The Washington herald., 1912-01-18

deal, respectively, with the organisation
and activities Of particular services. and
the form Of organization for the per-
formance of particular business opera
tions.
One OF the reports Of the second series
is upon the Revenue-cutter Service. which
costs the government over s. 500, 600 each
year. In the opinion of the commission.
its varied activities can be performed
with equal or greater advantage by other
services. The commission, therefore, rec
ommends that It be abolished. 1t is esti-
mated that by so doing a saving OF not
/ less than 81. 900. 900 a year can be made.
Another report, illustrating the second
series. recommends that the Lighthouse
and Life-savings services be administered
by a single bureau instead of as at pres
emf by two bureaus located I'm different
departments These services have much
in common. Geographically, they are
similarly located: administrativeiS, they
have many Of the same problems. 1t Is
estimated that consolidation would result
in saving Of not less than 10000 an
nually.
In third report, the commission has
recommended the abolition OF the returns
Office of the Department OF the Interior.
This action, in its opinion, will cause no
suit in direct saving of not less than
$4,000 year. in addition to a large in
direct economy in the reduction of work
to be performed in the several Offices.
In another report, the commission has
recommended the consolidation of the six
auditing offices of the Treasury and the
inclusion in the auditing system of the
seven naval officers who now audit Gus
toms accounts at the principal ports. The
changes recommended will improve in
many ways the auditing OF public ac-
counts, and will result in an immediate
saving OF at least s1SS.OOO annually.
Abolish Local Omces.
Perhaps the part-of the organization
in which the greatest economy in pub
lie expenditure Is possible is to be found
in the numerous local Offices of the gov
eminent. In some instances the estab-
lnhment and the discontinuance Of these
local Offices are matters OF administra-
tive discretion. In other instances they
are established by permanent law in
such a manner that their discontinusnce
is beyond the power OF the President or
that Of any executive oficer. In a num-
Der OF services these laws were passed
nearly a century ago. Changes in eco
nomic conditions have taken place which
have had the effect Of rendering certain
Offices not only useless but even worse
than useless in that their very existence
needlessly 6Wells expenditures and COM
pl!cRtes the administrative system.
The attention of the Congress has
been called repeatedly to these condi- |
tions. In some instances the Congress |
has approved recommendations for the |
abolition OF useless positions. In other |
cases not only do the recommendations |
of the Executive that useless positions |
be abolished remain unheeded, but laws |
are passed to establish new Offices at |
places where they are not needed.
The responsibility for the maintenance |
OF these conditions must naturally be |
divided between the Congress and the |
Executive. But that the Executive has |
performed his duty when he has called |
the attention Of the Congress to the mat
ter must also be admitted. Realizing |
my responsibility in the premises, have /
directed the commission to prepare a
report setting forth the positions in the
local services Of the government which
may be discontinued with advantage, the
saving which would result from such |
action, and the changes in law which
are necessary to carry into-effect changes
IN organization found desirable. On the
coming in of the report such Offices as
may be found useless and can be abol-
shed will be so treated by executive |
order.
Broaden Classified Service.
The next step which must be taken is
10 require of heads OF bureaus in the de-