Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-06

To this end l recommend the enact
ment into law of a bin now before
! congress. known as the JudSon bill.
which will insure the gradual ex-
tinguishment of the Districts debt,
while at the same time requiring that
the many permanent improvements
needed to complete a fitting capital
city shall be carried on from year to
year and at a proper rate Of progress
with funds derived from the rapidly
increasing revenues.
Freedmen's Bank.
I renew my recommendation that
the claims of the depositors in the
Freedmen's bank be recognized and
paid by the passage of the pending bill
on that subject.
Negro Exposition.
] also renew my recommendation
that steps be taken looking to the hold
ing of q negro exposition in celebra-
ton Of the fiftieth anniversary Of the
issuing by Mr. Lincoln of the emanci-
patton proclamation.
Civil Service Commission.
The civil service commission has con
tinued its useful duties during the
year. The necessity for the mainte
nance of the provisions of the civil
service law was never greater than to-
day. Officers responsible for the poll
cy of the administration and their i'm
mediate personal assistants or depu-
ties should not be included within the
classified service. but in my judgment
public opinion has advanced to the
point where it would support u bill
providing a secure tenure during eff
cheney for all purely administrat tive
officials
I entertain the profound conviction
that It would greatly aid the cause Of
efficient and economical government
and Of better politics If congress could
enact n bill providing that the execu-
tive shall have the power to include
in the classified service all local Of
fees under the treasury department,
the department of justice, the post
office department the interior depart
ment and the department of com
merce and labor. appointments to
which now require the confirmation
of the senate, and that upon such
classification the advice and consent
of the senate shall cease to be re-
quired in such appointments.
BY their certainty of tenure, depend
ent on good service, and by their free
dom from the necessity for political
activity these local officers would be
induced TO become more efficient pub
lie servants
The civil service law is an attempt
to solve the problem OF the proper sa-
lection of those who enter the service.
A better system under that law for
promotions ought TO he devised: bat,
given the selected employee. there re-
mains still the question Of promoting
his efficiency and his usefulness TO the
government. and that can be brought
about only by careful comparison Of
unit work done b. the individual and
a pointing out Of the necessity for i'm
provement in this regard where i'm
provement is possible.
Inquiry Into Economy and Efficiency.
The Increase in the activities and in
the annual expenditures Of the federal
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 economy and efficiency with which
the government Of today is being ear
ried 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 depart
meuts and others charged with respon-
sibility of government there has grown
M in this country conviction that the
expenses of government are too great.
The fundamental reason for the exist
ence undetected of waste, duplication
and bad management is the lack OF
prompt. accurate information.
The president of a private corpora
ton doing so vast a business as the
government transacts would, through
competent specialists, maintain the
closest scrutiny on the comparative eff
ficiency and the comparative costs in
each division or department of the
business. He would know precisely
what the duties and the activities of
each bureau or division are i'll order
TO prevent overlapping. No adequate
machinery at present exists for sup
plying the president of the United
States with such information respect
ing the business for which he is re-
sponsible.
For the first time in the history of
the government congress in the last
session supplied this need and made
an appropriation TO enable the presi-
dent to inquire into the economy and
efficiency Of the executive departments,
and l am now assembling an organl-
cation for the purpose.
At the outset l find comparison be-
tween departments and bureaus impos
sible for the reason that in no two de-
partments are the estimates and ex-
penditures displayed and classified
alike. The first step is to reduce all
to common standard for classified
ton and judgment. and this work is
now being done. When 1t is completed
the foundation will be laid for bust
nesslike national budget and for such
a Just comparison of the economy and