The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1911-05-26
UNCLE SAN SOME ;
TRAVEL EXPENSES :
Every Dollar Spent by Gov
eminent Being Analysed
and Located

given to walters they must be included
In the price OF the meals, and these
must always be within reason. Tips
to the courtroom boy. dime to the
bo0tblack and similar little items come
out Of the employees pocket and not
out Of Uncle Sans.
In view of these rigid interpretations
Of travelling expenses that have pre-
vailed for some time In most of the
departments In Washington, President
Tafts desire that the first test of econ
omy be made on the travelling ex-
penses OF the government has aroused
some CONSERVATION among the men
who travel regularly In the service of
the government These include the
revenue. postotfice. treasury and Gus
toms inspectors. pension examiners, Sc
cret service men and special agents Of
the department of justice and others
whose duties keep them on the road
most Of the time.
Sources of Waste.
The blow is not likely to fall here.
however. The real waste in govern
ment travelling expenses. according to
leading officials of the government.
comes from two primary causes-trst,
trips that are not vitality necessary,
and. second, travel that could be pur.
chased for less figure than Is actual.
ly paid for it.
Suppose we find that one of the bu-
reaus is spending $1.5O0OOO for travel
IL W.
find that there are ten or fifteen or
twenty ways in which travelling ex-
pense money can be spent-tirst class
single trip tickets. mileage, round trip
tickets. etc.--and we put an expert to
work and he finds that the bureau
spent only S35O.OO0 for mileage, where.
as 1t spent S1.15O.OO0 for first class
single trip tickets.
From the analysis and the questions
which would naturally follow 1t Is
found that ii is the custom of the de-
partment to issue transportation orders
| to the railroads to issue tickets. which
| orders, in turn, are honored and set
tied for at the first class single trip
rates. This would mean that the de-
partment spends, let us say, $40 for
ticket to New York and back. 81 more
than a private individual would spend
by the use of mileage.
1.-THE individual buys perhaps $50 or
500 worth of such transportation
where the government buys $4,000
600 worth and pays for such a trip
as l describe 10 per cent more than
At III &c
appreciate portion of $10,OOOOO0 or
$15.OOO,OOO on which per cent or per
cent or 10 per cent can be saved that
Is an item of waste for which an ad-
ministratiOn might well be held just
ly responsible and an amount large
enough to engage the attention of con-
gress."
But back of the economy in purchas-
ing transportation is the bigger ques.
ton Of what travel Is necessary. The
presidents demand for a test Of econ
omy in the travel department Is likely
to be followed by tightening Of the
lines and the reduction of some OF
the travel that has been developing
during the last few years.
Such an economy would undoubted-
~ hit the agricultural department
with considerable force. One state
ment from the economy experts shows
that the travel Of this department
amounted to about $l.3OO,OO0 for the
last year.
Good Results Expected.
President Taft's inquiry will I'M
doubtedly determine the most econom-
ical method Of handling travel ex-
penses. 1t will result in the cutting off
Of many trips; but. most important of
all. it will put the travel of the gov
eminent upon q scientific basis, where
the cheapest rate is obtained for every
item of expense.
The travel expense. although 1t has
been thrust forward by the attention
given IT by the president, Is actually
only small item compared to the
great developments that are to come
from the board of experts. Chairman
Cleveland has with him now William
f. Willoughby, until recently assistant
director of the census, and Merritt O.
Chance former auditor for the postof
fee department. There is a further
advisory board on ECONOMY and eff
cheney" from the departments. EacE
department has its own board Of econ
omists, and under Chairman Cleveland
is big staff of experts.
Every dollar spent by the govern
) ment is to be analysed and located.
The succession Of Charles d. lille:
to the post Of secretary to the presi
dent transfers to his shoulders thu
work Of supervising the inquiry. With
in the next few months interesting
facts are likely to come from thu
!, Cleveland board as to the real sources
of waste In the management of a bill
Ion dollar government
Bound to Be Discovered.
II a man Is really reliable he doesn