The Washington times., 1915-12-08
Treasury Chief Tells President
Nations Financial Resources
Now Are the Greatest in Its
History.
Asks for Appropriations to OBJ
tain Efficiency Ratings and
Run Down Persons Who
Dodge Income Tax.

Emphasizing the need of addi-
tional revenues to meet the pre-
faredness program, the ordinary
needs of Government, and Panama
canal expenditures without rum
ming the country into a deficit in
1917, or resorting to a-bond issue,
and calling attention to the need
OF an appropriation to preven.
wholesale beating Of the income
tax, Secretary Of the Treasury Nc
Adoo todsy presented his annual
report to the President and to the
Congress.
Outlining the financial situation
OF the country and the state of the
nations business, the Secretary de.
clares that the country never has
been so strong or in so favorable 4
condition financially as now, ano
that the nations financial re.
sources are the greatest in its his
tory, and the banking system the
strongest in the world. He points
to the stream of gold pouring into
the country that has given the
United States the greatest store oi
this precious metal ever held by
any nation, exceeding as it does
two billion one hundred million
dollars.
FOR EFFICIENCY RATINGS.
Expressing the belief that a uniform
syrtem Of civil service efficiency ratings
is an important reform for the govern,
mental business in his department. Sec.
retarv McAdoo asks for a larger con.
tinGent fund appropriation for his office
that the work of instituting suct
ratings may proceed as rapidly as. pos
sib.e.
In connection with departmental! work
the Secretary says:
MY experience in the department
has Impressed me with the fact
that there is room for many i'm
nrovements and economies in the
Eovernment service. The growth Of
the Treasury Department has been a
process OF years. and as the struc-
fllre has reached its present great
proportions there has crept In much
duplication Of work. as we'll as use
less work. and cumbersome and inef-
fcient methods which impede bus
ness and cause needless expense.
Il have instructed an Improvement
committee that 1t is my earnest de-
sire to have useless offices abolished.
duplication of work eliminated, and
archaic methods replaced with the
lIp-to-date methods that characterize
the best modern business enterprises.
The repcrt of the committee has not
vet been received. but I hope that AS
result of its investi2 ations and ef-
forts the means may be found FOR
substantial improvements in the
Treasury service"
Urges Leprosarium.
Recommendations are made for tn
erection in Washington Of a. nev
building for the hygienic laborat tory o
the Public Health Service. and for TIL
creation of a national leprosarium.
The entire question of the construc
ton of a great central heating. light
ing. and power plant in Washington 70
the executive departments or Govern
ment again Is laid before Congress. Al
bids for the structure received recentl,
were in excess Of the appropria tiol
made, and Congress is asked to TAX
such action as it deems fit.
Notice is given that designs and esti
building with modern library sta c
type of architecture" TO be erected i
Washington to house invaluable record
OF the Government would be sub
mitted for approval this winter to tn
commission created by Congress
An appropriation of $4,000 is asked 70
the holding OF q second Pan-America
Financial Conference In Washington l
1917.
1t Is recommended that the salaries c
the three Assistant Secretaries OF tn
Treasury be increased from $500 I
$500 a year.
Civil service pensions and rctiremer
are not touched upon in the repor
and there arc no recommended tions wit
respect to the general personnel of III
department, An increased force is aske
in some divisions.
Proud of Conditions.
Secretary McAdoo opens his repo
with tho statement that lit must be
source of profound satisfaction to Il
people of the United States, regardle
of political affiliation, TO contrast Il
conditions today to those prevailing
his country in December, 1914" Co
tinuing. he says:
Then the country was just recove
ing from the terrific shock of Il
European disaster. We had gol
tok he 90 II,
cal, experiences. A country-wide pan
nf appalling proportions was threa ten
but averted. We had emerged with O
credit not only Inimpared. but strengt
ened. Our sound economic foundati,
had been preserved and fortified al
We we're fully prepared to meet the e,
eencies of the future because we HI
recovered our confidence and were co
SCious OF our mower.
-~he European var produced inev