The Washington times., 1905-06-17
COMMIT TEE WILL
SOON GO TO WORK
Chairman Keep Says Moth
ing Has Yet Been Done.
INSTRUCTED BY PRESIDENT
Two Departments Resort to Paying Off
Employees by Checks-To Stop
Defaulting.
INSTRUCTED BY PRESIDENT

Assistant Secretary OF the Treasury
Charles III. Keep, chairman of the COM
mission of five appointed by the Presi-
dent to ascertain how departments are
run, said TODAY that nothing definite
had been done in regard to beginning
the work of the investigation
Our next meeting said Mr. Keep,
viii be called next Wednesday,. 1t
takes some time to get ready. as all of
us have other matters to attend to, and
cannot devote all of our time to this
special work.
The meeting Wednesday will be held
In the office of Mr.. Keep in the Treasury
department. AT this meeting it is un-
derstood plans for conducting the in
investigation will be made.
Makes Some Changes.
Already the appointment Of the COM
mlsaton has caused some changes in
one or two of the departments. Be
ginning in the near future the Treasury
department and the Department OF
Commerce and Labor will pay all en-
ployes by check. On the two pay days
in each month each employee will be
handed an envelope containing his or
her check for the half month.
These checks will be cashed at any
bank. Just why the heads of these two
departments decided upon this step is
not known, but it is believed to be q
safeguard in the future against default
ing disbursing officers.
You are hereby designated as chair
man OF committee to consist, in addi-
ton TO yourself. of the following four
gentlemen: Frank H. Hitchcock. First
Assistant Postmaster General; Lawrence
.. Murray. Assistant Secretary of Com
merce and Labor: James r. Garfield,
Commissioner of Corporations, and Gift
ford Pinchot, forester, Department of
Agriculture, who are to investigate and
find out what changes are needed TO
place the conduct of the executive bust
ness of the Government in all its
branches on the most economical and
effective basis IN the light of the best
modern business practice In making
this investigation l would like you to
have IN view securing an improvement in
business methods, particularly among
the following:
knowledge the Basis.
I'm the preparation Of decisions for
ministerial approval, expert knowledge
of actual conditions affecting or affect
ed by such decisions should govern, as
distinguished from a knowledge OF the
record alone.
Salaries should be commensurate
with the character and market value of
the service performed, and uniform for
similar service in all departments
Government supplies. except such as
are required to meet emergencies or for
immediate use In the field, should be
standardized and purchased through
central purchasing office.
1T is the duty of the accounting and
auditing officers to facilitate executive
work. Fiscal restrictions or regulation.
should not interfere with executive dis
erection. should be uniform and should
be as few and simple as is consistent
with accuracy and safety. Systems of
bookkeeping and accounting should con-
form to the most approved modern bust
ness methods.
May Break Old Rules.
THE existence of any method, stand
ard, custom or practice is no reason
for its continuance when a better is Of
fered.
The comparative cost of all work for
which cost keeping is possible should
be ascertained as between Offices and
departments and as between the Gov
eminent and private enterprise, and
should be followed by the adoption of
standards of maximum cost
There should be systematic interde-
partmental cooperation in the use of
expert or technical Knowledge. The
business methods of the different de-
partments should be substantially uni
form. In the adoption of methods and
the performance Of work every step
which is not clearly Indispensable should
be eliminated.
form standard and the actual efficiency
of any Office. the former must yield
No recommendation for change
should be made until after full consulta-
ton with all executive officers affected.
Wants Official Gazette.