The Washington times., 1905-08-06
PLAN TO CHECK
GRAF T MICROBES
Keep Commission Plunges
Into General Inquiry.
QUESTIONS ARE SCHEDULED
These Are Sent 20 Heads Of Depart
ments ard Replies Will Be
Studied.

While the police forces of the Gov
ernment Departments are hunting
down graft and rumora Of graft iso-
iating the cases and stamping out the
disease. the sanitary force, as il may
be called, IS planning system OF Of
Hcia1 sanitation that Will make ii i'm
possible for the grafk microbe TO live
and get ii his work under official au-
spices in future.
The sanitation department is the
Keep commission, 1t was named by
the President to make systematic
study of departmental business and
the methods by which il IS conducted: +:
10 recommend any changes that will
serve either to simplify, TO reduce ex-
penses. TO facilitate its conduct, or 10
minimize the possibilities Of irregu-
larity, graft, or peculation.
It-is beginning to be realized, in
view Of the epidemic of graft charges.
that the work Of this commission. if
il is done in the thorough and effec-
tive fashion the President expects,
will be Of the largest Importance. Out
of il will probably grow various de-
mands for legislation to correct weak
nesses in present conditions, as well
as many reforms in departmental adj
ministration
Has Taken Up General Investigation
The commission, headed by Assistant
Secretary OF the Treasury Charles H.
Keep, had already begun its inyestiga-
tIons before the graft charges and ex-
posures had become epidemic. BY spe-
ciaI order OF the President il was
presently turned loose in the Govern
ment Printing Office and conducted an
Investigation of 4 big machinery pur-
chasing contract. This being concluded,
the commission has again taken up the
general investigation
A long schedule OF questions. designed
10 elicit explicit information as to pres
ont methods, needed reforms suggest
ing. etc, was prepared and sent to
every head of department. bureau, di-
vision. etc. OF which thorough study is
asked and careful replies. These re-
r,lies Will then be studied. compiled. and
collated IN such form as may be neces-
sary in order 10 draw general con-
c!usIons from them
VIII Compile Replies.
The task Of receiving and compiling
the substance c2 the hundreds of re-
l.lles VIII be . very large and important
enc, and for IL the Keep commission
has named q board Of nine members.
representing the nine departments Of
executive administration. These are:
wiliiarn H. Michael. of the State De-
partmenc.
Charles H. Keep, OF the Treasury De
John c. scoheld. of the War Depart
menE.
N o Chance. Of the Postofice De
partment.
B. T, Peters. OF The Navy Depart
nent
Department.
George p McCabe, Of the Agricultural
Depart tH1ent.
William l. SoIeau. Of the Department
o. Commerce ana Labor.
0rin j. Field. OF the Department cf
These officials. of all ranks from
Cabinet members down. 10 whom the
Keep commission has directed its re-
quests for information, are already at
work on their replies. and some OF
them. il j said, viii be decidedly vol
luminous The service IS full # men
Of many years experience who have
been glad OF the opportunity 10 secure
attention 10 their various ideas foT
securing Improvement. Most OF them.
therefore, will rive effective cO-oPera-
tion To the commissioners In their task
Il IS impossible TO forecast The cate
or the completion OF this compilation.
and stHl more difficult to determine
when the commission itself will be ready
70 draw its own conclusions and write
It's report from the information IL is
seeking That IL will require several
months al the hest Is CSuected