Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-22
WOULD SAVE MONEY.
Senator AIdrich Proposes Sys-
tenn of Economy.
COMMISSION TO BE NAMED
Promised Reduction of $500, 900, 900
in Expenses by undermining
Departmental Business.

Senator Aldrich is of the opinion that
with business man running the Ameri-
can government its expenses would be
500 pOOO0 less annually than they are
now.
The Rhode Island senator made this
statement on the floor OF the Senate yes
1erday. during the discussion OF bill
providing for the creation of govern
ment business methods commission, to he
composed OF three senators. three repre-
sentatives and three men chosen by the
President from the executive depart
ments.
I'VE have not only obsolete methods in
all tho departments" said Senator AID
rich, but we have i'm them duplication
of bureau after bureau. If | were bust
ness man and could be permitted to do 1t,
] would undertake to run this govern
ment for $sOOOOo,o00 a year less than 1t
Is now run for
The bill stirred up lively discussion
In the Senate and, after 1t had been
amended so that it will be composed of
five senators and five representatives and
no representatives from the departments,
1t went over until today.
Position of Senator Dolliver.
Senator Aldrich spoke in response to
Senator Dolliver, who opposed the bill
on the ground that it would create sus-
picion n the public mind as to the meth
DDS Of conducting the government He
regarded the bill as q proposition to en-
Ter upon "a blanket disparagement OF
the government" Mr.. Dolivcr remark
cd that he did not know the motive for
the legislation.
Il know that the executive departments
are taking much interest in us these
days. he remarked. I'VE have fallen
on times when much interest is taken by
the departments In the details of legis-
lation, but l do not know whether the
object of the pending bill is that of re-
taliation or reciprocity
Aldrich Would Increase Efficiency.
"A short examination replied Senator
Aldrich. made by competent persons into
two bureaus of one OF the great depart
ments of the government discloses the
fact that the adoption of business meth
ODDS would cave > per cent of the expend-
lures and at the same time increase the
efficiency of the service. There is in
telligent observer in Congress. or out of
II. who does not know that the executive
departments of this government are car
ried on either under obsolete business
methods or without business methods at
ALL There is no man who has given this
subject any attention whatever who does
not know believe that at least 10 per
cent OF the thousand million dollars which
we are appropriating annually can be
saved by the adoption of business meth
DDS
THE motive which actuated the COM
mittee on public expenditures was to de-
wise some method. il possible, by which
this hundred million dollars could be
saved
''Of course. if there is any reason why
this investigation should not be made.
hope IT will be given here by some SEN
ator who is familiar with the subject.
But / say to the Senate, without ref
erence to any other important duty. that
this question of one-hundred- million-dol-
lar saving a year-and il can be demon
strated, in my Judgment, that the saw
ing will be much more than that's a
matter which should receive the serious
attention of Congress. How can 1t re-
ceive ii in any other form?
Change in Methods Not Considered.
1.-THE various committees of this body
which have to do with appropriations
only make appropriations for certain OBJ
tects and for officers or employees who
are authorized by law. They do not take
into consideration changes of methods.
Such appropriations are made for sal
aries for the employment of people
authorized by law. The duplication of
bureaus or the adoption of business
methods does not enter into the contem-
plation OF committees. There is no CO.
operation between committees here. The
committee on agriculture. the committee
on appropriations and the various other
committees OF this body have no consul
Ntation with reference to the sums to be
appropriated by the respective commit
tess- They cannot properly change legis-
lation- This suggested commission is to
consider questions entirely outside of the
slider questions of methods, questions
which would necessitate. perhaps
changes OF laws. They have no power
except to recommend.
Il will say that i'll my judgment, the
expenditure of whatever sum it may be
by this commission would be but a small
fraction of the saving which would nec-
essarily follow.
Mr.. Moneys Comment.
Mr. Money regarded as most serious
Mr.. Aldrich's admission that 100000, 600
year was being wasted by misadminis-
tration. lie agreed that there should be
a commission. but he did not believe that
1t should be composed OF members of
Congress. for he did not believe In mixed
commissions.
There was much more discussion of
the bill. Mr.. Carter traced the present
evils largely to the ambition of depart
mental on1cials. AS going to show the
inadequate methods of the departments.
he said that the postal commission was
unable 20 ascertain the cost of carrying
the second-class mails from the books
OF the Post Office Department when il
endeayored to do so a few years ago.
Objections Heard.
Mr.. Newlands advocated a commission
10 be appointed by the President. Mr..
Bristow expressed the opinion that the
committee on public expenditures should
do the work which IT Is proposed to i'm
pose upon a commission. He said that il
looked as II the committee were anxious
TO avoid the duty. to perform which IL
had been created He did not believe that
any practical results would follow the
work nj be inv