Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-05-02
Treasury Department Example Of
Economical Administration.
EVEN DEMOCRATS APPROVE
Under Taft Reorganization Accom-
piIshed, Frauds Stopped and la"
Vlolators Punished-DIVoreed
from Wall Street.


for the results achieved In bringing
about economy and efficiency In that
department. The general basis OF this
unusual praise is the fact that II 10
costing two and a half million dollars
Q year less to run this big business
machine OF the government than II did
three years ago when President Taft
began his administration and Initiated
his campaign for governmental econ
omy by placing an experienced busi-
ness man-Secretary MacVeagh-N
The head OF the treasury department
The amount now saved each year
a q ten per cent reduction In the pre-
vious cost. It tells but half the story
: OF the actual economy effected; for
there has been 10 per cent. increase
in the business OF the department dur
in this time.t 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-
erntion. Il has not even been men
toned in connection with the alleged
money trust" for the reason that the
Treasury department IL now. for the
Ellrst time. wholly independent OF the
big bankers of the country In its oper-
atoms. That the department should
always be above the slightest ground
dor moral criticism is. Of course, one
lOf the fundamentals Of its administra-
1ion.
Frauds Are Punished.
The vigor with which the admins
itratIon has gone after those who have
attempted frauds on the customs rev
aenue is illustrated by the fact that
more than Ave million dollars has
ibeen collected in fines against dis
honest importers and attempted SNUG.
iglers. 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
Mernnl revenue service. has been
drought to high degree Of efficiency
Gaa collections last year we're the high
est In it's history-SS22. 0O0, 00O-which
was collected at the expense Of one
cent and sixty-eight hundredths Of
cent for each dollar, substantial de-
crease in cost Internal revenue col
lectors are now giving the major por
zion OF their time to their oficial du.
eies. an innovation brought about for
che first time through the insistence Of
.the president that efficiency of I'D.
administration was more to be desired
than the developing Of political ma
chimes.
Where Savings Resulted.
Savings IN the method Of printine
me paper money or the country have
been made to the extent Of 100000
annually. while similar work In the
saints has resulted in cutting down the
expenses annually to the extent Of
8aSs 900. BY using the mails instead
~ the express saving Of $4,000 9
year is effected In sending WORKOUT
nOtes 70 the treasury for redemption
Nearly $4,000 year Is being saved
through improved methods In handling
the paper on which money and postage
and internal revenue stamps IL print
I'd. A similar amount ID being saved
Through closer scrutiny and economy
"a printing the stationery for the de
partment. The revenue cutter servic.
adds to the list saving Of 100000 q
year with increased activities, so also
does the public health service.
And this story 10 the strongest kind
~ a denial OF the charge that Presi
dent Taft has used the government
employee to further his own politica,
advantage. There have been eighteen
hundred and one Unnecessary places
abolished under the treasury depart
ment In the last three years. Five
hundred and fortty.two Of these have
lhesn 10 the department service ir
washington. None OF those In wash
amgton whose places were abolished
ave been separated from the service
~ that fact. Secretary Macveakh
Aas rikIdly adhered to the policy oi
uasIng the vacancies which occurred n
d department BY resignation and
annfh, and these places have beer
lmllnd By those who would otherwise
have been dropped
The facts above set forth are con