Arizona republican., 1912-01-18
President Believes That
Millions May Be Saved
by the Adoption of
His Plan.
MESSAGE DEALS
WITH ECONOMY
Executive Says All the Peo-
pie Are Vitally Inter
ested in Government
Expenses.
T ASSOCIATED Press DiSfdtchl

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1s.-How the
people of the United States may have
saved for them millions of dollars an
nually i'm the operation of their gov
crnmental machinery was outlined by
President Tart today i'm a message
To- congress on economy and eff
cheney in the government service"
What IN, government does with
nearly Sl.o0C.0oo. 600 each year" said
the president. lis as of much CON
Germ to the average citizen as is the
manner of obtaining this amount of
money for the public use
Probably the most radical proposal
advanced by the president i'm todal's
message was that all administrative
Officers of the government in the de-
partments at Washington and in the
field be put under the civil service:
be removed from the influence of
politics and that their terms of office
be not limited as at present to four
years such officers should not be
appointed by the president with the
necessity of Senate confirmation. he
said. but upon merit The extension
of the merit system To these officers
and needed readjustment of sal
aries" said ne. will have important
effects in securing greater economy
and efficiency. The view that these
various offices are to be filled as
result of political consideration has
for its consequence the necessity that
the president and members of con-
gress devote to matters of patronage
time which they should devote u
questions of policy and administra
tInn."
The president did not attempt to
explain in detail the work of the
ccoromy ard efficiency commission
created by act of congress a year
and a half ago He sketched the out
lines of improvements that he said
could be made in government service,
declared that they would effect a
saving Of many millions of dollars
and asked that congress continue the
commission by granting an appropri-
alton OF 100000 with S5O0o0 for
printing its reports. From time to
time. he added. reports of the com
mission proposing particular reforms
would be sent to congress.
I ASK" said the president, the
continuance of this commission on
economy and efficiency because Of
the excellent beginning which has
been made towards the reorganiza-
ton of the machinery of this govern
ment on business principles I ask
il because its work is entirely non
partisan in character and ought to
apply To every citizen who wishes to
give effectiveness to popular govern
ment in which we feel just pride
sincerely hope that congress will
not. i'm its anxiety To reduce eNpcndi-
lures. economize by cutting off an
appropriation which is likely To Of
fer greater opportunity for real econ
omy in the future than any other es-
timated for"
To date the president said. the COM
mission has cost the people about
$3.50, 900. Without having put in eff
feet more than few reforms it has
suggested changes that will save 81
100000 a year. These" said the
president. represent only a few of
the many services which should be
subjected to little painstaking in
quiry If this is done, it is beyond
question that many millions of saw
| ings may be realized The value of
such investigation in increased inter
est which officers of the government
will take in their own departments:
their own work and that of their
subordinates. he said, could hardly
be estimated.
The initial work" said President
! Taft has been well done The in
quiry with its constructive measures
| is well under way The work should
now be presented with vigor and re-
Ceive the financial support necessary
to make il effective during the next
| fiscal year. Every economy which
has been or will be effected through
changes in organization or method
| Will inure to the benefit of the gov
ernment and of the people i'm increas-
| ing measure through the years which
follow. | am convinced that results
which are really worth while cannot
be secured. or at least can be secured
only i'm small part, through the pros
!. ecution at irregular intervals of spe-
cial inquiries bearing on particular
services or features of administra-
tion. The benefits thus obtained must
be but temporary. The problem of
good administration is not one that
can be solved at one time 1t is a
! continuously present one"
| In many ways the president in
! formed congress, a decrease i'm the
cost Of government might be assured.
There is need he said. of reorSaniza-
4 tiou pf the Government dqp1rtmpntc
| (Continncd ON Page .