Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-06
TAFT ON EC0NOMY|HOLY NAME PARADE
Explains His Ideas to Commit 5000 Members OF Society Are
tees of Departments. to March Today.
HOW TO Use SUMS SAVED REVIEWED BY FALC0NIO
New System Making Es Speechmakng at Monument Lot
Inmates for Appropriations. if Weather Permits
PRESENT METHOD Is ARCHAIC PROMINENT CLERGY TO LEAD
1000 Men Coming From Baltimore
diuresRe andRe and Others From Nearby
duced to Cities
Explains His Ideas to Commit
tees of Departments.
HOW TO USE SUMS SAVED
Favors New System of Making Els.
Inmates for Appropriations.
PRESENT METHOD IS ARCHAIC
President Wants the Proposed Elk
penditures Reclassified and Re-
duced to Scientific Basis.

eve want economy and efficiency in the
government. We want savings for pur-
pose We want to reduce the expendi
lures of the government to go into some
OF the beneficial projects which we are
debarred from taking up now because we
cannot increase our expenditures. 4
TerseIy President Taft thus explained
the object of the inquiry he has begun
into the operation of the government de-
partments here to the departmental and
bureau committees on economy and efH-
cheney, whose members he had invited to
the White House yesterday afternoon to
talk the matter over.
The President said that every dollar
saved could be used to further projects
affecting the public health. new public
works and other beneficial activities of
the government. He said that at the
very outset. before the work of saving
could he begun. the investigators were
confronted with a confused and archaic
system of making the estimates for ap-
priopriations.
The Presidents brief speech was made
after the committees had been at work
at the White House for an hour or more
on a proposed Reconsideration of the es-
Inmates of expenditures for the coming
year. These newly prepared estimates
are for the use and benefit of the PreSi-
dent The same form of estimates as
i'm the past will be submitted to Congress
in December. but that body also will be
furnished with the new style of est-
mates If desired
Address of the President.
~, p-z;I.,..- -nooob ma. " part &c
follows:
II have asked you to come into my Of
flee today because want to make clear to
you gentlemen who represent the various
departments, as l have already done to
YOUR superior officers. the members of my
cabinet, my deep personal interest IN this
inquiry into economy and efficiency or
the government which l have inaugural
ed. on account of the pressure or my
time I have necessarily turned over to
Mr. Norton the details of organizing
staff of men competent TO carry on the
exceedingly difficult and interesting ex-
animation. but | want TO express TO you
my deep personal interest in the work.
have kept In very close contact with II,
and / intend to do so in the future.
While cannot indorse all of the things
that have been said as to the amount OK
money that can be saved yearly by more
economical and efficient administration OF
the government, / do thoroughly indorse
the proposition that in government bust
ness, in every other business, close
and diligent scrutiny will lead to econo-
mics.
Difficulties Of Old System.
lat the very outset. before We can
begin our work we are confronted by the
difficulties which arise out of the con-
fused and archaic system of displaying
our expenditures. l refer to our esti-
mates While the law requires that the
estimates ne submitted to Congress In
the usual form this year, / am very de-
sirous that point be given to the pur-
pose of this inquiry by having the pro-
posed expenditures reclassifed and thus
reduced to scientific basis. so that there
may be some common understanding as
to what is meant when appropriations
are asked for.
AT the present time Congress ap-
propriates large sums of money, leaving
il to each administrative ofiicer to make
his own classification when he comes to
expend that money. This practice makes
intelligent judgment as to economy and
efficiency impossible; and so before we
get into the more interesting phase Of
this work We have to go right down
OF the estimates and appropriations. This
will lay a burden Of extra work upon
all of you. but / know you will respond
TO il.
eads me to believe that while govern
ment methods are much criticised, the
bad results--if we do have bad results
are not due to a lack of zeal or willing
ness on the part of the civil servants.
On the contrary, / believe that a fine
spirit of willingness to work exists in the
personnel. which. II properly encouraged,
will produce results equal to those Sc
cured by the best managed private cor
porations
Expresses His Thanks.
zone of the disappointing things about
being President is that one comes in con-
tact too little with the men down in the
service whom We rely upon to do the
DAYS work. I wish l might meet them
and encourage them more frequently than
do. realizethat while there are
about fifty of you here you are very
small group. To you and to all your as
extend my thanks for the spirit of CO.
operation which you display, and. with
YOU. look forward to an interesting ex-
perience as we inaugurate this new presi-
Dental inquiry into economy and eff
cheney When We have completed the
work I ought to be able to receive daily,
weekly and monthly reports which will
indicate clearly to me where the good
administrators are. the men who ought to
he encouraged, and where the wasteful
activities ought to be discouraged
Members of the Committee.
The committees present at the meeting
were as follows
State-Huntington Wilson, assistant sec
rotary of state; Wilbur j. Carr, director
OF the consular service; William McNeir,
chief clerk
Treasury. L. Wilmeth. chief clerk;
NJ. o. Chance. auditor for the Post Once
Department; Lawrence o. Murray, con-
troller of the currency.
War-Maj. Gen. +. c. Ainsworth, Capt.
Fred W. Slayden recorder; Brig. Gen.
w. W. WOtherspoon. Brig. Gen. E A.
Darlington, Assistant and Chief Clerk
John G. Scoield
Justice-O. j. Field. chief clerk: 8. W.
Finch. chief of the bureau Of investiga-
tons: ]. H. Mackey. disbursing clerk
Post Object. l.. Weed. chief clerk: Rob
ert S. Sharp, chief post Office inspector
6. b. Thompson. superintendent division
OF supplies.
Navy-Admiral Wainwright. Capt. r
c. Smith. Pay Inspector G. w. Simpson
Commander Philip Andrews Naval Con
structor r. Fl. Robinson Commander