The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-04-21
FISCAL REFORMS
PRODUCE RESULTS
Treasury Department Example Of
Economical Administration.
EVEN DEMOCRATS APPROVE

Under Taft Reorganization Accom-.
plishcd, Frauds Stopped and Law
vioiators observation-disclosures
from Wall Street.
The treasury department has 70
Gently received the commentator OF
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
ia 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. 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 op
grafton. 1t 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 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 other collection agency, the In
ternal revenue service, has been
brought to high degree of efficiency
It's collections last year were the high
est in its history 1922 ,oOo, o0O-which
was collected at the expense OF one
cent and sixty-eight hundredths of a
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 for
the first time through the insistence OF
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 5000 .00(
annually, while similar work in the
minis has resulted in cutting down the
expenses annually to the extent Of
S4S3,000. BY using the mails instead
OF the express saving OF 100000 8
year Is effected in sending wornou,
notes to the treasury for redemption
! Nearly $4,000 a year is being saved
through improved methods in handling
the paper on which money and postage
and internal revenue stamps is print
ed. A similar amount is being saved
through closer scrutiny and economy
in printing the stationery for the de
partment. The revenue cutter servic.
adds to the list saving OF 500 900 6
year with increased activities. so also
does the public health service.
And this story is the strongest kind
of 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