The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-12-07
PRES, TAFT'S MESSAGE TO CONGRESS


In the present estimates INC needs
Of the departments aid 60 rhc govern
ment have been cut 10 the quick so 10
speak. and any assumption OF the PAR
: Of the congress, 50 often maco In
times past that the estimates have
been prepared WITH the expectation
that they mav be reduced, will result
I'm seriously hampering the proper all
minlstration-
Reducing Expenses,
The secretary OF the treasury points
out what should be carefully noted N
respect to this reduction In govern
mental expenses for the mex fiscal
year. that the economies are - Two
kinds: |. There is n saving in the
permanent administration of the oe-
partments. bureaus and Offices of the
government. and CD thcre Is i pres-
ent reduction In expenses by rost-
ponement of projects and Improve
ments that ultimately VIII have TO he
carried out, but which are now ec'
layed with the hope tnat additional
revenue in the future VIII permit heir
execution without procuring deficit.
Experts at Work.
II has been impossible in the prep
aration of estimates greatly TO re-
duce the cost OF permanent leglsla-
ton This cannot be done without
thorough organization OF the bureaus.
Offices and departments. For the pur.
pose OF securing information which
NAV enable the executive and the
legislative branches to unite in plan
for the permanent reduction ot tho
cost of governmental administration
rod
an investigation by one of the most
sh,illed expert accountants In the
United States The results of this
work I'm two or three bureaus. which,
il extended TO the entire government,
must occupy two or more years, has
been to show much room for improve
ment and opportunity for substau ial
reductions in the cost and increased
efficiency of administration. The OBJ
ject of the investigation is 10 devise
means 10 increase the average effl-
cheney of each employe. There Is
great room for improvement toward
this end. not only by the reorganiza-
tion of bureaus and departments and
in the avoidance OF duplication, but
also in the treatment of the individual
employe.
Under the present system it con-
stantly happens that two employees re-
ceive the same salary when the work
of one is far more difficult and impor-
tant and eXacting than that of the
other. Superior ability is not re-
warded or encouraged AS the classi-
fcation is now entirely by salary, an
omploye often rises TO the highest
class while doing the easiest work for
which alone he may be fitted. An in
vesdgation ordered by my predecessor
resulted in the recommendation that
the civil service be recIassifled ac-
cordng to the Kind Of work. so that
the work requiring most application
shall receive most compensation. |
believe such a change would be fairer
TO the whole force and would perma
nently improve the personnel OF the
| service
Pensions for Old Employees.
More than this, every reform direct
cd toward the Improvement OF the av-
average. efficiency OF government en-
ployes. must depend upon the ability
of the executive to eliminate from the
government service those who are IN
efficient from any cause, and as the
mentS is much leSsened by the reten-
b tion OF old employees who have out
lived their energy and usefulness, it
is indispensable TO any proper system
of economy that provision be made so
that their separation from the civil
service shall Ice easy and inevitable
Ii Is Impossible TO make such pro-
visions unless there is adopted plan
Of civil pensions.
Most of the great industrial organ
izations. and many of the well-con
Quoted railways of this country, are
coming to the conclusion that a sys-
TEN OF pensions for old employees. and
the substitution therefor of younger
and more energetic servants. pro-
NOTES both economy and efficiency of
administration.
| am aware that there is a strong
feeling in both houses OF congress.
and also in the country. against the
establishment of civil pensions and
that this has naturally grown out of
the heavy burden OF military PEN
sionS, which it has always been the
policy of our government TO assume:
but [ am strongly convinced that no
! other practical solution of the diff
'
tion OF civil servants can be found
than that of a system OF civil pen
Sions
The business and expenditures of
the government have expanded enor-
mouSly since the Spanish war, but as
the revenues have increased in nearly
the same proportion as the expendl-
tures until recently, the attention of
fl1 n Il aT M
for the government has not been fas-
tened upon the question of reducing
the cost of administration. We can,
not. in view of the advancing prices
OF living hope to save money by
reduction of salaries paid. Iedecd.
II any change is made in that regard,
an increase rather than a decrease
Will be necessry; and the only means
OF economy will be in reducing the
number of employees and in obtaining
a greater average of efficiency from
those retained in the service.
Close investigation and study is
needed to make definite recommends
IONS In this regard will consume at
least two years | note with much
satisfaction the organization In the
senate of committee on public ex-
penditures. charged with the duty OF
conducting such an Investigation, and
tender 10 that committee all the as
slstancc which the executive branch
of the government can possibly rem
der.
Frauds In the Collection Of Customs.
regret to refer To the fact of the
discovery oil extensive frauds In the
collection of customs revenue AT New
York city. in which number of the