Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-28


methods of the government in the trans
action Of its work. for the purpose of
putting Uncle Sans affairs upon strict
ly business basis, with a probable saving
of millions Of dollars in annual expend-
itures.
The scheme will have far-reaching sig
nificance to the thousands of government
clerks in Washington. Every department
OF the government Is to be included in
the plan. The outcome nobody can pre-
dict
Worthy Clerks to Hold Jobs.
Secretary Norton, real father Of the
scheme. who will carry 1t into effect un-
der President Taft, said today that one
object OF the plan Is not to kick clerks
out OF Office. but to make them more
efficient in their duties to the govern
ment. At the same time 1t is not pro-
posed to throw superannuated clerks out
OF employment, but to eventually help
them by finding the best method of
handling the problem OF which they form
a part.
President Taft has established a bureau,
to be headed by Frederick A. Cleveland.
director of the bureau OF municipal re-
search of New York. ihis bureau is to
be composed OF a staff Of four or five ex
pert business men selected by Mr. Norton.
These men will form body Of advisory
and supervisory experts. who will have
the whole range Of departmental and gov
ernmental work for their field. with pow
ers Of original investigation. They will
report to the President as to the methods
and work Of each department.
With this central agency. through which
the Pres. dent may be independently ad-
vised as to the results obtained, 1t is
thought to bring all departments and
agencies into the most effective co-opera-
tive relations
Departmental Committee to Help.
While this central agency is working
independently of the departments, but
within them, to secure information for
the President. each department will be
at work, through a committee Of three,
to be known as the committee of econ
omy and efficiency. The heads of de-
partments are now casting about for
proper men to make up these commit
tees, and work will begin as early as
possible.
will go into the work OF their respect
i've departments in the greatest detail
and submit recommendations to their
respective executive heads. who will
put so much Of their plans into execu-
tion as deemed best.
Through the medium of departmental
committees and the Independent bureau
a large number of men will be at work
making plans to reorganize and revolu-
tionize the methods Of government busi-
80 ,ioI w-rl11
tend into every bureau and Office in
which a clerk is employed
The expenses of President Taft's body
Of experts will be paid from the appro-
priation of 100000 granted at the last
session of Congress. The expenditure is
entirely within his control.
Selection Of Mr. Cleveland.
Mr.. Clevelands selection as the head of
the advisory and supervisory experts
was made after Secretary Norton had
consulted with forty firms of experts.
many Of whom submitted projects and
plans Of their own by which they prom
ised to save the government many mil
lions OF dollars q year. Mr.. Cleveland
was asked to take up the work because
of his long experience on special matters
of administration and his success in
the investigation and reorganization of
the life insurance companies in New
York.
He has also been a member of ex-
Mayor McClellan's advisory commission
Of finance and taxation. of Controller
Metz's New York committee on revision
of accounts and methods and of Con-
troller Prendergasts committee on Office
organization and work. AS director of
the bureau Of municipal research he has
taken constructive leadership In matters
of municipal administration and finance.
Mr.. Cleveland at Work.
Mr.. Cleveland began work today at the
Treasury Department. familiarizing him
self with matters connected with esti
mates and expenditures and with the
methods Of the appropriation committees
Of Congress.
The first work to be taken up by the
bureau Of experts will be that
of finding clearer and better method Of
appropriations for the government
service 1t is recognized that 1t will be
difficult to adopt plan that will meet
with congressional approval.
The President feels, however, that no
greater reform Is needed in the govern
ment than that of clear and distinct ap-
uncomplicated, as they have
been for many years past. 1t Is believed
that II experts can find satisfactory
method the appropriation committees will
fall into line.
The committees have followed the same
style of appropriation bills year after
year because they had no other way of
making comparison. The experts will find
4 new basis for appropriations and COM
PARSONS.
Clerks to Be Helped.
President Taft begins the new scheme
,f REORGANIZATION with the view that the
average government clerk Is as good a
nan as can be found anywhere, and that
this clerk will do as much work and as
rood work as any other man in the world
& he is provided with more up-to-date
methods for doing 1t.
The entire scheme, 1t is pointed out, Is
more to methods than men or
women Its principal object is TO put the
government into possession OF the most
up-to-date business methods: to stand
ardize the work Of the departments; to
and out the bottom cost of articles used |
oy the government and to bring about |
Uniformity of expenditures. |
Many clerks will lose their positions |
before 1t Is all through Worthy clerks |
will be provided for in some manner. 1t |
8 said.
When President Taft is through with |
he services of the men who will report |
o him on departmental affairs. he in
ends to employ experts on organization,
nen familiar with getting the most out |
# a great body Of employees.
Headquarters for Mr.. Cleveland and his