The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1911-05-26
EXPERTS SHOWING
WAYS TO REDUCE
Mileage Books Would Save
Part Of Sl2,OOO,OOO An.
nual Outlay
NOR nearly a year a commission
4 headed by Frederick A. Cleve-

Nun HeaTiy year COmiulSSlOu
headed by Frederick A. Cleve-
land. an economy expert, has
been at work, under the direc-
tion Of President Taft and his secre-
tary, investigating the system under
which the United States government
spends $1,000. 100000 year.
The experts have reached their FIRST
conclusions-someth can be saved.
1f 1t is only per cent of the whole 1t
means $10yOOO.OO0 a year-a tidy sum.
even in the present day of big figures.
II 10 per cent can be saved 1t means
an annual return to the pockets Of the
American people of 81 for every man.
woman and child In the United States.
The experts now finishing their fiscal
year and entering upon the most i'm
portant stage Of their work have gone
at the problem with the idea of inter
fering with no phase Of the govern
ment's work. but Of seeing that that
work is performed with the greatest
economy Of men and money and that
the government gets 100 cents worth
AS a pleasant little curtain raiser for
the big show that Is to come later they
have poked their finger into Uncle
Sans travelling expense account and
have declared that 1t is too big. Chair
man Cleveland Of the economy com.
then the presidents secretary; secre-
tary Norton explained 1t to President
Taft, and President Taft took the
country into his confidence.
Think Of spending $12,OOO.0O0 year
simply for travelling expenses-enough
900 employees a first class trip from
New York to Chicago. with Pullman
fare thrown I'm and something left to
tip the porter; enough to give the pop
ulation of n good sized city a trip
around the world!
1t was as much a surprise to the
president and his advisers to see this
bill for travel as 1t may have been tc
the public. Appropriations have grown
so rapidly in the government depart
ments and they are distributed among
such n variety Of subjects that no def
Unite idea of the amount spent in any
one class of service has been possible
until Mr.. Cleveland and his expea:
had reduced the whole fabric Of ex
pendjtures to scientific basis.
Travel Never Summarized.
Never before was it known how
much the government expended or ex
pected to spend In travel expenses II
any one year." said Mr.. Norton recent
Iy. "Travel expenses are buried away
in miscellaneous and contingent ex
pense accounts, where they cannot b,
reached and cannot be analysed, Th,
very fact that so much as $12,000,OOt
goes into travelling expenses arouse'
curiosity, and, although the inquir!
has hardly begun, It has already beef
discovered that in many well run bu
reaus the government gets the benefit
OF the lowest mileage rate. while II
one Of the greatest departments sys
tenn Of transportation orders results II
that department paying 10 per cen
more for a trip from Washington t.
New York and return than an individ
ual would have to pay"
Here is the key to the whole situa
ton. The waste Of money. II Their
has been any in the matter of travel
ing expenses to carry on the govern
ment business. has been a waste du
10 the completely of systems followe
In the different departments rathe
than to the padding of expense &C
counts by government employees.
Did you ever try to pad an expens
account for the government? There
no item Of entertainment Of custom
ers," nothing for incidental expenses
nothing for taxicabs or theaters. T
pass padded account successful
through the censors Of government
bureau at Washington is feat tina
few employees In Uncle Sans estat
lishment can boast of.
Most of the departments pass upo
every travel account at least fou
times before 1t is finally approved an
the bill paid. There are bureaus 1
those departments where much trave
ing occurs equipped with all the lates
passenger fare tariffs and with tn
rates Of the Pullman company betwee
all points.
When an expense account comes
the items for tickets are CAREFUL
checked up on these rate sheet
When the rate clerk finally approve
the expense statement 1t is proof TIL
the charges for the tickets and Pu
man have agreed exactly with II
published rates between the poin
named.
Then there is a definite standard
expense allowed for each legitima
item. You may have your laund
done once a week at government e
pense in some departments when "
are travelling, but you may not ha'
your trousers pressed ION Uncle Sam
Clean laundry is considered nece
sity, carefully creased trousers lu
ury. Other departments do not allo
even the weekly laundry bill as {
item of legitimate expense.
You may use a cab from the dep
to destination in strange city. It
employee who lives in Washingto