The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-12-08

stances In which the limitation might not
apply and. in such cases, to permit the
p~ensatlon Tor the time worked each day In
excess OF eight hours. i Ina d that my
suggestions in respect to this legislation
nave the full concurrence of the omnis
sioner of labor.
Bureau of Health.
In my message Of last year I recon-
rnended the creation Of a bureau Of health,
IN winch should hs@s: bro ead all those
government agencies outside Of the war
ana navy Departments which are now 81
health or exercise functions gerrnane to
that subject. I renew this recommends
ton. / greatly regret that the agitation
in favor sof this bureau has aroused a
counter agitation against its creation, on
the ground that the establishment of such
a bureau is to be in the interest of a par
me that the assumption is wholly nnwar-
ranted, and 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 this regard.
Civil Service Commission.
The civil service commission has contin-
ued its useful duties during the year. The
necessity for the maintenance of the pro-
visions Of the civil service Jaw was never
greater than today. Officers responsible
their immediate personal assistants or
deputies, should not be included within
the classified service; but in my judg-
ment public opinion has advanced to:the
v1d1ng a secure tenure during efficiency
for all purely administrative officials. !
entertain the profound conviction that it
would greatly aid the cause OF efficient
anG 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
all local offices under the treasury depart
ment, the department of justice, the post
office department., the interior department
and the department OF and Ia.
the confirmation of the Senate and that
upon such classification the advice and
consent of the Senate shall cease to 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
tons ought to be devised, but, given the
selected employe, there remains still the
question of promoting his efficiency and
his usefulness to the government. and that
can be brought about only by q careful
comparison of unit work done by the in
dividual ard 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 have tested the economy and eff
ficiency with which the government of to-
day is being carried on. The RESPONSE
b.lity rests upon the head of the admin
istration. He is held accountable by the
public, and properly so. Despite the IN
selfish ana patriotic efforts of the heads
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 thc
comparative efficiency and the compare
of the business. He would know precise
ly what the duties and the activities of
each bureau or division are in order to
prevent overlapping. No adequate ma
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 an appropriation to enable
the president to inquire into the economy
and efficiency of the executive depart
ments, and l am now assembling an or
ganization for the purpose.
At the outset I 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
for classification and judgment, and this
work Is now being done. When it 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.
congress have diligently worked to re-
duce the expenses of government and
awe found their efforts often blocked by
lack of accurate Information contain
ing a proper analysis of requirements
and of actual and reasonable costs. The
result of this Inquiry should enable the
executive in his communications to con-
gress to give information to which con
gress is entitled and which will enable
1T to promote economy.
I I have requested the head of each de-
partment to appoint committees on econ
omy and efficiency in order to secure full
cooperation in the movement by the
employees of the government themselves.
urge the continuance of the appro-
priation of $780, 900 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 on the part of tbe
civil servants. On the contrary, I be-
heve that a fine spirit of Willingness to
work exists In the personnel. which. If
properly encouraged. will produce results
equal to those secured in the best man
aged private enterprises. In handling
proft-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 to
enable the government to go into some
Of the beneficial n%roiects which we arc