Arizona republican., 1913-02-27

fined purpose in many bureaus hither- to organized but directed under an inconsistent and ilI-defined program.
 To cancel the nations debt. through sinking fund and to eliminate the deficit which is slowly growing.
 To carry out the budget plan. to reduce the deficit and the fixed charges against the government the president proposed:
 To create a sinking fund comms- sion to consist of the chairman of the finance committee of the senate; the chairman of the house ways and means committee: the attorney gen eral and the secretary of the treasury, with the comptroller of the treasury as annual auditor of the sinking fund account Legislation which would wipe out the national debt in twenty years after July l. 1914, congress should set aside $45.0OO,O00 annually for that purpose That would be $15.OOO.0 900 a year less than the pres ent amount required by law. That fund should be invested in three per cent government bonds and in twenty years the S1,160. 100000 debt. the presi-
 
 The adoption of definite theory is recommended for future proposals for internal improvements so that such improvements would he in accord with a. well thought out plan In that con nection the president suggested the saving of the rent paid in Washing ton for buildings used by the gov ernmcnt through the construction of new buildings to cost about $100.000, GOO to be paid for through a period of twenty years.
 Briefly stated" wrote the presi- dent. my suggestion is that tho gov ernment first plan for its land pur- chascs. buildings. and public works. then borrow money to acquire and to construct them, proportioning the cost over a period of twenty years, and making the bonds issued to meet the cost payable out of an adequate sink ing fund
 Of a reduction of the salary roll of the government amounting to about $6.5OO,O0O annually, tWo-thirds the president declared, would be saved by adopting his scheme to classify what are now presidential appoint ments. Almost $3,OOO,GO0 annually could be kept in government coffers through postoffice department changes The sum of $2.O00,OOO would be cut from the payroll. MT. Taft continued if there were a complete executive re- classification of civil service em- ployes Under this head the presi- dent wrote:
 Tn the present situation many men at the bottom are receiving larger salaries than would be obtained for similar work in outside employment whereas men in higher positions car rying great responsibility and the success of whose performance de bends on training and long eXper fences. are inadequately paid. From the viewpoint of the rank and file there is little hope of reward for mer- it. The foundation for rcclassifica- tion of salaries already has been laid. In my opinion it would enable the government to pay higher salaries to those of whom experience, training and initiative are required and make the saving of $2,000,0 ,0O0."
 Elimination of waste in the distri- button of public documents; reduc- ton of the number of United States assay offices and possibly the num- Ter of hints and their consolidation into one. are other recommendations.
 With much hesitation,' the presi- dent recommends the organization of a budget committee of congress. It should act as a final clearing house through which all the recommends tions of committees having to do with revenues and expenditures would pass before they take the form of bills
 "The special reason I have for urg- ing this committee" wrote the pres- dent, lis that at present the admin istration is seriously handicapped by not being able to take up proposals for constructive measures affecting any particular department with any one body or committee which will un- dertake to consider them in all their aspects
 Going further the president sug-