The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-07
President Taft Sends Message
 To Congress On Legislation
.coNrINuED FROM PAGE ID

 1 fu comparison of unit work done by the individual and a pointing out of the ne- cessitating for improvement in this re- gard where improvement is possible.
 Inquiry Into Economy and Efficiency l The increase in the activities and III the annual expenditures of the federal J government has been so rapid and so great that the time has come to check the | expansion of government activities in new directions until we have tested the econ omy and efficiency with which the gov ernment of today is being carried on. The | responsibility rests upon the head of the | administration. He is held accountable by the public, and properly so. Despite | the unselfish and patriotic efforts of the | heads of departments and others charged with responsibility of government, there | has grown up in this country a eonyic- ton that the expenses of government are | too great. The fundamental reason for the existence undetected Of waste, dupn- cation and bad management is the lack of prompt, accurate informa>on The president of a private corporation doing 5o vast a business as the government ter --saots would. through competent spe- cialists, maintain the closest scrutiny on
 par4tive efficiency and the com parative costs in each division or de- partment of the business. He would know precisely what the duties and the activities of each bureau or division are in order to prevent overlapping No ade- quate machinery at present exists for supplying the President of the United States with such information respecting the business for which he is responsible. For the first time in the history of the government Congress in the last session supplied this need and made an appro- priation to enable the President to in- uuire into the economy and efficiency of the executive department, and I am now assembling an organization for the pur- pose.
 At the outset I find comparison be- tween departments and bureaus impos- sible for the reason that in no two de- pnrtments are the estimates and expendi- lures displayed and classified alike. The first step is to reduce all to a common standard for classification and judgment,
 th'- ~~-'- Is now being done. When 1t Is completed, the foundation will be laia for d business like national budget and for such a Just comparison of .he economy and efficiency with which the | several bureaus and divisions are con | ducted as will enable the President and | the heads of departments to detect waste eliminate duplication, encourage the intel | ligent and effective civil servants whose efforts too often go unnoticed, and SC. | cure the public service at the lowest possible cost.
 Economy and Efficiency
 The committee on appropriations oi Congress have diligently worked to reduce tho expenses of government and have found their efforts often blocked by lack | Of accurate information containing proper analysis of requirements and oi actual and reasonable costs The re suit of this inquiry should enable tho executive in his communications to Con gress to give information to which Con gres is entitled and which will enable it to promote economy.
 have requested the head of each de partment to appoint committees on econ omy and efficiency in order to secure full cooperation in the movement by thu employees of the government themselves
 I urge the continuance of the appro pration of S10O,000 requested for the ifs cal year 1912.
 My experience leads me to believe tha while government methods are much crit iciYed, the bad results--if we do have bat results are not due to a lack of zea or willingness on the part of the civi servants. On the contrary, I believe tha 6 fine spirit of willingness to work ex ists in the personnel, which, if properly encouraged, will produce results equal tt these secured in the best managed pri vate enterprises In handling Govern ment expenditure the aim is not profit the aim is the maximum of public serv ice at the minimum of cost. We wish |, reduce the expenditures of the govern n,ent, and we wish to save money to en able the government to go into som of the beneficial projects which we ar , debaired from taking up now becaus l we ought not to increase our expendi l lures
 . At later date I shall send to Congres