The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-18
LIVING IN STATE
OF TREP|DAT|0N.
Government Employees Much
Much Stirred Up Over Presi-
dents Order.
TO OVERHAUL DEPARTMENTS
Investigations Will Be Thorough
and Sweeping Changes Will
Be Recommended.
TO OVERHAUL DEPARTMENTS

(From Our Regular correspondent.)

(From Our Regular Correspondents
WASHINGTON, u. c.. June 1.-THE
order of the President appointing n COM
mission of five, headed by Assistant
Secretary Keep, of the Treasury Depart
ment, to Investigate and report whether
business of the departments is being
conducted as economically as possible,
has created great deal Of interest In
Washington, both among government
people and outsiders. 1t Is not amiss to
say, that the majority of business men
believe the governments work could be
done much more economically than at
present The working day of a depart
ment is only seven and half hours With
a half hour for luncheon. The clerks
in the general offices of the Southern,
Railway block from the Postoffice
Department., for instance, work from
until 5 o'clock, with half hour for
luncheon. That extra hour and han
counts for a great deal In the course of
a year.
Every government clerk is entitled to
one months vacation every year, and also
to thirty days absence on account of
sickness So that the actual working
year is only ten months. for it is the
general practice to take the sich leave,
though, Of course, many do not.
The President issued an order last year
which made the quitting time OF the
clerks 4:3O P. NJ, instead of a o'clock,
and there are no Saturday half holidays
any more These changes had the effect
of4demoralizing the forces in the various
departments, and Tumors of TINS de-
mobilization are said to have reached
the White House, and to be largely re-
sponsible for the order. 1t Is also SAID
that rumors of practices which. at least.
arc unbusinesslike.s aused the order TO
issue. "a
Sweeping Changes.
It is we'll nigh certain that the commits
sion is going to recommend some sweep
ing changes. and the government EN-,
ploye is living these days In state OF
constant trepidation lest he wake up
some morning soon and find that the
place he held Is non est. a
Heads OF some Of the departments are
disposed to crittclse the IKE cutive LET
ordering young subordinates to investt-
gate the working of departments. Secre-
tary Shaw Is understood to be especially
critical OF the order. But the President
is careless OF such criticism. The inves-
tigation will proceed Chairman Keep
said this afternoon that progress would
not be rapid, as 1t was the intent on or
1.-The commissioned proceed with care, and
every member of 1t has his daily duties,
which take the most of his time. But he
indicated that recommendations for the
/ Improvement of the service in the Inter
est Of economy and without the sacrifice
/ of efficiency would be made regardless
| of who Is affected.
| y Senator Henry G. Davis, in the course
| Of a speech in the United States Senate
twenty years ago or more said that the
system OF bookkeeping In the Treasury
Department during the war between the
| States caused the government loss in
four years of a billion dollars. AS good
| a business man as he might find that the
system in use there now is Just as faulty.