The evening times., 1895-10-23
COLLAPSE OF. THE REFORM
Dockery Commissions Work Has
Resulted Most DisaslruusIy.
MANY CLERKS WERE FIRED

at a Cost of So Il Is, ,O36 to Get the
Government Accounts Into working
Shape-SensatiOnin In Department Cir.
cIes by The Times Revelations.
The total coilapse OF the reform insti-
tuted by the Dockery Commt sion during
the exi, tence or the Fifry-tuird Congress.
AZ printed exclusively in The Times this
morning. has attracted general interest
among The employee OF the various depart
ments.
Chem of divisions and heaCs OF bureaus,
who have been charged with the i'm titution
and practical trial Oh these REFORMS, " ere
from The outf ct doubtful OF their feasible
ity and have long tinoe fully realized that
their abandonment " a. only question OF
time. and that in many int rantes they must
be ignored pending the legal re-ettab-
re establishment OF the methods Of ac-
counting formerly In use
It Is found upon investigation that there
Is not department in the government serv-
ice which was established by the Doekery
Commission, where widespread dissatisfac-
tion docs not exist respecting the system of
bookkeeping. substituted for that formerly
prevailing.
MATTER OF DELAY.
1t Is not question OF reduction In force
or diminution In expenditures. although both
were bitterly antagonized by the clerks
personally affected. 1t has been merely
matter of delay, additional work with
inadequate results, defective methods aud
unsatisfactory conditions.
Through these combined causes public
business has been retarded, accounts have
become entangied, gand the work of re-
pairing the harni done will cost largely in
excess of any temporary economical bene-
fits derived.
Every bookkeeper OF long service in the
Government employ points out vagaries
and impracticabilities In the lines OF work
established by the Dockery commission
These aggregate a total sufficient to Just.
ffy the belief that the system does not
possess redeeming feature. Even the plea
OF economy has fallen flat.
While there has upon the surface been a
seemingly nomina lsaving gtothegovernment,
1t Is now self-evident fact that ultimately
the experiment of re-organiza ton will
cost the taxpayers more than two million
dollars in excess of the apparent reduction
in expenditures.
As plain matter of fact the Dockery
Commission is said to have proved a
stupendous, gigantic and monumental fall
ure. Prominent members in both branches
or Congress, after purely superficial
investigation into the practical operation
OF the reforms instituted by the Dockery
Commission, have unanimously arrived at
the conclusion that remedial legislation
at the earliest possible moment is an abb
solute necessity.
DRAFTS OF A BILL
With this end in view it is understood
that preliminary drafti OF bin have al
ready been prepared for Introduction in
the Fifty-fourth Congrets S. resembling all
a 81
viding for the employment OF LEGO addi-
tional clcrks TO bring essential " ork up to
dale and correct inaccuracies ocasioned
by the tystem at present in use.
Wherever po; siblc the methods OF keep
ing accounts put Into effect prior to the
adjournment of Congress on March
lai t have temporarily been laid aside as
impracticable and the old ystems utilized.
But in many Inc tances " hole bureaus have
been aboiis he'd and the business formerly
tram acted by them merged srn those of
other governmental branches, end as re-
suit endless confusion prevails. This is
the rcas on why a largely increased clerical
force will be neces sary TO place Ihe records
in that condition OF completeness and con-
tinuity. " hich would have prevailed unde -
the old regime.
WHAT WAS REPORTED.
In a report made two days before ad djourn-
ment the total expenses OF the commission
are given as 41,264O3. At the same
time the total annual expenditures of the
government were reduced $607, SOL. The
report said:
This reduction Is not for the time being
only, but will continue through each of the
coming years The commission, however,
feel that the expedition of public business
and added security to the government
In Its methods OF accounting under the
Eew systems inaugurated would have fully
Justified its existence. even IL there had been
no dtminutiOn of expenditures"
As result OF the Dockery commission.
251 clerks were removed from office,
drawing annual salaries to the amount of
S36O.610. with miscellaneous expenses of
$246, ,9s1, making q total reduction Of
$6UT. .591. 1t was also recommended that
252 additional clerks be dismissed. drawing
salaries OF $685. ,92S, with miscellaneous
expenses of S131 900. This would con-
stitute a grand total of 503 clerks removed,
drawing salaries of $697,53s, niscel-
laneous expenses of $359,Ss1. making a
total saving of $1,057,51s. Some Of
these recommendations have been acted
upon and others have not, and from pres
ent indications never will be. The last
paragraph of this document says:
"ID concluding this final report Of the
work accomplished by the joint commission.
1t is unnecessary to speak further OF its
beneficial results. either from the stand
point of economy, accuracy or expedition"
II the dismissal of sos clerks reduces ex-
penses $1,057 ,519 the employment OF
double that number during a session OF
Congress, or practically for two years,
would mean the additional expenditure Of
So, 116, ,03S.
.