Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-03
STOP The LEAKS.

Treasury officials report that the
flow of gold into the governments col
fers for the fiscal year breaks all pre-
yious records. When the war tax
measure becomes effective the present
revenues will seem like pin money IN
comparison The government Is enter.
ing upon period Of great income ana
immense expenditures.
There can be no better time than
the present. therefore, for renovation
of numerous activities IS
hardly the proper word--at Washing
ton. At this time when every citizen
is being urged to practice economy OF
the proper sort as a patriotic measure
the government may we'll set the ex-
ample.
Instances OF waste chargeable to i'm
proper attention to details are notice.
able in considerable number even at
this distance from Washington. NO
doubt closer view would reveal many
more, probably of even more serious
and expensive nature.
There is scarcely daily newspaper
in America but receives each day from
the department Offices at the capltai
printed and mimeographed reports IN
such volume and of such little interest
to the public that the bulk OF them Is
tossed into the waste basket and often
those which are of some value are
overlooked because the consignment
so seldom yields anything OF interest
that has not been discounted by sew
eral days by dispatches from press as
scciations or special correspondents.
Due apparently to failure to revise
mailing lists, each piece Of this frank
ed mail is duplicated to many news
papers. The Courier is one OF these,
and in the course OF year 1t receives
several thousand bulky envelopes. half
Of them duplicates. Other newspapers
are afflicted similarly. and the expense
incident to handling this worse than
useless volume of mail In cars and
rostoffices adds to the expense OF the
postal department and to it's deficit.
This leakage Is in, addition to the
cost of printing and mailing.
The greater portion Of the immense
volume Of literature to further the
home gardening campaign this year
was received by newspapers from the
department OF agriculture too late to
be of use. Complaints are being made
In several cities because literature and
buttons intended for use in the Red
Cross campaign of last week have only
begun to arrive from Washington.
No more glaring instance OF useless
expenditure of public money has come
to public attention recently than that
occa stoned by the publication Of the
governments Daily Official Bulletin. 1t
has come to the attention of only
small portion of the public, indeed. for
the mailing list includes few names In
addition to those Of postmasters, other
government officials and newspapers.
The noteworthy announcements IN
the Bulletin reach the newspapers and
the public by telegraph. days in ad-
vance of the receipt Of the Bulletin It
self, and in the great majority OF OF
fees where it is received 1t merely
serves to increase the days grist OF
waste paper.
The Bulletin is edited by George
Creel, the governments official censor.
Its preparation obviously calls for the
services of Mr.. Creel and some assis-
tants, as well as printers. pressmen
and a mailing force. Add to their sal
aries the cost of the white paper aud
the sum, amounting to some thousands
of dollars monthly perhaps. is charge
able to one of the newest useless meth
DDS Of wasting public money.
American citizens are ready to pay
proper war taxes without demur.
They should not be compelled to con-
tribute money to the treasury which
Is to be dissipated and wasted through
incompetence. carelessness or desire
to provide employment for faithful par
ttsans.
War economy should start with the
government