The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-25

In line with the work to be taken up on
big scale throughout the workings of
the government by the business methods
commission which is to be established
by the Aldrich bill, another investigation
has been made under the direction OF
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Nor
ton. which VIII result in the laying of
or transfer of about seventy employees
(men and women) of the Philadelphia
Mint to-day or tomorrow.
The employees affected will be laid off
in a spirit of economy. because their
services at the Philadelphia Mint can be
profitably dispensed with for the present
by the government, but it is pointed out
that these employees are not 10 be per-
manently separated from the government
pay roll, and that the intention is 70
make room for them in other govern
mental work. The same intention ap-
plies to the reorganization Of the issue
division of the Treasurer's office, where
~ employees are slated to go on July l.
Preparation for Commission.
Beyond confirming the news OF the lay
off at the Philadelphia Mint and declaring
that the investigation now going on In
the Treasury Department are In prepara-
ton for and similar to those to be made
by the business methods commission,
Assistant Secretary Norton would not dis
cuss the matter last night for publication.
1t was stated by one of the Senator's
fFxfz al In, ha 80 -. aFTVfrE
blli that 1t is from Assistant Secretary
of the Treasury Norton that Senator
Aldrich and many other Senators and
Representatives interested in the coming
work of the Business Methods Commits
sion have obtained information which is
10 lead TO the establishment OF the COM
mission, and that the move for whole
sale investigation Of system and audit
ing in governmental operation on the
part of the Senators and Representatives
interested is the result Of conferences
between themselves and the Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury and other Cab
met officers, whose work has led them
to the belief that If the United States
government were run under a business
system many millions OF dollars could be
saved annually
While Mr.. Norton would not discuss
for publication last night the investiga-
tions being made in hts department. the
laying off of employees consequent there
to. or the coming work of the Business
Methods Commission, it was learned that
an effort will be made within a week or
ten days TO place the work of the COM
mission before government employees
throughout the service In its proper
light, which is the one made public in
The Washington Herald yesterday IN
an interview with Senator Bourne, in
which he said that the work OF the
commission is not TO be constructive
rather than destructive criticism.
Taking Care of Employees.
It was definitely stated last night by
those who have the work of the commits
sion at heart that much of It's efforts VIII
be directed toward taking care" OF the
employees found to be unnecessary in
this. that. or the other bureau. This will
be accomplished from recommendations
from the commission to department heads
and bureau chiefs that the Civil Service
Commission be not asked for employees
in case of vacancies. but that these
vacancies be filled from the list of those
on the list laid off, or eligible for
transfer" employees, which will be auto
matically created as a consequence of
the Investigations of the commission.
under the workings of the commits
sion." as a Cabinet officer expressed II
last night, there viii be a slowing-up
of putting names on the list of eligibIes
of the Civil Service Commission. and. In
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