The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-22
WILL eliminate
THE PERSONNEL
President Proposes to Reform the
Methods Of Compiling De
partment Reports.
MORE MEAT; LESS "HoT ARR
To Accomplish This Heads OF
Departments Will Name Pub
LEGATION Committees.
-
(By Associated press.)


WASHINGTON, d. c., January 21..-.
TO do away with unnecessary printing
originating in the departments and to
improve the form of the annual reports
and other department documents. the
President has issued the following in
struct!ons, applicable to all the eracu-
tive departments:
There shall be appointed by the head
of each of the executive departments an
advisory committee on the subject OF
printing and publication. The chairman
snail be an assistant secretary, or other
qualified Official and at least one member
oil the committee shall have had practical
experience in editing and printing.
1t shall be the duty of such committee,
under direction OF the head of the de-
partment, to see that unnecessary mat
ter Is excluded from reports and pubi-
cations. to see that copy Is carefully
edited before and not after going to the
printing Office; to do away with the pub
licat!on OF unnecessary tables. and to
require that statistical matter be pub
l!shcd In condensed and intelligent form,
to supervise the preparation Of blank
forms; to require the frequent revision
of mailing lists; to prevent duplication
of printing by different bureaus; to e2c
clude unnecessary Illustrations from de-
partment documents. and to prevent the
printing of the maximum edition allowed
by law when a smaller edition VIII
suffice. to recommend TO the head Of the
department, for Inclusion in the recon-
mendations contained in his annual re-
ports. needed changes in the statutes
governing department publications..
Must Tell of Work Done.
The President also has directed that
the following general principles shall
hereafter govern the form of annual re-
ports of the various bureaus and Offices
of the departments.
Tho first annual reports shall be con-
fined TO concise accounts of work done
and expenditures incurred during the
period covered, with recommendations
relating to the future, including plans OF
work to be undertaken.
Second Contributions to knowledge In
the form of scientific treat!ses shall not
be included in annual reports.
Third. Illustrations in annual reports
shall be excluded except:
Cay Maps and diagrams Indispensable
to the understanding of the text; OBJ
views showing conditions in outlying
possessions of the United States and re-
lating to work done or recommendations
made.
Four. Inserted material, written or
compiled by persons connected with the
reporting of. and biographical and eulo-
CYSTIC matter relating to the past or pres
en- personnel of, the Office shall be ex-
cluded. srj.9e. 'mol
FIFTH. Reports of Officers who do
not report directly to the head of an
executive department shall not be printed
in the annual report of department,
but where necessary {hall be summarized
in the reports of the officials to whom
which officers report.
"Slxth. Tables shall be asserted only
when verbal summaries and statements
of totals are Inadequate. and complete
text of laws and court decisions shall,
except in cases of great Importance. be
excluded.
Seventh Detailed descriptions and
lists of methods processes, purchases,
bids. reflections, Installations, repairs,
specifications. and personnel employed
shall be omitted. except when required
by their unusual Importance or by stat
Ute"
Chance for Boohnakers.
The President also ANNOUNCED that he
will appoint a general committee. on
book-malsing. advisory to all the depart
ments, to consist of the librarian of Con
gress as chairman the public printer, a
representative of the department doing
the largest amount of printing, and two
printers not in the public service, of large
experience in making good books. who
are to serve without compensation other
than their travelling expenses,
This committee Is to be appointed to
promote the economy, utility, appropriate
ness. beauty, durability and, so far as
". j