The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-17
TAFT'S ECONOMICAL MESS.
AGE REPORTED TODAY
CONTINUED from page ~

celVe the financial support necessary
to make it effective during the next
fiscal year. Every economy which has
e or will be effected through the
changes in organization or method will
tnure to the benefit of the government
and of the people in increasing meas
ure through the years which follow.
! am convinced hat results which are
really worth while cannot be secured
or at least can be secured only in small
part, through the prosecution at ir-
regular intervals or special inquiries
bearing on particular services or fea-
lures of administration. The benefits
thus obtained must be but temporary
The problem of good administration is
not one that a be solved at one time.
IT is a continuously present one"
In many ways the president inform
ed congress, a decrease in the cost of
government might be assured. There
Is need, he said. of reorganization of
the government departments, a con-
solidation and a wedding out of bu-
reas that overlap in their work; scores
of local offices" throughout the
country should be abolished and hum
dreds of political appointees who do
but little work should be taken off the
pay roll and there should be an Inn
provement in the personnel Of govern
ment employees through the introduce
ton of the civil service in practically
every field: business methods should
be employed by Uncle Sam just as
big corporations use them. a modern
system of accounting and reporting
should be adopted and last of all the
economy commission should be con-
tinued in its work.
Cutting Out Service
The treasury department. Mr.. Taft
showed, looked after the nations a.
nances and the life saving service. The
| Nnnorn{1S{nn ha coid had or0yo-o4~5
ed the abolition of the revenue cut
ter service, which would mean a saving
of $1,000 900 a year.
The greatest economy and %eff1cien-
cy and h benefits which may accrue
from the presidents devoting his time
WHILE" said the president. may be
assured only by treating all the
distinctly administrative officers in the
department at Washington and in the
field In the same way as inferior off,
GERS have been treated. The time has
come when all these officers should
be placed in the classified service. The
time has also come when those pro-
visions Of law which give to those off,
GERS a fixed term of years should be
repealed. So long as a fixed term Of
years is provided by Law the question
of reappointment of an officer, no
matter how efficiently he may have
l POI vi lieu IIIc uutl66, VIII lnGVlI0Dl III
be raised periodically. So long as APP
pointments to these Offices must be
confirmed by the senate and so long
az appointments to them must be
made every four years. just as long will
It be impossible to provide a force of
employees with a reasonably permanent
tenure who are qualified by reason of
education and training to do the best
work."
Giving examples Of excessive gov
eminent expenditure along certain
lines the president told congress that
in one department It cose 1854 per
thousand 7 o handle incoming mail
thousand. For handling outgoing mail
one department expended 1894 per
thousand; another $69.89. Either one
department paid too much or the 9TH
er NJ enough, he said. In travel
alone h government expends about
pointed out, have shown that a saving
In this item alone of q little over half
of one cent a mile probably could. be
effected.
Through the introduction Of labor
saving machintry: through the elimi-
nation OF unnecessary copy work. by
cutting down needless expense In the
distribution OF public documents and
in many other ways could millions be
saved each year. The president urged
the adoption Of the budget system"
which would bring before congress-,
the press and the people Of the coun-
Of the government but its revenue.
The United States lie the only great
nation whose government is operated
without a budget" he said. Later, the
president declared, he intends to send
to congress q plan for the retirement
OF civil service employees on pensions
which will safeguard the government
interest and yet provide for their old