Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-23

HOW THEY ARE COMPILED
THE collection Of the data aud figures
of the annual reports of the officials in
Washington is begun for the ensuing f,-
cal year at the close Of the preceding ifs
cal year so the making Of a report may
be said to be a continuous performance
on the part of the clerks and subordinate
officials, whose duty it may be to see
that this data is all compiled and
ready for use when the head of the bu-
reau or department begins work upon
his own report, taking the reports o.
these subordinate officials as basis upon
which to frame his own showing:
These final conclusions cannot be reach
ed without the minute, definite. and cx-
haustive collection and compilation OF
:he Invaluable details of the various sec
lions. divisions and bureaus Of depart
.nent. For this reason as we'll as for 9TH
crs too many to mention, the tables OF
figures etc. which largely fill the diff
ferent reports, and Of which are appa-
rently of little or no practical value to
an outsider, are of the utmost impor-
lance to the official world and to those
who seek to tap it's storehouse OF intor-
nation For instance, In the event OF
call from Congress or from the Presl-
dent upon the head of a department tor
certain information regarding any par
ticular subject up for consideration and
not DC properly framed but for the pains
taking attention given to and the collec-
ton Of details into aggregate results, ana
it is from these aggregate results tnat
Congress or the President is supplied with
concise and intelligent facts.
while it would effect great saving
of time and some money to reduce the
bulk Of official reports. yet fact usu-
ally not borne IN mind should not De
cirbt Of While the rpDOrt OF q leGO
# a department appears very large ana
bulky when bound in single Volu1ne
and Endorsed Report Of the Secretary OF
for the fiscal year ended June 80,
1922 it is not so in fact. Within its covers
are separate reports Of all the subordinate
bureau ard vision officials ofttimes over
a score, with their accompanying tables
Of figures etc. while the report OF the
mead of the DEPARTMENT itself may DC
short and not much over 100 pages
CABINET OFFICERS.
AZ point about official reports usually
overlooked Is this: \ Cabinet ofhcer r1ass
conspicuously silhouetted against the
i:orizon of public view for a brief period
IF official power and prominence, ana
then, when his term expires, otten SIMS SIMS
into the obscurity Of private NE sca art;n9
and forgotten by the public. unless re-
allied by reason of some singularly I'M
;.ortant act of his while in otf.ce. IN 1act,
NE CdDlnel mas Deel leA ~
The graveyard for the burial of political
hOreS and prospects ambitions and pur-
poses, especially as to ultimately secul-
ing q nomination for the presidency, sew
eral noteworthy instances during the past
generation being still fresh in mind
The report of head OF department.
therefore, possesses an Individual value 70
its author lie looks forward to its COM
,,ilation, writing and publication as ex
pectantly as does student TO the 1ate Oh
his first collegiate essay. 1t becomes my
first. my second or my last annual re
port as the case NAV be. 1t serves as
q guide board to himself to all who come
after, and in the recountins OF ms al
ministration of the great department over
which ne presides for a short time ne
takes the greatest official and personal
pleasure in laying the most favorable
side before the President, to whom the
report is made, and by. showing by co.:i-
parisons deductions. and express state
;nents how vastly improved is the service
Sihilties OF. the future This feeling OF
more or less personal pride is shared by
the subordinate officials, who in turn re.
cort to the Secretary, and the annual
report in consequence. to all involved is
:. matter of the deepest concern
THAT there is much redundant matter
:nteriected into annual reports cannot be
denied Human nature will manifest It
self here as elsewhere The verbose. CIV
crmlocutionary writer and the concise.
succinct writer will continue to travel IN
opposite directions. In assigning to Sec
rotary Moody the task of evolving q
scheme whereby the annual reports ma!
be kept down. the President has tackled
a proposition envelored in official tradi-
ton and red tape which will tax the in
cenuity of those interested to greater
jecree than they have any idea Of