The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-11-01
SENA TOR H. NELSON
SPEAKS FOR TICKET

( to save the government at least
$SO0,OOO,OOO year according to DR.
Frederick A. Cleveland, chairman OF
the economy and efficiency com
mission.
1t is such statistics as these that
! the republicans are depending upon
! to draw votes to President Taft, be.
cause no other candidate can show
anything like such a marvellous
record, either in past accomplish
ment or future plans.
The treasury department is now
engaged in preparing the budget that
President Taft has in mind, and, in
spite of the direct prohibition by
/ congress, it will be submitted tc
congress in December, together with
the regular estimates. The budget
idea was suggested by the commits
sion and Endorsed by the president
and the secretary of the treasury.
! after nearly two years of study
Of the problem it is my belief that
! former Senator Aldrich's statement
that $300000,O00 a year could be
: saved if the government were run on
| businesslike basis is not so far from
the mark as has been supposed
said DR.. Cleveland.
The general purposes of the pro
! posed budget were outlined in Presi
dent Taft's public letter on Septem
Der 10. DR.. Cleveland gives the fol
lowing as 1.-The concrete recommend
atoms of the commission"
1t is proposed that the budget
should be made up of five parts, as
follows:
First-A budget message, setting
forth in brief the significant pro
posals.
Second-A summary financial state
ment. (The purpose of this is tc
give a picture of present financia!
conditions and of past operating
reSultS.)
Third-A summary of transactions
showing contracting and trading re
lations. (The purpose of this is tc
serve as an index to the detail facts
in making purchases. 1t would show
how much the government has PAID
for fuel, clothing, forage, stationary
etc. The supporting details con
corning things bought, prices paid
and the purposes of their use would
be found in department reports.)
>, Fourth-A summary of estimates
(This would be in the nature of &
brief comparative statement of est
mates of revenues as well as eXpen
ditures-the picture Of what is asked
for and the proposed method o.
financing)
Fifth-A summary of proposed
[ changes in law. (This would gel
before congress and the country
what legislation the administration
/, thinks desirable to enable it to de
business with greatest economy ant
efficiency at the beginning of each
session, instead of having changes il
law dragged in as riders" in apprO
priation bills at the last day, when NJ
one has the time even to find ou
what he is voting on. The aim is tt
!, head Off "joker" legislation that has
, been connived at through a process
of logrolling behind closed doors il
committee room, and finally sprung
on congress without the knowledge
or consent of members of standing
-. committee on the subject)
! The attention of the state repub
lican committee ho~ en- called tt
the fact that two CT the candidate:
of the opposing political parties wht
: are seeking election as railroad com
. missioners are basing their claims
for recognition on the fact that the!
flavor a general reduction of freigh
rates and the lowering of passenger
! rates to two cents per mile" No par
oil n ar
companies this announcement, it be
| ing advanced apparently as though
t it was a new and original idea which
= had not heretofore been conceived
/ Or else it leads to the impression
that the present Minnesota commits
} sion, of which the republican candi
, dates, Ira B. Mills and Charles E
Elmguist, are at present members
: had failed either through negligence
or inefficiency, to consider and &C
| upon this important subject.
: 1t is suggested that if these OPP
posing candidates desire to impress
. the voters of the state with theil
, special fitness for these very i'm
portant offices they should at leas
, acquaint themselves with the worl
that has been already accomplished
by the present commission and the
legal department of the state, who
are now awaiting with confidence al
early decision by the United State!
: supreme court which will fairly de
termine the important questions a
issue.
In order to remove any erroneous
: impression that may have been ere
ated as to the vigilance of the pres
! ent commission and their legal coun
sci in connection with this subject
: a brief resume of the proceeding
may not be amiss.
In September, 1906, the railroad
commission, after a careful and eX
haustive public investigation into the
existing merchandise rates, entered
it's order establishing schedule o.
, maximum merchandise rates involv
: ing a reduction of % per cent from
the rates previously in force. These
, rates covered all less than carload
shipments; also all carload ship
ments not covered by special com
modify rates.
This was followed, in December
: 1906, by another order whereby re
duction in commodity rates was es
tablished covering lumber, live stock
coal, flax, grain and certain othel
commodities, being a net average re
| duction of approximately Is per cent
: This last order was protested b!