
ed A similar amount is being save
through closer scrutiny and econom
in printing the stationery for the d,
r partment The revenue cutter servic
adds to the list a saving of 100000
year with increased activities. so ais
ioes the public health service.