The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-12-06
stabilized with great advantage to the
business OF the country.


finance our vast domestic and foreign
trade without the facilities provided
by the Federal Reserve System. Not
only has It met the normal and extra.
ordinary needs Of business, but IL has
established confidence securely. Bust
ness has been able TO go forward with.
out apprehension and the several cris.
es which the country has faced In its
International relations during the past
two years have been accompanied by
no disturbances and have caused not
even a tremor In the financial world
The crops Of 1915 and 1916 were iinan.
ced without difficulty and to the great
advantage OF the farmers, and the in.
: dustrial troubles which at one time
seemed imminent, because OF the
threatened railway strike last summer
were not accompanied by the slight.
est financial uneasiness. Happily the
country has been at peace and bust.
ness and enterprise have had the lar.
gest opportunity for favorable develop.
ment under the most suspicious con.
ditIons.
III We make intelligent use OF our
great power and exceptional financial
resources, We can cope successfully
/ with any conditions the future may
develop.
One of the feature OF the report Is a
discussion of present methods of con.
struCting public buildings.
81 am convinced, says the Score.
tary. that the methods pursued by
the Congress for the past Is years OF
providing federal buildings through so.
called .publ!c.buiding bills
have resulted in the construction of
many public buildings in small towns
and localities where they are not need.
ed, and at cost which is clearly un.
ju"tified by any actual requirements
OF the communities in which they arc
erected. The conclusion is irresisti-
BILE that authorizations for public build
ings in these small communities are
to frequently dictated by local reasons
and without regard to best interests
Of the government. The most serious
aspect is this: The annual operation
md maintenance OF these buildings
impose on the Treasury a permanent
and constantly increasing burden.
Common sense and business iudg.
| ment would seem to demand that
structures for the transaction OF gov.
eminent business should be author.
! i2ed only in localities where they are
imperativCly needed, and that build.
ings should not he erected where no
public necessity can be shown This
result can be accomplished by divorce
ing the public-building question from
all local or political considerations
and authorizing no public buildings un.
[ I'll q thorough and intelligent invcs.
LEGATION Of each proposed building or
project has been made to this depart.
mont and full report thereon has been
submitted to Congress. II such re-
ports were followed by the Introduce.
ion and passage Of scpcrate measures
to cover each proposed building pro.
jet the abuses and evils of tho Omni-
bus.bill method would he cradicatCd."
The Federal War Risk Insurance
bureau. Mr.. McAdoO. says should he
extended year TO september >. 1918,
since Congress might not he In session
next September and il would be I'M.
possible then 10 continue the work il
i!!" European War i sim i'm progress
and .criCus injury To- American bust.
vcs- might r-sIlU I'll" report says
ZIP {" November L. nearly Lea polio.
les w"rc written by III" Bureau with
iofpl risk o. NOR, than Hli.6lO.OO0 and
losses amounting 10 ..N:;3.h24. Prem.
,uTl# received amounted 10 $3.i42.525.
IN sDCaiinE Of customs revenues,
which Increased about $3.400,000 over
the previous year, the Secretary says
The European conflict Is still inter.
!criTg with such receipts.
Before the breaking ont OF the Euro
pean war says the report. the am.
cunt uf the collections indicated clear.
" that under normal conditions the
present tariff will produce all tho re
vruu" il was estimated II would pro-
dT,r q, the tim. it was drawn. and
since the war the receipts under the
tariff hill have been all that could he
expected under the present conditions
Mr.. MCAdoo points out that for III"
year The value oi imports was about
SiN400U.OOD greater than the previous
year those Of exports $2,I6S.jS9.%I0
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 10
provide fund to care for drug addIcts
through government treatment.
'To cut OFF suddenly the supply of
drugs without curing the addict of his
cravings or making any provision for
the amclioration of his suffcrinCs. &c
SAYS the report. lis not only inhumane
: but encourages evasiOns Of the law"
Appropriations are asked to enable
the Public Health Service to prose
cute investigation of infantile paraly.
sis and for the aviation section OF
the Coast Guard, authorized but given
no Funds by Congress.
The report concludes with a resume
": operations of the various bureaus
! in the Treasury Department.