Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-05
TO SAVE i. S. CASH
Investigation of Business
Methods of Government.
SENATE COMMITTEES PLAN
Commission Proposed Which Will
Probe Expenditures and Make
Suggestions for Thrift.

| With economy in view. government
| business methods commission is proposed
| BY Senate leaders. TO investigate and sug-
| gest changes in the business methods of
the United States government and the
| laws relating thereto.
/ The source of the resolution is the Sen
| ate committee on public expenditures.
composed of many leaders in the upper
! house. This insures the prompt passage
of the resolution and the early beginning
| of the investigation into Uncle Sam
ways of doing business
! The commission is to be composed of
| nine members-three senators to be APP
pointed by the Vice President three rep
| resentatives to be designated by the
Speaker and three others to be selected
| by the President. The commission is 10
/ have power to examine witnesses and pa
pers and TO employ a force of stenog-
! laphers and secretaries.
To Cut Down Expenditures.
This plan for examining into the bust
ness methods of the federal government
and for cutting down expenses. when and
where possible, is the outgrowth of the
appointment of the Senate committee on
public expenditures. Its purpose was to
cut down public expenditures.
/ The commission is to inquire how the
| federal expense account can be pared.
/ When the resolution providing for the
| commission was reported to the Senate
| today by Senator Aldrich from the com
mittee on pubic expenditures Immediate
consideration was asked. Senator Elkins
| objected.
| The resolution was not voted upon.
Senator Aldrich gave notice that he would
call up the resolution in the Senate Mon
| day.
The committee public expenditures
| held several sessions shortly after Con-
gress convened for the present session
! The appointment of joint commission,
| to include representatives of both houses
| of Congress and of the executive depart
| ments, was urged at that time.
| No definite action was then taken. At a
| recent meeting the plan for such com
mission was outlined. The introduction
| of the resolution today is the result.
| AS soon as the resolution had been read
! in the Senate Senator Aldrich stated that
| he presented the unanimous request OF
| the committee on public expenditures for
/ immediate consideration.
| Senator EIkins was on his feet immedi-
ately. He remarked that he was In
doubt about how it affected present Sen
ate committees. and therefore objected
| to vote at once.
1T does not affect the jurisdiction of
| the Senate committees, replied Senator
Aldrich. The senator from West Vir-
/ Siuld, uOWtSSI, lllSiSled oll AiS oDJSSl1od
Provisions of Resolution.
Outlining the authority of the commits
sion and it's object, the resolution pro-
| vides
| That it shall be the duty of this com
mission to inquire into and report &c
| Congress at the earliest date or dates
practicable what changes are necessary
or desirable in the methods of transact
ing the business of the government or In
the laws relating thereto, and for this
purpose they are authorized to sit dur
ing the sessions or recess of Congress, al
such times and places as they may deem
desirable, to send for persons and papers
| to administer oathS, to summon and com
pei the attendance of witnesses and tC
employ such secretaries. experts, stenog-
raphers, messengers and other assistants
as shall be necessary to carry out the
purposes for which the said commission
was created.
The commission shall have power
| through subcommittee or otherwise, to
examine witnesses and to make such in
| vestiga tons and examinations of the sub
jects committed to their charge as they
shall deem necessary.
President Approves Plan.
This plan for probing of Uncle Sam S
business methods is understood to have
| the apDrODatlOn OF IreSlueNt ld1t. he
| has been urging a policy of economy and
a reduction of expenses ever since his
administration started, and proper moves
along that line are known to have his
entire approval.
| The President will select as the three
| men he is to name for the commission
| the three best equipped and most eX-
perienced men from the federal depart
ments according to general reports.
Men from the departments are regarded
as valuable additions to the commission,
| and the placing of such men on the COM
mission has been in the plan since 1t was
| first proposed.
| There has been demand in Congress
| for some time for some plan whereby
| government expenses could be cut Rep
| reSentative Douglas recently made
| speech in the House advocating the APP
! pointment Of a budget committee for the
House. 1t is expected that the proposed
| plan of investigation will meet, to some
extent, the wishes of those who Favored
the budget committee scheme.