New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-16
A REFORM is NEEDED
OBSOLETE METHODS OF WORK IN THE
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
REPRESENTATIVE DoCKERY'S RESOLUTION TO
INVEsTIG ATE-sFCRETARY FOSTERS PRAC-
TICAL RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD
SERVE BETTER
fBY TELEGRAPH To THE rRIBUNE.I

TELEGRAPH TIE IkiBtNbI
Washington. Dec l5.-Representatve Doekery. OF
Missouri, Is OF the opinion that the CIVIL pension
list Of the Government proportionately larger ana
more expensive than the Army pension list ana he mas
accordingly inr duced resolution for al inNesa'ioh'
In order that a reform may be Instituted. by pen
ioners on the civil list Mr.. Dockery means pefso.'
who are employed In the Government departments "a
Washington. who incapacitated by age phSN''u
nrmites or other causes render services equl'ae
In value 10 the salaries which they receive, rs wen II"
persons who unnecessarily employed and i"'a VA
account of obsolete and cumbrOus methods IN Vogue
under which work Is often duplicated or thPh'"'e"
without any advantage TO the Government -
Mr.. Doekery's resolution provides for the appoint
ment OF a committee of five Representatves'aeet u
the LII Congress, which committee shall holo si'"e
In Washington next summer and thoroughly M'es"
gate the methods OF work in the several departments
bureaus and offices Of the Government; ascertain 'e
number and efficiency Of the persons lhereih e"i
poy ed and whether any reduction oil '"e "u"'"' Sa1
be- made without injury TO the public serNice' A-''
committee is to be clothed with authority 10 sehu ior
persons and papers and Is 10 submit It's report anu
recommendations +, the House OF Representatives ON
the first Monday In December 1913
Mr. Dockery has been member oil the House
during the last ten years, ana Is serving Ms eOo
tenn as "A member of the COMMITTEE OH AVprOPI"
tons 50 that his motion for an mNeNuea't"h c"'i
not be regarded as hasty. II undertaken II VIII
nentlon no others there She inquiry prose
cuted by the House Committee on Appropriations
La the XLVIIth Congress, and the more recent ono
BY a senate Committee under the direction Oh Nh
Cockreu The former investigation resulted III
several substantial reforms. among which were the
requirement that all estimates on account OF salaries
Of persons employed, or to be employed Shouiu
specify the number of persons and the salary Oh
each the provision regulating and hmluhs IcaNes
.of absence with pay, and also that requiring Una.
each clerk should work during certain hnhoef Vi
hours each day. These reforms. for which MI
Cannon, Of Illinois, then member OF Tue APPio-
prlatons Committee, was entitled TO the Hons snare
of the credit resulted in great saving to the GOV
ernment as well as IL higher state OF efficiency III
the public service; ana they were aceOhpilsheu
without any loud beating of drums or sounding Oh
tIumpets, and without the foimalues OF Such All
Investigation rs Mr.. Dockery proposes.
At that time. however the Appropriations com
miteo had Charge of III the general Appropriation
bills which provided for the payment OF salaries ta'
Is not the now, and Nj. DOcheiSs rsoiu'loH'
Therefore seems to be necessary as well as proper
serious effort Is To be made to free the pubnc seNoo
from employees Who from any causc' are lhenclc"' oi
incompetent or whose services are not requiicc vi
cour,e there will be two opinions 10 whether persons
who have served the Government faithfully ana
efficiently during many years ana whose ehcieno9 "so
or physical infrMites may have impaired 10 souie
extent should be cast oil entirely but such considc
tons are not supposed u nave much "eleht win
statesmen who are also eminent political economists
lrobably also the number of empiOyes 10 whom the
foregoing description would justly apply Is smaller
than many persons estimate"
As TO that part of Mr.. Dockeiys resolution WHICH
indicates Il purpose TO investigate IN" methdS OF "VIh
An the several branches of the service with view U
their smplncation and to greater economy Of admin
istraton there is not room for two Opinions. fpT
Years successive secretaries Of the Treasury have
recommended reform in this particular ana dwelt
upon Its wisdom necessity ana committees OF Con-
gress have done the same without result. Inc eA-
peIlence Of the past las been that committees OF
Congress however able and Jealous, have been unable
TO deal successfully with the subject. ON this point
Secretary Poster in his report said " In the nature OF
things It Impossible for committees of Congress WITH
Other duties and obligations to committee ana De
partmcnt work pressing upon lis members, 10 give
their entire time study OF this great problem In
the same relation the secretary pointed out the reasons
why a commission composed of Department Officers
ana employees could not do the work. lie said
They have their own current work to perform,
most Of II mpO.tan; dts members being selected on
account Of their ability and efficiency, which cannot
be neglected, postponed or transferred, and then.
mcthods IL is but natural suppose that they would
be slow to recommend radical changes therein
For these and other reasons secretary Foster re-
CARDS as highly desirable and earnestly recommends
the appointment OF non-partisan commission
Commission. but limited TO a period Of, say, three
wears, duration (which can be extended temporarily,
necessary organized exclusively for the purpose OF
examining into existing methods Of business ana work
in the several Executive Departments more especially
ms 10 tie disbursement OF public money ana the eA-
animation adjudication and settlement OF puohc ac-
commits wlh a view Of either establishing simpler
and more accurate, well a. economical methous, or
nrovidnr for n consolidation Of the accounting offices
OF the Treasury Department.
In discussing the Objectionable features OF Uc
uresent system the secretary said
There Is now trpcate system Of examination aD Ui
public aoeomn,s winch @r p Tuopenn or in the
e~er states OF he Union II is not only vexatious in
RESPECT 70 details but wrong i TACT e that is highly
a%9 1 without compensating results 20 ue
& serent "cer and sets" Of clerks accounts
and Claims are occasionally Improperly ""'"''eN u
allowed. 49,. ~, oon,ro, and oud,t appertaining
10 the public eXDcnditure should be uoer .ne "u
ministrative direction oi Titbin wbose bureau
a board Of audit might be created f9r the ae,erlI
,tnn,on statement and settlement Of accounts. II
that mode Of procedure should be regarded WIN i"'
Referring I, the Investigations and reports mace by
committees Of Congress and departments 'oilN'''.v'
in the past secretary Foster justly observes that
thev fen far short Of meeting the requirements G'
the situaton.'
There Is no reason to expect that the investigations
proposed bv Mr.. Docltery. and prosecuted 10 con
cnsou IN the manner and time prescribed by MS
resolution wouN result more probably than past
Investigations Of the Sort many Of which occu-
pied the undivided attention of committees ana com
r,issions during many months unless II should spur
Congress 10 further efforts. II Congress really de-
H., r. r.forn The methods Of work in the Executive
Drparnrnts and save several hundred thousand dol
Lars annually beside, greatly improving the eihclcncy
- ~ ,,,hir service II will adopt and carry Into
oeec, m" wise recommendation Of secretary Foster
BUSINESS DONE IN THE HOUSE
Washington. Dee. 15.-In the consideration morning
hon, the Uouse resumed the consideration OF the bill