The Washington times., 1902-08-14
INTRODUCES BUSIN BSS
METHODS In TREASURY
Secretary Shaw's Ideas Re-
garding Public Affairs.
Systematic Energy Displayed in Pri-
vate Business Now Applied to
Department Matters.

Secretary Shaw has applied the same
measure of business management to the
affairs OF the Treasury Department so
far as they concern the transaction of
routine business. as he applied to his
own private affairs.
Shortly after he took charge of the
department he decided to modernize the
prevailing methods with reference to
communications from the public, their
acknowledgment and filing. The details
have been turned over to his private sec
retary, Mr. Robert B. Armstrong, who
has worked out a scheme for the expe-
dition of public business in the depart
ment. Card catalogues. electric time
stamps and a new system of filing, to-
gether with some changes in the man
ner OF handling correspondence. have
resulted in securing to every letter a
prompt reply.
Exercises Greater Dispatch.
ters hereafter will be acknowledged on
the same day they are received. If they
cannot be answered fully. acknowledge
ment will be made, and upon investiga-
tion a complete reply will be forwarded
at the earliest possible moment. Mail
arriving in the department heretofore
was entered in large books, and a cum
bersome manner of recording resulted.
Books have been abandoned and card
system keeping track of the thousands
Of letters received in the department
every week has been substituted. I'm
der the old system only four clerks
could be used on the mail. Under the
new system any number can be placed
at work, it being divided up as the
pressure of public business seems to
warrant.
Under the new system the early
morning mail. which formerly was not
distributed to the various divisions of
the Treasury Department until some
time in the afternoon. is now out of the
way before II o'clock in the morning.
A greater saving of time is expected as
the clerks become more familiar with
the handling of the new system. which
was installed on August l.
Wire Run Into Department.
In the same connection all kilograms
heretofore have been received by the
Treasury Department through the me-
Gium of the omnipresent messenger boy. |
Delay resulted in forwarding the tele-
gram TO the proper division for con-
and reply. Mr.. Armstrong |
has secured the cooperation of the |
telegraph companies and arranged for
the receipt by wire of all kilograms ad- |
dressed to the Treasury Department. /
This will save from one 20 three hours |
in the handling of kilograms. as all |
messages now are received direct by |
wire into the. building. copied in dupli
cate on the typewriter and the original !
with time stamp and deliv
cred direct to its proper division. AL!
letters and kilograms are stamped with
he hour and the minute of their re-
ceipt and the responsibility for the de-
lay OF moments is now fixed.
Should Equal Business House.
The delay in all great organizations is
iue to the loss of minutes. This system
will tend to prevent such leakage. Com
nenting on this new system MIR. Arm
strong said:
Secretary Shaw believes that the pub
ic should receive the same treatment
rom the department that is given It by
my frst-class business house in the
Therefore 1t is his wish that
my person writing to the department
hall receive a prompt acknowledgment
o his communication and full and
complete answer 10 his inquiry, what
yer It may be. Personally | believe the
Treasury Department should be an ex-
lonent of the best and most modern
BUSINESS methods known in this coun-
ry. | believe that II should be a
model of business enterprise, and that
my business man seeking to improve his
Methods should be able TO find in the
treasury Department of the United
tates modern and improved appliances
nd the best and most approved prac-
ices for the conducting of business, all
f which he may adapt to his own par
icular uses with much benefit