Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-27
Secretary Macveagh Takes
Steps to Overhaul Personnel.
CHIEFS CALLED TOGETHER
Plans Discussed to Cut Down Ad-
ministrative Expenses.
DEAD WOOD" TO BE WEEDED
''Revision Downward' Without I'M
pairing Efficiency of the Serv-
ice Purpose Of Campaign.

The important announcement was made
today that Secretary MacVeagh has
taken the initial steps to overhaul the
personnel and work of the Treasury De-
partment but that nothing definite can
at this time be stated as to the proba BILE
outcome. The announcement will un-
doubtedly be followed by crop Of wild
stories. but it can be stated on the
authority of the Secretary himself that
he has not the remotest idea what will
be done when he has all the facts before
him.
/ The object of the reorganization is to
bring about economies of permanent
nature. the Secretary having given posi-
tive instructions that what he is after
is not temporary economies and furry.
but permanent results. The official an
nouncement of the Treasury Department
is as follows:
Following up his campaign for a re
vision downward in the estimates for the
Treasury Department for the year 1911,
Secretary MacVeagh today called together
the heads OF bureaus and chiefs and as.
sistant chiefs Of divisions for a review of
the situation. Under the direction Of a
letter sent to Treasury Department Of
ent administration, a preliminary set of
estimates had been prepare and sent in
These preliminary estimates were the SUBJ
ject OF the discussion today. They will
be made the basis for a further study Of
administrative economies under the di-
rection of a committee composed of As
sistant Secretaries Norton, Reynolds and
Hilles to begin at once.
Efficiency to Be Maintained.
'The Secretary made it plain in what,
he said that he did not want to have ef-
ficiency sacrificed to temporary showing
of economy. but that he did expect re-
forms to be effected that would be perma-
nent in their nature and result both in
economy and improved work.
THE responses from the officers. pub
licly and privately expressed, made it
plain that the words of the Secretary were
taken in earnest and that the work of
the committee is to be a serious one."
Secretary MacNeagh, it is learned. in
tended to give closer attention to the mat
ter of reorganization before this b,,t he
has been engaged upon the tariff a great
part Of the time since he came into Of
flee. and has had little time to give ro
anything else.
The first meeting to take up the question
was held late yesterday afternoon there
being thirty-eight assistant secretaries
and chiefs of division with Secretary Mac
veagh. The committee appointed by the
secretary will begin without delay its
department. The committee will not only
confer with each head of bureau, but
Will get right down to a personal super
vision and inspection of the work of all
branches of the Treasury service.
Expansion OF Pay Rolls.
The fact is that the preliminary esti-
mate OF appropriations for the Treasury
for the next fiscal year did not show any
material reduction. The figures were SUBJ
mitted to President TAFT, who expressed
the hope that the Secretary of the Treas
ury could bring about substantial reduc-
ton before the estimates go to Congress
Secretary Macveash has pointed out to
President Taft that il will be difficult to
make much reduction in the Treasury
either In force or appropriations. This is
due to the almoat daily expansion of the
work Of the department along all lines.
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