Norwich bulletin., 1912-04-05
MILLIONS OF PUBLIC FUNDS CAN BE SAVED

that the service be abolis Sd as a dis tlnct organization, that it's equipment be distributed among other services requiring the ase of marine craft and that provision be made for the per formance of the work now being done by it by such other services.
 With these fundamental recommen- dRtions of the commission am in full accord, and I recommend that the nec- assary action be enacted to put them into effect.
 At the present time the revenue cut ter service is organized as a naval es- tablishment. The country is in effect maintaining two navies and is using one of these navies for the perform ances of duties of 8 civil character. The maintenance of two separate na- val establishments entails unnecessary expense and Is not ill che interest of either efficiency or economy. In so far es the duties of the revenue cutter service are of a naval character or are such as can readily be performed by the regular. naval establishment, they should be performed by such estab- lishment; in so far as they are of q ri1rcly civil character, use should be
 ,le of services organized and con
 ed upon a civil basis
 n respect to the distribution of the equipment and duties of the revenue cutter service among other branches of the government, the recommends transfer to the navy department of the vessels which are adapted to deep sea cruising and the discharge by the naval establishment of most of the dJl- ties now performed by the revenue cutter service upon the high seas. In memoranda submitted on the report of the commission, copies of which are submitted with such report, on the one hand the secretary of the navy raiEes the question as to whether these duties can be performed by the regg- lar naval establishment without de tracing from its military efficiency. while on the other hand the secretary Of commerce and labor raises the question whether certain of these du- ties cannot be performed by the light house service if that service is provid- cd with vessels suitable fOr the pur- pose.
 In view Of these suggestions I rec Cmmend that in the enactment of leg islation providing for the abolition of the revenue cutter service provision be made for the transfer of all the yes sels and equipment of the revenue cut ter service from the treasury depart ment to the department of commerce and labor; that the secretary of com merce and labor be directed to assign such vessels and equipment to the lighthouse establishment, bureau of fisheries and other services under his Jurisdiction requiring the use of yes sels as, in bis judgment, is for the best interest of the public service, and that authority be given to him to turn over to the navy such vessels as he may 1 find upon investigation not to be re, quired by his department and which by their character are fitted to serve as useful auxiliaries to the naval es. tablishment
 In thus recommending that the reye- nue cutter service as a separate estab- hshment be abolished I desire to make plain that such action does not carry with it the discontiRuance of the ren. dering of any valuable and proper service now being rendered by that or, ganiZatiOn. On the contrary, am per suaded that all such services will con tinue to be performed under the sys tenn recommended by ne with equal or greater efficiency.
 It should be noted that the adoption of the recommendation here made vii result in bringing under one genera administration all of the work of tho government having to do with the pro lection of life and property at sea This will result not only in greatly in creased efficiency, but in a large say ing The lighthouse establishment i: | compelled by the nature of the worI to maintain and operate 6 large flee of vessels and supplementary ad ministrative divisions, depots, inspec tion services, etc, to attend to mat ters pertaining to their business man agement. It Is thus fully prepared to take over and operate the sdditiona vessels that may be assigned to 1t and to perform the additional duties witt which it may be iDtTusted at an added expense that will be small in compari son with that now entailed in mail taining an independent service on military basis
 A further benefit of no little iupG tance that will also be secured will that of relieving the department of t treasury of duties which are in
 ways germane to the primary funcl.l of that department.
 The Consolidation of Auditing offcs'
 The report upon the organization methods of work of the accounting fees of the treasury (appendix No
 recommends that the offices of the
 auditors be consolidated under one 8 ditor and that the auditors of custo accounts located at the principal pf and known as naval officers be m@t assistants to the auditors. An incrcg in the efficiency of the treasury ayi will be one result of the carrying c of these recommendations, and the sa ing of expense when the consolidati has been fully completed will amoo to at least S2OO,000 year, based up current appropriations The present ganiEation, under which six indepel