Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-08

result in seriously hamperlng proper ad.
ministration.
Refsrm in Administration.
1t has been Impossible in the preparation
Of estimates greatly to reduce the cost
Of permanent administration. This can
not be done without thorough reorganiza-
ton Of bureaus, offices and departments.
For the purpose of securing information
which may enable the executive and the
legislative branches to unite In a plan for
the permanent reduction of the cost of
governmental administration, the Treasury
department has instituted an investigation
by one of the most skilled expert ac.
countants in the United States. The result
Of his 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 op
portunity for substantial reductions in the
cost and increased efficiency Of admins
tration. The object of the investigation is
to devise means to increase the average
efficiency of each employe. Yet there Is
great room for Improvement toward this
end not only by the reorganization of
bureaus and departments and in the avoid
ance of duplication, but also in the treat
ment of the individual employe.
Under the present system it constantly
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. Superior ability is
not rewarded or encouraged. As the
classification is now entirely by salary, an
employe often rises to the highest class
while doing the easiest work, for which
alone he may be fitted. An investigation
ordered 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 believe such a change
would be fairer to the whole force and
would permanently improve the personnel
of the service.
Civil Service Pensions.
More than this, every reform directed
toward the improvement in the average
efficiency OF government employees must
depend on the ability OF the executive to
eliminate from the government service
those who are inefficient from any cause
and az the degree Of efficiency In all the
departments iE much lesssnsd by the reten-
tion Of ola employees who have outIvSd
their energy and usefulness It is indls-
psnEibls to any proper system Of economy
that provision be made 30 that their sspa-
ration from thS service shall be easy and
inevitable. 1t is impossible to make such
provision unless there is adopted a plan OF
civil pensions.
Most Of the great Industrial organizat lions
and many of the we'll conducted railways
OF this country are coming to the conclu-
sion that a system of pensions for old em-
ployes and the substitution therefor Of
younger and more energetic servants PRO-
notes both economy and efficiency Of ad-
mlnistration.
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 nAtu-
rally grown out Of the heavy burden Of
military pensions, which It has always
been the PSleY Of cur government to as
sumo; but am strongly convinced that 10
other practical solution Of the difficulties
presented by the approximation OF elvil
servants can be found than that Of a sys-
tenn Of civil pensions.
CustOms HsuSe Frauds.
regret 70 refer to the fact OF the dis
eovsry OF extensive frauds In the collee-
tien Of the customs revenue at New York
city. in which number OF the subordinate
employees in the weighing and other de-
partments were directly concerned, and in
which the bsnsfieiaries were the American
Sugar Refining company and others. The
frauds consisted in the payment of duty
on underwelshts OF sugar. The government
has recovered from the American Sugar
Refining company all that It is shown to
have been defrauded OF. The sum was re-
ceived in full of the amount due, which
might have been recovered by civil suit
against the beneficiary OF the fraud, but
there was an express reservation in the
contract OF settlement by which the set
tlement should not interfefe with. or pre-
vent the criminal prosecution OF everyone
who was found to be subject to the same
Criminal prosecutions are now proceeding
against q number OF the government offie-
ers The Treasury department ana the De
Dartmsnt OF Justice are eTSrtinE' every
sffSrt 10 discover all the wrOnEdoSrs. in
oludinG the officers and employees Sf the
companies who may have been prVY to
the dsfrAud II WSuld seem tS me that
An Investigation OF the frauds ~ ooA-
gross AZ present, pending the probing by
the Treasury department and the Depart