Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-12-16

stances In which tho limitation might not
payment by the government OF extra com
pensation for the time worked each day in
excess OF eight hours. I may d that my
suggestions In respect to this legislation
have the full concurrence OF the commits
sioner of labor.
Bureaus Of Health.
In my message OF last year ! recon-
mended the creation OF q bureau OF health.
in which should be embraced all those
government agencies outside or the war
and navy departments which are now di-
rected toward the preservation OF public
health or exercise functions germane to
that subject. l renew this recommends
ton. l greatly regret that the agitation
in favor OF this bureau has aroused a
counter agitation against It's creation. on
the ground that the establishment of such
a bureau is 10 be In the interest OF a par
ticular school of medicine. IT seems TO
me that the assumption Is wholly unWar-
ranted, ard that those responsible for the
government can be trusted TO secure IN
the personnel of the bureau the appoint
ment Of representatives OF all recognized
schools of medicine. and In the manage
ment Of the bureau entire freedom from
narrow prejudice in his regard.
Civil Service Commission.
The civil service commission has contin-
ued its useful duties during the year. The
necessity for the maintenance or the pro-
visions OF the civil service law was never
greater than today. Officers responsible
for the policy of the administration, and
their immediate personal assistants or
deputies, should not be included within
the classified service: hut tn ny s:as
ment public opinion has advanced to the
point where 1t would support a bill pro-
viding a secure tenure during efficiency
for ali purely administrative officials. !
entertain the profound conviction that ii
would greatly aid the cause OF efficient
and economical government, and OF better
politics IL congress could enact a bill pro-
viding that the executive shall have the
power to include in the classified service
ell local offices under the treasury depart
ment, the department of justice, the post
office department, the interior department
and the department of and Ia
Dor, appointments to which now require
upon such classification the advice and
consent of the Senate shall cease 70 be
required In such appointments. By their
certainty of tenure, dependent on good
service, and by their freedom from the
necessity for political activity, these To-
cal officers would be induced TO become
more efficient public servants.
The civil service law is an attempt to
solve the problem of the proper selec-
ton of those who enter the service. A
better system under that law for promo
tions ought to be devised, but. given the
selected employs, there remains still the
question Of promoting his efficiency and
his usefulness to the government, and that
can be brought about only by a careful
comparison of unit work done by the in
diyidual and a pointing out OF the neces-
sity for Improvement in this regard where
Improvement is possible.
Inquiry Into Economy and Efficiency.
The increase in the activities and In the
annual expenditures of the federal govern
ment has been so rapid and so great that
the time has come to check the expansion
of government activities In new directions
until we hav tested the economy and eff
ficiency with which the government of to-
day is being carried on. The RESPONSE
bility rests upon the head of the admin
istration. He Is held accountable by the
public, n properly so. Despite the UNI
selfish and patriotic efforts OF the heads
of departments and others charged with
responsibility Of government, there has
grown up in this country a conviction
that the expenses of government are too
great. The fundamental reason for the
existence undetected OF waste, duplica-
ton, and bad management Is the lack of
prompt, accurate information. The pres
ident OF a private corporation doing so
vast as business as the government trans
acts would, through competent special
lists, maintain the closest scrutiny on tho
comparative efficiency n the compare
tive costs In each division or department
of the business. He would know precise
ly what the duties and the activities of
Zach bureau or division are In order to
chinery at present exists for supplying the
president of the United States with such
information respecting the business for
which he is responsible. For the first
time In the history of the government,
congress In the last session supplied this
need and made -: ppIopfia.iot 10 enable
the president to inquire into the economy
and efficiency of the executive depart
ments, and / am now assembling an or
ganiZatic:2 fcr the ii pose.
At the outset / find comparison be-
tween departments and bureaus impossi-
BILE for the reason that In no two depart
ments are the estimates and expenditures
displayed and classified alike. The first
step Is to reduce all to a common standard
work is now being done. When II is
completed, the foundation Will be laid for
a business-like national budget, and for
such a just comparison OF the economy
and efficiency with which the several
bureaus and divisions are conducted as
Will enable the president and the heads
of departments to detect waste, eliminate
duplication, encourage the intelligent and
effective civil servants whose efforts too
often go unnoticed, and secure the pub
lie service at the lowest possible cost.
Economy and Efficiency.
The committees on appropriations OF
mgr have diligently worked to re-
duce the expenses of government and
ia Win lS III 10 olNSJ OiOChcd ny
lack of accurate Information contain
ing a proper analysis OF requirements
and OF actual n reasonable costs, TIL
result OF this Inquiry should enable the
executive in his communication TO con-
gress TO give information to which con-
gress is entitled and which will enabl
tt to promote economy.
I have requested the head OF each de-
partment to appoint committees on econ
omy and efficiency in order TO secure full
corporation IN the movement by the
employees Of the government themselves.
/ urge the continuance OF the appro-
p~riation OF $1,000 requested for the fiscal
year 1912.
MY experience leads me to believe that
while government methods are much
criticised. the bad results-if we do have
bad results-are not due to a lack of
zeal or willingness OF the part OF the
civil servants. On the contrary. I be-
lieve that a fine spirit OF willingness TO
work exists In the personnel, which, II
properly encouraged, will produce results
equal TO those secured I'm the best man
aged private enterprises. In handling
government expenditure the aim Is not
profit-the aim is the maximum OF public
service at the minimum of cost. We wish
TO reduce the expenditures OF the gov
eminent. and we wish to save money 70