Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-01
IN THE Departments.

4 heads Of the government departments
the movements for economy in the ex.
ecutive branch Of Uncle Sans govern
ment and for the adoption of a civil
service retirement system distinguish the
year 1910.
The efforts to reduce the cost of run
ming the government departments found
its inspiration in President Taft Rep.
resentatives from the several departments
| were appointed to form a general econ
! omy committee. and its aim is to cut
! out duplication OF work. cut off expenses
| that are not absolutely necessary and
generally pare down the operating ex-
penditures wherever possible. In addi-
ton F. A. Cleveland. an expert, has been
designated by the President to make in
| vestigations in the departments to see
where money can be saved.
That the work was gotten we'll under
way during the past year was indicated
when the legislative executive and ju-
dicial appropriation bill was reported to
the House from the appropriations COM
mittee. 1t provides for the abolition of
237 government jobs. In the Treasury
Department alone 266 positions were abol-
ished. Slight increases in some of the
other departments reduced the number of
jobs done away with to 2s1
The movement during the year for a
civil service pension system reached its
height in June. While there was steady
agitation for such legislation by Congress
during the winter and spring. the issue
became an unusually vital one with the
announcement that seventythree Treas
ury Department and thirty-fiye pension
office clerks would be out of jobs July 1.
An appeal was made to Congress to pass
a civil service retirement measure SO
that these clerks would be taken care of
in their old age President Taft gave his
approval to contributory system. and
the clerks. together with the members
of the cabinet, signed a monster petition
to the national Legislature to pass such a
law. Representatives Of the clerks were
heard by the committees on civil service
of the Senate and House. and the House
committee reported favorably a bill for
plan. Members of Congress, however
announced that the passage of such leg
islation was impossible at the session:
and no progress has been made during
the first month of the new session start
ing in December.
During the fall the President and his
cabinet gave serious consideration to
suggestion that the department clerks
work until ) o'clock in the afternoon.
Citizens Of Washington took up the
cudgels for the clerks and protested to
the President against the frightening Of
the hours. AS the year closed announce
ment was made by all the department
heads that they would not issue orders
to increase the working day, except the
Attorney General. for the Department of
Justice working day has continued until
) O'Clock for several months. and no
shortening of hours, to correspond with
the hours OF the other departments, Is
contemplated.
The year 1910 passed with few changes
among the leading government officials
The appointment of Charles d. Norton
as secretary to the President made a
vacancy in the Office of assistant secre-
tary of the Treasury. and 4. r'iatt An
drew who had been director of the mint.
was promoted. George F.. Roberts sue
ceeded MIR. Andrew as director of the
mint The early retirement Of Charles
D. Hilles, another assistant secretary of
the Treasury, was announced late in the
year, and he will be succeeded by Robert
o. Bailey, now secretary to the Secre-
tary of the Treasury.
Death removed Lloyd W. Bowers. So
licitor general Of the United States. early
In the fall President Taft recently an
w. Lehman of St. Louis to the i'm
portant position.
The Grim Reaper also caused vacancy
In the position Of counselor of the State
Department. removing Henry VI. Hoyt. |
C. p Anderson has assumed the posi- |
ton.
| Most sensational of the changes among |
the government officials during 1910 was |
the removal of Clifford Pinchot as for |
Taft as the result of a letter he had |
written, which was read in the Senate, |
unfolding Louis CLAWS and condemning |
SecretarY Ballinger In their attitudes to- !