The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1915-07-15
Washington Letter

istra,ion in handling government
finances in anything like businesslike
manner has engendered more criticism
and disgust than perhaps any other
single feature Of its activities. 1t
founders around like blind horse in
a bog. 1t is apparent that the iepub-
licans will have to begin in 1917 to
rebuild from the ground up.
For the past two weeks our cap-and-
bells secretary Of the navy has been
cavorting over the vaudeville boards
blowing soap bubble schemes for econ
omy. He had plan to economic IN
the building Of battleships which the
navy department publicity bureau
promptly advertised over the country
1t looked fine TO the average demo-
cratic oficeholder, whose ability to
'fgger' is limited to checking up his
monthly salary, but, as the Providence
Journal tersely expresses it, it con-
templates little more than a rearrange'
ment Of the red lines in the ledger.
There will not be enough real economy
effected to keep in repair submarine
Of the Daniels type small amount,
by the way.
Recently our first lord OF the admi-
ral,y announced that 1872 employees
Of the Washington navy yard were to
have 8 cents a day clipped from their
wages, giving as a reason an act OF the
democratic congress which makes 1t
necessary Tor the government to in
crease the wages Of 900 employees at
the naval proving grounds at Indian
Head. Some more Peter and Paul
financing.
In 1912, at the request Of the con-
gressional naval committee, repub'
lican secretary Of the navy appointed
a board consisting Of three naval officers
and three mechanics from Washington
navy yard to investigate the cost o.
living and wages paid at Washington
and varions cities designated as in it:
vicinity. The board found that a ter
per cent increase was justified and in
cluded Indian Head in its finding, be
ing in the vicinity. The incoming
secretaty Of the navy recommended
the sum Of $240,O0C as sufficient Il
cover the increase, and threw ou
Indian Head because it was not repre-
sented on the board. This sum wa
appropriated by congress for the fsca
years 1914 and 1915, and in the latte
year the report OF the naval committe
made it mandatory that the Indial
Head employees receive equal tened
with those Of the yard at Washington
1t is this action Of the committe
which Secretary Daniels blames for hi
present dilemma. Mr.. N. P. ALTA:
president OF the association Of machir
lists employed by the government
the United States, declares, however
that the $4,000 recommended b
the secretary was sufficient to increas
the Washington yard employees only T..
per cent, and that il the navy depar
ment had considered that $4,000
was not sufficient to provide the te
per cent increase intended BY congress
they we're at liberty to ask for more,
which, obviously tn ~ neglected TO dt
1t is simply case OF an administr
ton official being in wrong again, an
at a somewhat embarrassing momen
As James OConnell, president Of Il
metal trades department Of the Ame
lean Federation Of Labor, said, "Sinc
this country is in strained information
relations it behooves the governme
10 keep its workers and not lei the
go into private concerns which a
looking for such machinists."
Enormous collections Of corporate
and income taxes on the last day
the fiscal year enabled the Treasu
Department to show a balance
sS2,O2s,7le.03 on hand June 3
Three days later, at the close Of {
week, Saturday, July 8, the balan
had dropped to S7s,734,5J4.7
Two years ago, with Republican Ia
anc policies in force, and when