The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-08

l OF doflcie Tor the year 1910 eKoxteu Wtuo-
spread apprehension and couvinced the
nov ADMINISTRATION % the imperative
nesd Of economy and rgtrenchmsnt In
national expsndiNnrss. TMn SUN's wash
| inWton noWu dispatches on March ~. iaQ9.
announced that the Presidene had taken
steps lnssndsd 70 hiring about thorough
cooparRtSon between tho executive and
legislative branchss Of the Government
in tho interest % economy Tho Senate
crc0ted q Committoo on Public Expsndi-
lures. Whioh waa 20 subject al estimates
for appropriations 30 a rigid scrutiny. A
COMMITTEES of the Cabinet was TO perform
q similar duty. ExGHvagnnce and need
! les expenditurc we're u b. summariiy
thsnltled wherever encountered and eccn-
omies were IN ne effected that would ~
duce the expenditure Of the Government
by scores OF millions og dollars.
/ The new Senate committee includes
in its membership some Of the ablest
men in that body. Il consists Of Senators
Hale (acting chairInanl. Aldrich, Warren.
Perkins. Penrose. DollivsS. CRapp. Nelson.
Gamble. Crane, Carter. Bourne. Cummins.
Burton. Root. Newlands. Owen. Fischer
and Hughes. Tho late Senator McIaurin
was alaO q member. Tho COMMITTEES was
appointed On March ~. 100. by q reso-
tuition approved March ~ IL was author
ized and directed TO investigate The
Federal revenues and sxpenditnres and
the business methods Of the several de-
partnsnts. divisions and branches of
the Government 90 report 10 the Senate
from time TO time the result Of its inveesi-
cations and 20 submit Recommendations
tn k..A.
and revenues and possible improvements
in Government methods' ON June the
committee reached q conclusion that il
would be sxpedisnt for n previously ap-
pointed subcommittee TO suggest and
report TO the full committee upon the
method and order of procedure OF the full
COMMITTEES In tbs Transaction Of liz public
businsas.' The subcommittee consisted
Of Senators Bourne. Aldrich. Carter. Root,
McIAurin Cdied in Dscsmber) and Hughes.
On August a sub-committse Of this sub
COMMITTEES was chosen To carry on the
work. Senators Bourne. Root and Hughes
formed the smaller committee. with SEN
ator Bourne a. chairman
The report Of this committee was a
twief statement % facts long familiar 90
all who know the ways Of Washington.
The methods by which the business Of the
Government II conducted were found to
he in many re=pect. antipuated.' and
the opinion wss submitted that -she ap-
plicatiou to tho business Of the Govern
ment % IMPROVEMENTS in system and
method similar TO those which have pro-
duced the high degree Of business en-
cheney in the great business corporations
10 the country will result In the saving II
many millions ~ dollars annually and In
much higher degree 81 efficiency In the
conduct Of the Government husiness.-
The committee declared that lit is
not probable that the necessary reforms
and improvements osn he accomplished
on tho initiative % the ordinary de-
partment agencies and recommended a
board of Investigation composed q three
Senators, three Representatives and
three members selected by the President
ON February s senator AIdrich intro
duced q bill calling for the creation Of .
Governments business methods con-
mission The measITe was before the
SENATE for about three weeks and had
somswhet dragging consideration. Sosne
thesiGbe the Investigation should bs con-
Quoted. as proposed by the bill. by a com
mission representing bosh the executive
and Legislative branches. senator New
lands introduced a substitute hill provid-
ing for a Commission Of nine members
appointed by the President. Tho hill a.
amended snd passed excluded Executive
representation sntirely and provided for
n commission composed q FIVE Senators
and Eve Representative ITO inquire into
and report to Congress what changes
are necessary or desirable" in the bust
ness methods Of tho Government or In
the laws relating thereto.
To the plan thus approved there is an
ObviOns and seriosss objection The sub
committee Of the COMMITTEES on Public
Expenditures reported that the work Of
must he done by persons
who are able to give up their time for
considerable period TO an exhaustive and
systematic study Of the sIbieoi- u 10
manife~tly impossible for members ot
Congr~ss To devote 10 The matter the
necessary time and attentisn. The work
involves economies hat may in their sg-
gregs;e reach or even exceed SiOD. 900 $50
q year. Properly II h WORK for business
specialists. men 81 demonstrated ability
in systematiztng aud organizing business
epterprises. Il involves changes that
NAV " NuNCtEeh w EAEgNNtNe ON uep0fN- /
mental rules and orders. and IL involves
changes that are possible only through
special legislation. A. present 10 ~ quite
impossible sven So 9'Ie@N az rs~ilta ~ ~
the rapidity With which results will he
reached. Much will depend upon the eH-
ternal pressure. the force Of public inter-
eat and public insistence. The Amsrioan
people are staggered by appropriations
exceeding billion % dollars annually. and |
are alarmed" by deficits 81 millions ~
dollars hut the shock In modified and the /,
fears allayed 10 To their immediate locality !
there comes a public building or two or a !
few million dollars for river and harbor
Improvement.
Already there 10 q perceptibIe suhsi-
dence Of last year's enthusiasm for |
economy IN appropriations IL now Roea
little u az all beyond a general plan to |
avoid extravaganza that might provoke |
serious criticism. The present indication |
" thas the appropriations Of this year will !
not he Tar from those Of Last year. Def |