Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-05-09


ed the Keep commission. which con
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 efficiency.
whose work IL was. and still IL. 70
study the whole situation as regards
expenditures and service in all the
departments, and t. make saving
recommendations. Mr.. Taft sent sew
eral messages to congress accompany
ing reports of the commission
Frederick A Cleveland. who is
chairman Of the commission on econ
omy and efficiency. is in frequent con-
ferences with President Wilson. A
year ago the Democratic majority in
che house wanted to do away with the
commission and it's 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 $1OO.0OO.OoO year.
but 1t can be set down safely that ne
thinks 1t is possible this amount OF the
saving may be doubled
viii Cut Revenues.
The Democratic tariff bill, II it
passes congress and is signed by the
president, in anything like its 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 70
save by economy and efficiency in gov
eminent. The income tax probably
will more than make good the cut
caused by the reduction in tariff rates.
but If 100000 900 could be saved the
government could do away with. It's
income taxation. if it chose, and still
have a yearly income equal to that OF
the present.
The economy and efficiency commits
sion has survived many storm, and
1t seems to be in fine condition today,
and to be in sympathetic communica-
ton 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 a 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 REQ
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 If the com
missions plans were 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 efa-
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 more
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 good many fields
which it has not yet entered.
Take Kindly to Economy Plan.
Representatives in congress who be.
lieve in public buildings for the home
districts and who also think that river
and harbor improvements are more
necessary than the people generally
seemingly are willing to 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
be extended.
! With $300,000,000 or less saved
every year the men who like pork
barrel" legislation think that there
will be less opposition to public build.
ings and river and harbor improve
ments, even those Of the not strictly
necessary kind.
The governments expenses increase
year by year, and 1t is a natural in.
crease in a way, because the needs
and the numbers of the governed con.
tinually increase.
When the mo ofice-seekers need
apply" sign was put up over the
door of the White House early
last month there was a great noise
and the tone of it was protest more
or less charged with suggestions
of profanity, Now it is said that the
senators and representatives in con
gress are rather pleased with the new
order of things. They have gone tc
the cabinet officials with their pleas
for preferment for office for theiI
friends and have found that the mem
hers of the official family are under
strict instructions from President VIII
son to listen patiently to every proper
presentation of a mans case and tC
decide on the merits thereof.
Woodrow Wilson has made a great
many political" appointments to Of
flee and before he gets through he
probably will make a good many
more. but Democrats claim, and some
OF thu Republicans admit. that II
seems as if the professional politi
clans of the Democratic party are tc
get less of the mere spells of office
than some of the party men think 1,
their just due after having been KEN
away from the counter for sixteer
long years.