The National tribune., 1910-08-11

JOIN issue with his critics in that in
stance. The invitation was accepted
after considerable delay. The Presiden
was not quite clear in his mind wheth.
er he ought to penetrate into the Wes
and into the heart of the opposition
camp. He would afford opportunity fol
people to make comparisons between
the enthusiasm shown in his reception
and that shown in the reception to ex-
President Roosevelt. He would give
prominent conservationists opportunity
to criticize his plans, for it is under
stosd that he expects to outline there
what he will say in his annual message
to Congress about conservation.
Anyhow, the President has accepted
the invitation. and he is preparing the
speech. He will advise with number
of influential Republicans before he
puts il into final shape. Indeed, he let
it be known that he would not accept
the invitation to ST. Paul, because of the
demands il would make upon his time,
were it not that in preparing the speech
he could in reality be preparing por-
ton of his annual message. OF course,
the same language will not go into the
annual message. but the general outline
Will be similar. Then, as conservation
is to be an important feature of the Ad-
ministration from this time on, the
President feels that he can well submit
his ideas upon that subject before such
a representative body as the Conserva-
tion Congress will be. In the discussion
and criticism which will follow in the
three ensuing months he can gather
ideas that will enable him to modify his
recommendations in details for the con-
Sideration of Congress.
All the country will be watching his
appearance at St. Paul. 1t is certain to
be a big political event of the Autumn.
1t will come just at the time when the
State and Congressional campaigns are
beginning in earnest, and if he succeeds
in making a good impression with his
suggestions for handling the conserva-
ton problem it will rebound in a ma
terial way to the benefit of his party in
the campaign.
Investigating and recognizing the De-
partments.
Within the last few days the Presi-
dent has inaugurated new phase of
the economy program. This is done
under the authority of Congress in ap-
propriating 100000 for the investiga-
ton and reorganization of the Depart
ments at Washington. 1t has been vir-
tually decided that a Commission will
be selected to consist of one official in
each of the Departments and independ
ent Bureaus, and that this Commission
shall have the assistance of a corps of
experts The work in reality is to be
conducted by the Secretary to the Pres
ident Mr. Norton, who has already sent
out statement inviting expert account
ants and others to submit plans for
program of investigation.
1t is the intention that the reorgan-
1zation shall be of very thoro charac-
ter The economy will extend down TO
a vast deal of routine work, such as the
writing of letters. 1t is proposed that
the cost of writing letters-in fact, of
va
and the waste in such work shall be
determined. There is a belief that a
vast deal Of stenographic and typeWrit-
ing work, which costs the Government
in the aggregate hundreds of thousands
of dollars annually, can well be dis
pensed with. and would be dispensed
with in well-conducted business es-
tablishment.
Secretary Norton has invited the
clerks in the Departments to submit
suggestions for economy, and has re-
ceiyed some suggestions already which
he regards as of value. This is the-first
time in the history of the Government
that the President has been given an
to investigate the Depart
ments under his jurisdiction Mr.. Taft
is desirous that the work shall be thoro-
ly done and start made toward reduc-
ing expenses. incidentally this is in
the direction OF economy which Senator
Aldrich suggested when he said the
Government could be run by a good
business man for $500. 600. 600 less. than
1t is now costing. The experts that show
the most workable program will be
commissioned TO go ahead under the
OF the Commission, probe the |
work of the Departments to the very
bottom and tell ultimately how the |
work ought to be done to assure econo- |
my as well as efficiency.
Reforms Are Periodical.
These reforms in the conduct of de-
business come every 10 or |
Is years and generally result in some |
advance. The last Democratic Congress |
authorized the Dockery Commission, so |
called, which inaugurated some impor- |
tant reforms. But they did not have |
the time or the authority to do the |
work as thoroly as 1t might have been |
done. Then. there is a steady advance |
in the business world in methods of |
affairs. The tendency in the |
Departments on the other |
hand, Is to retrograde. rather than to |
advance. A shake-up in methods such |
as is now contemplated therefore be-
comes necessity occasionally for the
good of the public service. The result |
may be the discharge of an incompetent |
clerk or official here and there, but it |
will be more marked in the introduction |
of labor-saving devices and in the sub |
stftuion of modern for antiquated |
methods. |
Visitors to Beverly.
There has been a steady stream of |
visitors daily at Beverly. The President |
Is now seeing everybody who has a le- |
gitimate errend for an interview The |
daily list is not long. There are fewer |
of an afternoon than would see the |
President ordinarily during a couple of |
hours of an official morning at the
White House offices in Washington. but |
some of them are callers of official |
Hon. James Bryce the
British ambassador, was visitor a few
days ago, the only foreign ambassador
who has seen the President since he
came TO the Summer Capital. Mr. Bryce |
is passing the Summer at Dublin, n. H.,
and came down TO the North Shore to |
visit some friends as he was on the way
to PTovincetown, on Cape Cod, to be |
one of the speakers at the dedication Of |
the Pilgrims Monument
President Montt. of Chile, was also q |
visitor of last week, and |
was received with great ceremonial, as
such things go at the Summer Capital. |
The Mayfiower. which rides at anchor /
hereaoouts most of the time, was sent |
10 Boston TO convey him to Beverly, and |
he was shown every other courtesy pos
sible. Assistant Secretary of state |
Chandler Hale and other officials had |
been acting as his escort ever since no |
landed at New York on the way from
the Isthmus of Panama.
The Vice President also paid the |
President visit recently. He came in |
an automobile. and spent most OF the
afternoon at Burgess Point talking poll