New-York tribune., 1910-11-07
A BUSINESS GOVERNMENT
economy and Efficiency Sought
by President Taft.
He STATES HIS PURPOSE
wants Full Value for Every Dol
lar Spent-Rigid Scrutiny
of Estimates.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

washington, Nov. 6.--President Taft has
made II clear that one OF the great objects
OF ms administration Is to place the affairs
u me government on q strictly business
OASIS lie believes .hat projects affecting
the public health. new public works and
other beneficial activities Of government
can be furthered if those charged with
administrative responsibility are able 70
get dollar Of value for every dollar OF
the governments money they expend. In
an address to a committee of men from the
departments on whom he Is depending 10
carry forward his plans for the promotion
or economy ana efficiency in the govern
ment service, the President said il part:
While 1 cannot indorse all OF the things
uat nave been said as to the amount OF
money that can De saved yearly by more
economical ana efnC1ent administration or
the government. | do thoroughly indOTSe
the proposition that, IN government busi-
ness, as IN every other business. a close and
ulilgent scrutiny VIII lead 70 economies.
At the very outset before we can begin
our work, We are confronted by the difficult
ties which arise out Of the confused and
arCHatC system OF classifying our e&pen0l-
lures refer TO our estimates While the
law requires that the estimates be submit
ted to Congress in the usual form this
year, | am very desiroUs that point ne
given to the purpose of this inquiry Dy
having the proposed expenditures reclaSSl-
so that there may be some common under-
standing as 10 what is meant when appro-
priations are asked for. At the -DreSent
time Congress apprOpriates large sums OF
money leaving IL to each administrative
officer to make his own classification Wnen
he comes 10 expend money. This pTactlce
makes intelligent Judgment as to economy
and efficiency impossible, and 50, before we
get into the more interesting phase OF tnlS
work. We have to 20 right down deep dIn
lay the foundation in the ferns or the esJi-
mates and appropriations.
My long experience in the government !
leads me 10 believe that while government
methods are much criticised, the bad re
sUlts-if we do have bad TesuitS-are NOT
due to a lack OF zeal or willingness on the
part of the civil servants on the con
trary, believe that tlne spirit OF Wiling
ness TO work exists in the personnel. whicn,
II properly encouraged, Will produce results
equal to those secured Dy the best managed
Now we want economy and efficiency,
want savings, and savings for pur-
pose. We want TO reduce the expenditures
of the government, and we want 20 save
money to enable the government 10 go into
some OF the difficult projects which we are
debarred from taking up now because We
cannot increase our expenditures.
One of the Disappointing things about pc
I ing President is that one comes IN contact
/ too little with the men down IN the ser
vice whom we rely upon to do the DAY
work. ] wish I might meet them ana en-
courage them more frequently than do
/ realize that While there are ABOUT uItS
OF You here. You are q very small group.
To you and 20 all your associates in the
departments ! wish to extend my thanks
for the spirit of cooperation which you
display. and with you l look forward 70
an interesting experience as we InauSurate
this new Presidential inquiry into economy
and efficiency. When we have completed
the work 7 ought 10 he able to receive
daily. weekly and monthly reports which
viii indicate clearly to me where the good
administrators are the men who ought 70
be encourag ged. and where the wasteful and
inefficient ones are the men whose acttvt-
ties ought 10 be discouraged.