The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-12-08
REPORT OF SECRETARY OF TREASURY

were financed without difficulty and
to the great advantage of the farmers,
and the industrial troubles which at
one time seemed imminent, because of
the threatened railway strike last sum-
mer, were not accompanied by the
1 slightest financial uneasiness. Happily
the country has been at peace and bus
| mess and enterprise have had the larg-
! est opportunity for favorable develop
ment under the most suspicious con-
ditions.
IF we make intelligent use of our
great power and exceptional financial
resources, we can cope successfully
with any conditions the future may
develop"
a discussion of present methods of
! constructing public buildings.
II am convinced says the secretary,
that the methods pursued by the con-
viding federal buildings through So
! called omnibus-public-b building bills
have resulted in the construction OF
many public buildings in small towns
ed, and at a cost which is clearly I'M
| justified by any actual requirements
of the communities in which they are
! erected. The conclusion is Irresistible
that authorizations for public buildings
in these small communities are too
frequently dictated by local reasons
ests of the government. The most
serious aspect is this: The annual op-
Grafton and maintenance of these build
ings impose on the treasury perman
ent and constantly increasing burden.
Common sense and business judg
ment would seem to demand that struc-
lures for the transaction of govern
ment business should be authorized
only in localities where they are i'm
peratively needed and that buildings
should not be erected where no public
necessity can be shown. This result
can be accomplished by divorcing the
public building question from all local
or political considerations and author
iZing no public buildings until a tho
rough and Intelligent investigation of
been made to this department and a
full report thereon has been submitted
to congress. If such reports were fol-
of separate measures to cover each
proposed buildings project the abuses
and evils of the omnibus-bilI method
would be eradicated.''
bureau, Mr. McAdoo. says should be
extended a year to September 2, 1918,
since congress might not be in session
next September and it would be i'm
the European war is still in progress
and serious injury to American bust
ness might result. The report says up
to November II nearly 100 policies
We're written by the bureau with total
risk of more than $1461O.OO0 and loss
es amounting to $S33.924. Premiums
received amounted TO 50, l42,525.
In speaking of customs revenues,
which increased about $1,000, 900 over
the previous year. the secretary says
the European conflict is still interfer-
ing with such receipts.
Before the breaking out of the
European war says the report, 'the
amount of the collections indicated
clearly that under normal conditions
the present tariff will produce all the
revenue it was estimated it would pro-
duce at the time it was drawn, and
since the war the receipts under the
tariff bill have been all that, could be
expected under the present conditions"
Mr.. McAdoo points out that for the
year the value of imports was about
$4S4, 100000 greater than the previous
year and those of exports $2,76S, $50, $40
greater.
CONGRESS is asked to amend the anti
narcotic law in view of the supreme
court INTERPRETATION of the clause re-
lating to drugs in possession and to
nrovide funds to care for drug addicts
through government treatment.
ITO cut off suddenly the supply of
drugs without curing the addict of his
cravings or making any provision for
the amelioration of his sufferings."
says the report, sis not only inhumane
but encourages evasions of the law"
Appropriations are asked to enable the
Public Health service to prosecute in
vestieation of infantile PARALYSIS and
for the aviation section of the Coast
Guard. authorized but given no funds
by congress. The report concludes
with a resume of operations of the
various bureaus in the treasury depart
ment.