Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 261, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 November 1910 — Page 2

MODERNIZING UNCLE SAM'S BUSINESS SYSTEMS

LTHOUQH the ensuing seaA son will be In one sense what is known as. an offyear in governmental ac- . tivities, owing to the fact 1 mat there will be a “short fvOgW session" instead of a “long CsW I session" of congress, there IT'er will be inaugurated several projects of far-reaching Importance. Probably the most important of these new departures wul be the scheme for modernizing Uncle Sam’s business systems as represented In the routine of the departments at Washington and their “branch offices" scattered all over the country. This

la the undertaking which is one of the pet projects of President Taft and to carry it out congress has appropriated the stun of SIOO,OOO. Every since he entered the White House President Taft has been imbued with the conviction that the machinery of government could be operated at much lesß expense than has been the case for years past Among practical business men the Federal Covemment’s wasteful and costly method of carrying on Its business has for years been at once a joke and a reproach and Senator Aldrich of Bhode Island voiced the general opinion when he recently declared that he could administer the affairs of the biggest business institution on the continent and by the introduction of modern methods and policies save fully $300,000,000 a year over the present cost. The recent legislation by congress ■was designed merely to enable the president to start the ball rolling for reform in the conduct of the Federal businesa With SIOO,OOO set aside to inaugurate the work, the president is authorized to employ accountants and

Belfast’s Great Shipyard

N MANY respects Messrs Harland & Wolff’s shipyard, 4 Queen’s Island, Belfast, is gc -c £ the most remarkable con--555 cern of kind in ———J world. For many years past they have taken the lead in the construction of the largest ships afloat; they have cut two of the finest liners on the seas in twain, and added considerable to their dimensions; and they have built half a vessel, the stern half, and had it towed safely from Belfast to Southampton, where it was built into the other half. At present on the stocks of their North yard two mammoth White Star boats of 45,000 tons each are fast approaching the launching stage. This line's entire fleet has been built by Messrs. Harland fc Wolff. » From the available record It appears that the first Belfast built ship was a wooden schooner of 150 tons, the builder being a local Presbyterian clergyman. This was in 1836, but it was not until 1850 any serious attempt was made in the shipbuilding line so far as Belfast was concerned. In that year Messrs. Thomas Barnes & Co., in addition to starting the Belfast iron works, erected' a small slip on the now famous Queen's Island, which has long since lost Its Insular position though still retaining the name which was given it after the late Queen Victoria’s visit In 1849, previous to which it was known as Dargan’s Island. The ironworks proved a failure, owing to the heavy expenses incurred In bringing the coal and iron ■take to Belfast, but the small ship, yard thrived exceedingly under the supervision of'Messrs. Robert Hickson & Co., who acquired It from its founders. Mr. Edward J. Harland, an Englishman. was manager for Messrs. Hickson, and in 1859 he purchased the concern from Messrs. lHckson. as well os a small yard adjoining, belonging to the Belfast Shipbuilding company, abere wooden vessels only were built.

experts from official and private life and to inquire into every phase of the methods of transacting the public business of the government in the several executive departments and other governmental establishments. It Is expected that many of the recommendations for reforms which will be made by these business physicians can be carried out promptly with no other authority than the order of the president, but where congressional action is necessary there is assurance that it will be forthcoming. The president has placed this entire overhauling of the governmental business systems In the hands of his very capable new secretary, Mr. Charles D. Norton, who had quite an interval of experience as assistant secretary of the treasury before coming to his pres-* ent post and who while In that department Inaugurated the “house cleaning” of the treasury’s business systems which became in effect the forerunner of the broad rejuvenation that Is now to sweep the entire Federal establishment. Mr. Norton has Invited the in the country, including such authorities on the subject as Maj. Charles Hlne, the reorganization experts of the Harriman lines, to submit written programs for governmental business reorganization and from these propositions he will select plans, to be carried out. It is the supposition that Mr. Norton’s private business experience as the proprietor of one of the largest general insurance agencies in the country for years before he entered the government service will stand him In good stead In selecting Improved business

Two years later Mr. Harland was joined in partnership with Mr. Oustavius Wilhelm Wolff, a wealthy German, and in 1874 Messrs. Walter H. Wilson (deceased) and William James Pierre (now Lord Pierre), pupils of the firm, were also made partners in the concern, which was subsequently floated as a limited liability company. The business of the firm from the very outset continued to increase by leaps and bounds. In the year 18S4, exactly 15 years after Mr. Harland acquired the controlling interest in the concern, there were launched from the Queen's Island yard 42 vessels, aggregating 105,626 tons burden. In the three years ending 1890 their total was 31 vessels, of 126,175 tons. On three ocaslons since they have achieved the record 12 months world’s output, the figures being: In 1907, 82,240 tons; in 1903, 110,000 tons, and In 1908. 106,528 tons. But perhaps one of the longest of several very tough tasks undertaken by the firm of Harland & Wolff was the lengthening of the Castle line Royal Mail steamer Scot (now the Oceana, of the Dutch Red Star fleet). It was in 1896 that the Scot, a Green-ock-built steamer of some seven or eight thousand tons, was sent to Belfast to have 50 feet added to her length amidshlp. Messrs. Harland & Wolff undertook the job. The vessel was cut in halves, and with the aid of powerful Jacks the two ends were pulled the required distance apart. Each end was several thousand tons dead weight, yet the work was accomplished without hitch or accident of any kind to the complete satisfaction of the owners. Towards the end of the same year the Hamburg-Amerlcan liner Augusta Victoria was similarly lengthened by 60 feet. Still more remarkable, probably, was the building of the bow portion of the rejuvenated White Star liner Suevic, when that vessel was taken pieced meal off the rocks at the entrance to the English channel some four or five

systems for the government. While Mr. Norton will have the general direction of the new project he will have the assistance of a board of directors, as it were —a commission composed of one executive officer from each department and independent bureau at Washington and this commission will co-operate with the experts in bringing about the big reform. The present movement, it may bd"added, is not designed so much to enable the cuttinff off of a clerk here and there—although doubtless many clerks will be retired as a result of its economies—as to formulate an entirely new structure of business methods. Several of the government departments have started on overhauling of their business systems without waiting for the general reconstruction and what has been accomplished thus In piece-meal fashion gives a forecast of what may be expected later. In the U. S. land office, instance, bookkeeping methods have been so simplified that a single volume now holds the records tnat formerly required twenty-one different books. In one office 16 standard printed forms now do the work that formerly necessitated 83 different documents and in the postoffice department $175,000 a year is being saved In twine bills by means of a new tying device. Incidently it may he noted that some of the most radical economies that are expected as a result of Uncle Sam’s latest move are looked for in the mailing rooms of the departments where tons of government documents are wrapped, addressed and mailed each day.

years ago. The stern portion only was saved and brought round to Southampton, where it remained until Messrs. Harland & Wolff built the bow end, 260 feet long, in the south yard, subsequently, with the aid of three Liverpool tugs, bringing the weird looking half ship right down the Irish channel, round the Land’s end, and up to Southampton. The repairs to the China, of the P. and O. line, and the Paris, of the Amer;can line, were also remarkable undertakings, as was also that of the St. Louis lor the latter company The China. It was in 1870-the first Oceanic was built on the Queen’s island for the v\ hits Star company, it was a vessel considerably under 1,000 tons. The second Oceanic, launched in 1892, has 18 times the tonnage almost, while even up till the present day no one outside the management of the firm with the exception of the heads of the White Star company, knows the exact dimensions of the two giant boats now being built |for this great ocean carrying firm, so well has the secret been guarded. That they will be between 820 and 840 feet in length and of about 45.000 registered tonnage, is the extent of knowledge of the outside public regarding these monsters. The firm can in no sense be regarded as builders for speed, elegance and comfort for ocean voyagers being their especial motto. None of the boats built by them is Intended to exced 21 knots or 21% knots, which it is understood, will be the rate of traveling of the coming White Star leviathans, the motive power of which will be on the combination principle of reciprocating turbine engines. At the present moment between 11,000 and 12,000 employees are in constant employment, working at high pressure night and day shift, and receiving wages to the tune of over £20,000 per week, while the area of the is about 120 acres.

WINS BY WATCHING WAGNER

Cleved Second Baseman of Pittsburg Pirates Gives Big Shortstop Credit for Success.

By JOHN MILLER.

(Copyright, 1910, by Joseph B. Bowles.) I win by watching Wagner. When asked to tell how I won I was going to refuse because it does sound “swelled” for a young fellow to tell such things or claim to win, mitil I remembered how it was. I win because Honus Wagner taught me the game, showed me how to play it something after his own style, so in telling how I win I am only praising the teacher and the man 1 things the greatest ball player of them all. Wagner has had me under him for years. He began to show me the game when I was a kid, and took an interest in me from the first. He showed me how to make plays, told me what a fellow ought to do and what he ought not, and coached me all the time. Still I wasn’t a winning player until he got me to Pittsburg where I could play alongside of him every day and watch him. I learned more about the game just watching Wagner than I ever thought there was in it. The first time they tried me I was not ready, and they sent me back. Wagner still had faith in me and kept coaching me along, and the second time I managed to stick. Whether I would have been a good ball player or a bad one but for him I cannot tell. I watch Wagner closely all during & game, and move so as to be in the play with him. We talk back and forth and exchange signals once in but I think he does this more to help me and make certain I will not make mistakes than for anything else. I know that watching him keeps me from watching batters and runners as closely as I ought and that if he was out of it I would have

John (Jay) Miller. Second Baseman Pittsburg World’s Champions.

to change the system, but I can tell more now by watching Honus than by watching the others. No one knows what a great ball player John Wagner is until he has played alongside of him. I play a deep field, and it was Wagner who showed me what angles to take on different balls and how to shift for runners. He showed me how so hit without changing my natural batting position at all. In fact he seemed to know more about me than I knew of myself.

LOSE INTEREST IN FOOTBALL

Game Is Too Complicated for American Youngsters and Buccer Will Be Substituted. Is football losing its interest for the American schoolboy? Howard Bradstreet, director of New York city’s 50 public playgrounds, thinks the continued tinkering with the rules has made the game so complicated that the average boy of grammar school age would rather have a simpler game for his hours of recreation. As a result of Mr. BradstYeet’s investigation of the subject, football will he turned down altogether at the New York playgrounds this year. Its place will be taken by soccer. For boys of high school age and for youths of the college Mr. Bradstreet thinks that the game still holds its fascination. The youths whom he looks after are for the most part of an age below that of first year high school pupils. Says Mr. Bradstreet; “I find b prejudice against the game on the part of both boys and parents, and accordingly I am going to organize a succer tournament to take the place of the American game. It will he an easy matter to cut out football, for In the first place most of the boys don't care about It. The changes in the rules mean nothing to the youngsters at the playgrounds, because they use pretty much their own rules. The principal difficulty In starting succer will be to teach the game. When the hoys learn it lam oonfldent that they will like succor.''

This Book “Came Back."

A baseball season book, issued in 1898 to Frank Nathan of Superior, Wis., has, after traveling around the country for 1$ years, neen returned to him. It was found in the car load of watermelons shipped to Superior tram Missouri

"GRAND OLD MAN” OF FOOTBALL

According to Walter Camp t popularly known as the “Grand Old Man” of football, ’there are circumstances wherein even a football player is not entitled to occupy turf room on a football field, says Detroit News. He must pull up stakes and “beat it” or be penalized. The circumstances are these: A player is running to catch a forward pass. An opponent is directly in his path but is not aware of the whereabouts of the ball in the air. He realizes that the runner is after the ball, however, and thinks that by standing still he will make him (the runner) go out of his way in order to complete the pass. If he is successful in this, Camp avers that any ref-

PURPLE TEAM IN FINE TRIM

Players Are Now On Edge and Ready to Tackle Any Team—Captain Manley Shows Class. Although getting away to a bad start, Coach Hammett has rounded Northwestern into flile trim and he and Captain Manley are satisfied with the outlook for the team. In the first game of the season, that with Wesleyan, the boys did not show

Captain Manley.

up well with the exception of Captain Manley. He was a notable exception and his work was the most brilliant shown on the field. v

Fight Game on Wane.

Outside of New Orleans, where fighting has been revived, there Isn’t a city of Importance In this country that will tolerate a bout of 20 rounds or more Just now. The California legislature will convene next winter, and as there is just a chance that no anti fight bill will be passed the San Franciaoo clubs have decided to remain closed until such time as It may be deemed Base to open.

Horses to Get Records.

u At a meeting of the American Assojciation of Trotting Horae Breeders held at Lexington it was decided upon motion of Gen. C. C. Watts that the association recommend to the registry associations that “all records tnade by American-bred horses in foreign countries be reoognlsed. this to refer to reoorda made both in the peat «n 4 future."

Walter Camp.

eree may legitimately penalize on the grounds of'-interference with a bona fide attempt to catch a forward pass. “It’s up to the player to either get off the earth or be penalized,” Camp says. “What! Am I not entitled to standing room?” the indignant football player asks. “Not in the least. You see readily that by occupying certain standing room you are interfering with an* other fellow's chances of completing a forward pass. Therefore It’s up to you to get out. The rules may be taken as literally as this throughout. Except in a very few instances they are purported to mean exactly what they say.”

GOLFERS MEET AT CHICAGO

National Organization Will Hold Sew •lon In Windy City to Award Tournament Dates. Announcement from Boston that the next annual meeting of the United States Golf association will be held in Chicago on January 11, has set the Boston golfing politicians to talking about an eligible for the office of president of the national organiza* tion. This position has thrice been offered to Chicago and on each occasion the individual to whom It has been offered—David R. Forgan of Onwentsia has declined on account of business pressure. The national championship having been held in Boston this year, at the. Chicago Golf club the year before, and. over an eastern course the year previous, it is now fitting that the 1911. event should be assigned to an intermediate club. Buffalo and Pittsburg are both out for the event, hut in recognition of the victory of Fownes ln> the national the consensus of opinion seems to be that the event should be awarded to the Oakmount Country club, which has already done some campaigning for the event. Some action will be taken at the annual meeting of the P. 8. G. A. in regard to the entertainment of the Australian team which will visit the United States next year. Word was received in Chicago the other day that Michael Scott, who recently won the amateur championshipi of New South Wales at Sydney, Australia, will lead the team from the antipodes that will visit this country. Scott, who is a son of Lord Eldon, won the Australian open championship In 1902 and 1907, and the Austrian amateur tide in 1905, 1907, and. 1909.

DISCREDITS A THIRD LEAGUE

Georg» Tebeau Doeo Not Believe Good Players Can Be 3ecured for Fletcher Project. George Tebeau, owner of the Kansas City Blues, while in Louisville the other day said that he did not thlnk there will be a new major league. He eald: The players have prospered under organized baseball. They are getting the highest salaries in the history of the game, and the older men, whose experience dates back from ten to fifteen years, will keep the younger ones in line. Men with money arei needed to promote a new league, and; they want to see the value of theirj investment before they put no the cash." Tebeau declares that Kansas City) is the bekt playing city in the American association and says his team, next year will be the best money can! obtain. He says Danny Shay has made good, and will remain as manager.; He expects Thomas M. Chivington tor be re-elected association president; without opposition,,*. ’

McGill Owns Denver Club.

James G. McGill has become sola owner of the Denver baseball club of! the Western league by purchasing the! half interest held by Secretary H. Cx Qunthorpa. The consideration la said! .to have been '