Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-07

X
present reduction in expenses by q
postponement Of projects and i'm
provements that ultimately will have
to be carried out, but which are now
delayed with the hope that additional
revenue in the future will permit their
execution without producing a deficit.
Working For Economy.
It has been impossible in the prepare
ton of estimates greatly to reduce the
cost of permanent administration.
This cannot be done without a thor
ough reorganization of bureaus, Of
fees and departments. For the pur-
pose of securing information which
may enable the executive and the leg
islative branches to unite in plan for
the permanent reduction of the cost OF
governmental administration the treas
ury department has instituted an in
vestigaion by one of the most skilled
expert accountants in the United
States. The result of this work in two
or three bureaus, which, If extended
to the entire government, must occupy
two or more years, has been to show
much room for improvement and OPP
portunity for substantial reductions IN
the cost and increased efficiency of ad-
ministration. The object of the inves-
tigation IS to devise means to increase
the average efficiency of each employee.
There is great room for Improvement
toward this end, not only by the reor-
ganization of bureaus and departments
and in the avoidance of duplication,
but also in the treatment of the indi-
vidual employee.
Under the present system it constant
" happens that two employees receive
the same salary when the work of one
is far more difficult and important and
exacting than that of the other. Su-
perior ability is not rewarded or en-
couraged. AS the classification is now
entirely by salary. an employee often
rises to the highest class while doing
the easiest work, for which alone he
may be fitted. An investigation order
ed by my predecessor resulted in the
recommendation that the civil service
be reclassified according to the kind of
work, so that the work requiring most
application and knowledge and ability
shall receive most compensation. be
neve such a change would be fairer tc
L1lG WuOlG IOICS anu MO0Ao pei
" improve the personnel of the serv-
ice.
More than this. every reform direct
ed toward the improvement in the av-
erage efficiency of government en-
ployees must depend on the ability of
the executive to eliminate from the
government service those who are in
efficient from any cause. and as the
degree of efficiency in all the depart
meDts is much leSsened by the reten-
ton of old employees who have out
lived their energy and usefulness 1t
is Indispensable to any proper system
of economy that provision be made so
that their separation from the service
shall be easy and inevitable. 1t is i'm
possible to make such provision unless
there is adopted a plan of civil pen
sions.
Most of the great Industrial organ
izations and ma:,v of the well con-
Quoted railways - this country are
coming TO the conclusion that a sys-
tenn Of pensions for old employees and
the substitution therefor of younger
and more energetic servants promote
both economy and efficiency of admin
istration.
am aware that there is a strong
feeling in both houses of congress and
possibly in the country against the
establishment of civil pensions and
that this has naturally grown out OF
the heavy burden of military pensions
which it has always been the policy
of our government to assume, but l am
convinced that no other prac
teal solution of the difficulties pre-
sented by the approximation of civil
servants can be found than that of n
system of civil pensions.
Increase In Expenditures.
The business and expenditures Of the
government have expanded enormous
ly since the Spanish war. but as the
revenues have increased in nearly the
same proportion as the expenditures
until recently the attention of the pub
lie and of those responsible for the
government has not been fastened
upon the question of reducing the cost
of administration. We cannot. in view
of the advancing prices of living. hope
to save money by a reduction In the
standard of salaries paid. Indeed, if
any change is made In that regard an !
increase rather than a decrease will be |
necessary, and the only means Of econ |
omy will be in reducing the number of
employees and in obtaining a greater !
average of efficiency from those re- |
tanned In the service.
Close investigation and study needed
to make definite recommendations in
this regard will consume at least two |
years. | note with much satisfaction |
the organization in the senate of |
on public expenditures. |
charged with the duty of conducting |
such an investigation, and l tender TO
that committee all the assistance which
the executive branch of the govern
ment can possibly render.
NO TARIFF WAR PROBABLE.