Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-07

Business has been able to go forward
without apprehension and the severa
crises which the country has faced in
its international relations during the
past two years have been accompa.
MED by no disturbances and have
caused not even tremor in the hnan-
cial world. The crops of 1915 and
1916 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 summer, were not accom-
panied by the slightest financial un-
easiness. Happily the country has
been at peace and business and en-
terprises have had the largest oppor-
tunity for favorable development un-
der the most suspicious conditions.
eff we make intelligent use of our
great power and exceptional financial
resources we can cope successfully
with any condition the future may de-
Too Many Public Buildings.
One of the features of the report
is discussion of present methods of
constructing public buildings.
II am convinced" says the secre-
tary, that the methods pursued by
congress for the past fifteen years
of providing federal buildings
through so-called omnibus public
building bills have resulted in the con-
struction of many public buildings in
small towns and localities where they
are not needed and at cost which
is clearly unjustifed by any actual
requirements of the communities in
which they are erected. The con-
clusion is irresistible that authorize
tons for public buildings in these
small communities are too frequently
dictated by local reasons and without
regard to the best interests OF the
government. The most serious as
pect is this; The annual operation and
of these buildings i'm
pose on the treasury a permanent and
constantly increasing burden.
Common sense and business judg-
ment would seem to demand that
structures for the transaction of gov
eminent business should be author
lied only in localities where they are
lmperatively needed, and that build
lngs should not be erected where no
public necessity can be shown. This
result can be accomplished by divorc-
ing the .public-building question from
all local or political considerations
and authorizing no public buildings
until thorough and intelligent in |
resignation OF each proposed building
Or project has been made to this de-
partment and a full report thereon
has been submitted to congress. III
such reports were followed BY the in
reduction and passage of separate
measures to cover each proposed
project the abuses and evils
Of the omnibus-bill method would be
War Risk Insurance.
The Federal War Risk Insurance
bureau, Mr.. McAdoo says, should be
extended a year to September 2, 1918, |
since congress might not be in ses-
ZION next September and it would be
then to continue the work
i the European war is still in prog
ress, and serious injury to American
business might result. The report
says up to November II nearly 100
policies were written by the bureau,
with total risk of more than $4,000
200 and losses amounting to $685.
Premiums received amounted to S.
l42,525.
In speaking of customs revenues, |
which increased about S,400,00O over
the previous year, the secretary says
The European conflict is still interfer-
ng 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 il would |
produce at the time ii was drawn, and |
since the war the receipts under the |
tariff bill have been all that could |
be expected under the present condi-
TONS"
Mr.. McAdoo points ont that for the |
year the value of imports was about
S4S4, 100000 greater than the previous