Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-27
TOO MUCH RED TAPE
GARFIELD'S REORGANIZATION OF
HIS DEPARTMENT.
Said to Be Following the Views Of
the Keep Commission of Which He
Was a Member.

In his reorganization of the InteriC' De-
partment Secretary Garfield Is understood
to be following out the ideas of the Keep
commission. which visited the department
some months ago and reported to the Presi-
dent, and of which Mr.. Garfield was a
member. One of the principal faults found
with the department. according to reports
common at the time, was that the admins
trative methods were too complex and red
tape too noticeable on every hand. 1t was
a case of wheel working within wheel, 1t Is
said. to such a degree that an enormous
amount of time and energy was lost in the
process which might be conserved by up
to-date, direct business methods.
Grouped about the office of the Secretary
of the Interior there are at present and
have been for some time a number Of d.
visions whose work, it is claimed, should
properly be done in other established bu-
reaus, and which are a hndrance rather
than a help to business. These are the di-
visions of lands and railroads, Indian Ter
ritory, Indian affairs and patents and mis-
cellany These divisions have no connection
with the general land office, the Indian Of
flee the patent Office. The reason Tor
their existence has seemed to many puz-
Zle.
Example of Red Tape.
AS an example of how the red tape has
been a hindrance to department business,
| the following example has been pointed out:
An inventor wrote to the President for in
formation in a patent case. His letter was
referred by the Presidents secretary to the
Secretary of the Interior, whose private
secretary turned it over to the division of
patents and miscellany.
The chief of the division of patents and
miscellany examined the request, made
note upon the jacket containing the letter
and returned it to the Secretary of the In
| terror, who signed the note and returned it
to the division of patents and miscellany.
From this division it was then referred to
the commissioner Of patents, with request
for report and early reply.
At last 1t had reached it's proper destina-
ton and the information was procured.
Back went the information to the division
of patents and miscellany, whence it went
again to the Secretary of the Interior, who
forwarded it either to the President or to
the inquirer, who by this time had doubt
less begun to wonder what had become of
his request. What the division of patents
and miscellany was doing between the Sec
rotary of the Interior and the commissioner
of patents is what Mr.. Garfield is now try
ing to find out, 1t Is stated.
The same thing has been true OF the d.
visions of lands and railroads. Indian af-
fairs and Indian Territory, with reference
to the general land Office and the Indian
Office, it is stated, and it is for this reason
that the abolition Of these last-named d.
visions is said to be practically decided
upon Whether the division of patents and
miscellany will go along with them is I'M
derstood to be still a question In the air,
but it is believed to be certain that there
will be a change in the methods of doing
business which involve this particular
branch of the service.
Secretary Garfield is still reticent in re-
gard to what he is going to order with re-
spect to these divisions. but he admits that
he has taken the matter under Amusement.