Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1913-05-01

cerned itself largely with trying TO
find out where the leaks Of service"
were. and where best shoppers could
be put In. Mr.. Taft appointed . COM
mission Of economy and efliciency.
whose work It was. and still 10. to
study the whole situation - regards
expenditures and service in all the
departments, and to make saving
recommendations. Mr.. Taft sent sew.
eral messages to congress accompany.
ing reports Of the commission.
Frederick A. Cleveland. who ID
chairman Of the commission on econ
omy and efficiency. is in frequent con.
ferences with President Wilson. A
year ago the Democratic majority In
the house wanted to do away with the
commission and its activities. but the
wiser counsel Of the leaders prevailed.
and the three commissioners are work
ing today as hard as they did during
the previous administration. Mr.. VIII
son wants to save 100000. 900 a year.
but It can be set down safely that he
thinks It is possible this amount Of the
saving may be doubled
VIII CUT revenues.
The Democratic tariff bill. II II
passes congress and Is signed by the
president, in anything like It's present
form, will cut the yearly revenues OF
the government to an amount very
nearly equal to that which has been
set down as the presidents desire to
save by economy aui efficiency In gov
/ tav nTn
Will more than make good the cut
! caused by the reduction in tarin rates.
but IL 100000 900 could be saved the
government could do away with its
income taxation. II It chose, and stlil
have a yearly income equal to that OF
the prese
The economy and efficiency commits
sion has survived many storm, ana
II seems to be In fine condition today,
and to be in sympathetic communica-
tion with the president Of the United
States 1t Is virtually assured that Mr..
Wilson intends In a message to urge
the budget system of handling the
appropriation bills. and likewise to
urge the adoption Of n good many OF
the reforms which Mr.. Cleveland and
his associates on the economy and
efficiency commission, Walter w. War
wick and Merritt o. Chance. have rec
commended Some OF the plans which
have been suggested for economy and
efficiency have ceased to worry any
body. The Democrats last year were
made to believe. or at any rate SEEM
ingly made to believe. that II the COM
missions plans we're adopted thou
sands Of men and women at work In
Washington would lose their places.
that the government service would be
crippled. and that money could be
saved only at the expense OF EN-.
cheney.
The government clerks have learned
that the plans Of the commission. II
adopted. will not mean loss OF places
but very likely the creation OF moro
places, the salaries Of which can be
paid out Of the savings made while
the government, using the surplus OF
, the saving, can extend its beneficent
, operations into Q good many fields
which 1t has not yet entered.
Take Kindly to Economy Plan.
, Representatives In congress who be-
, lieve in public buildings for the homo
1 districts and who also think that river
and harbor In ..govements are more
necessary than the people generally
seemingly are willing 10 admit. have
. been taking kindly to the plans for
saving hundreds of millions without
, causing anybody to lose his Job, and
with the seeming certainty that the
, governments beneficent functions can
i. be extended.
With 5000 100000 or less saved
: every year the men who like pork
I barrel" legislation think that there
, will be less opposition to public build.
, ings and river and harbor improve.
r ments. even those of the not strictly
2 necessary kind.
I The governments expenses increase
' year by year. and 1t Is natural In.
/ crease In a way. because the needs
. and the numbers Of the governed con.
|, tinually increase.
: When the mo office-seekers need
a apply" sign was put up over the
I door II the White House early
|, last month there was great noise,
|. and the tone OF 1t was protest mors
I or less charged with suggestions
n OF profanity. Now II is said that the
d senators End representatives In con
l. gress are rather pleased with the new
order Of things. They have gone ia
the cabinet officials with their pleas
n for preferment for Office for thei,
o friends and have found that the mem