The Washington times., 1910-10-10
Experts Preparing for First
Inventory of Biggest
Business House.
BUSINESS DOCTORS
MAKING DIAGNOSIS
Economy and Elimination of Waste
Purpose of Experts EXamin-
ing Departments.

For the first time in It's history, the
United States is preparing to- take an
inventory of its business.
Inventories have been made Of the
natural resources Of the nation, but that
which IS now contemplated is Of the
business of the government. President
Taft has decided that it is high time 10
do away with antiquated business meth
DDS and to adopt definite business pol
icy and to stop the leaks and save
money
Just now several lynx-eyeG business
doctors are using microscopes to find
every hole in the fabric. A plan OF re
organization and rehabilitation will be
outlined.
Every big corporation in the country
maintain a cost department" where
information is available to the presi-
dent OF the company showing just what
each detail Of the business costs,
whether such-and-such d department is
paying" and where expert accountants
can tell instantly the financial staus Of
the business.
Old Style Business.
The biggest business house in the
cOuntTy-the Government itself-is still
running along the plan Of a century ago.
President Taft has no way Of securing
information about the business Of which
he is the head. All he can do is to scru-
tinize the estimates prepared by the de-
partment heads and the appropriations
as provided by Congress.
The new plan for rehabilitation OF the
business methods of the Government is
for each department to have a commit
tee of its own employees to report on the
administration of their division of the
Government, and plan new methods OF
business. Reports from these nine COM
Tnittees viii be made to DR.. Frederick
4. Cleveland, who heads d commission
Of experts now attached TO the White
House, and by DIT. Cleveland viii be
transmitted to Secretary Norton or
President Tat.
The Postofice and Treasury Depart
ments already have been at work along
these lines Postmaster General Hitch
cock and Secretary MacN eagh, OF the
Treasury, have reduced the cost or run
ming their part OF the Federal service
by hundreds or thousands Of dollars.
But the work of which DR. Cleveland is
the director VIII 20 beyond individual
attempts, and now for the first time the
Government is about 10 take a complete
inventory of Itself, and then, from the
bottom up, If need be, make it like
progressive and modern business house.
Would Save Millions.
II IS announced that there is TO be no
sudden retrenChment, calculated to
throw men and women out of employ
ment. It is probable that many a Gov
eminent clerk is not kept busy, but that
has been the fault Of the system and not
of the clerk. Recognizing this, DR.. CIeve-
land, whose work in New York as the
director of the Bureau OF Municipal Re
search has taught him the niceues Of
this problem, has made it clearly IN
derstood that Encouragement and not
merciless pruning viii be the method
adopted.
It is believed millions Of dollars could
probably be saved by the creation of
central supply office for the entire Gov
eminent service. AT present each de-
partment, and. in some cases, separate
bureaus in the departments, buy sup
plies independently. The vast guam
titles which would necessarily nave to
be purchased b. a central supply divi-
sion in order to provide for all depart
ments, would mean a cOnsid cradle saw
ing. Moreover, ii would be easier for
the head Of the business-the President
10 ascertain which department was the
most eXtravaSant and effect those econ
OullcS WHICH, WINE sinai lllOlh 10 ltlll y
collectively amount up TO many thOUs-
ands of dollars.
Present System Costly
The employee problem is the greatest
OF those which confront the exports.
II has been figured out that in some de-
partments it costs as much as s. OF s.
10 write a single letter-too many ste
nographers for the work On the other
hand, there are orner departments
where there is no need of stenographers
1t is 10 get a plan 10 readjust these
differences that the commission is work
ing.
Economy" said one official "is not
exactly q popular issue. like the tariff
or conservation, but it is just as impor-
tant as either. and from the way the
work has begun at the White House
there is going TO be some big results"
There Is an expression that Senator
Aldrich Went a bit too far in announcing
that $780, 10000 could be saved yearly in
reduction could only be accomplished
through the cutting down Of the pen
sion list, or for instance, by raising Ger
tain postal rates. But undoubtedly mil
lions can be saved.
When Congress takes UD the question
OF appIOprating for the IsCai year dur
Ing the coming session, the economy
board hopes 10 be able TO place before
A. a new and model budget plan" II
n not expected that the old system will
be changed this year, but the idea is to
contrast the old order with the new and
let Congress itself see the necessity for
the change.