The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-17

| be Impossible TO provide q AOECS u
employees with a reasonably perman-
ent tenure who are qualified by reas-
on of education and training to DO
the best work.
He Gives Examples.
Giving examples of excessive gov
lines the president told congress that
in one department it cost 1874 per
thousand to handle incoming mail
and in another department $S4-4o
per thousand. For handling out
going mail one department expended
$5.94 per thousand; another $3.50
Either one department paid too much
or the other not enough, he said. In
travel alone the government expends
about $12,0O0.000 a year. Definite
tests, he pointed out, have shown
that saving in this item alone of
little over half of one cent a mile
probably could be effected.
Through the introduction of labor
saving machinery; through the elimin
alton 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
country not only the proposed ex-
penditures of the government but its
revenue. THE United States is the
only great nation whose government
is operated without a budget" he
said. Later, the president declared,
he intends to send to congress a plan
for the retirement of civil service en-
ployees on pensions which will safe
guard the government interest and yet
provide for their old age.
The Message in Full.
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
I submit for the information of the
congress this report of progress made
in the inquiry into the efficiency and
economy of the methods of transact
ing public business
Efficiency and economy in the gov
eminent service have been demanded
with increasing insistence for a gen.
Grafton. Real economy is the result of
efficient organization. By perfecting
the organization the same benefits may
be obtained at less expense. A reduc-
ton in the total of the annual appro-
priations is not in itself a proof of
economy, since it is often accompanied
by a decrease in efficiency. The needs
Of the nation may demand a large in
crease of expenditure. yet to keep the
total appropriations within the ex-
pected revenue is necessary to the
maintenance of public credit.
Upon the president must rest a large
share of the responsibility for the de
mands made upon the treasury for the
current administration of the execu-
tive branch of the government Upon
the congress must rest responsibility
for those grants Of public funds which |
are made for other purposes.
Reason For the Inquiry.
Recognizing nv share of responsible |
ity for efficient and economical admin
istration. have endeavored during the |
past two years. with the assistance of |
heads of departments, to secure the |
best results. As one of the means to |
this end requested a grant from con
gress to make my efforts more effec- |
tive.
An appropriation of 100000 was
made June %. 1910, ito enable the |
president to inquire into the methods |
of transacting the public business Of |
the executive departments and other
government establishments and to rec
Ommend to congress such legislation !
as may be necessary to carry into eff |
feet changes found to be desirable THAI |
cannot be accomplished by executive !
action alone I have been given this
to make specific recommendations with |
respect to the details of transacting |
the business of an organization whose |
activities are almost as varied as those
of the entire business world The OPP
erations of the government affect the |
of every person living within |
the Jurisdiction of the United States /
Its organization embraces stations and |
centers of work located in every city
and in many local subdivisions of the
It's gross expenditures amount |
to nearly S1.0OO.O 100000 annually In
Guiding the personnel Of the military
and naval establishments, more than
100000 persons are required to do the
work imposed by law upon the execu-
tive branch Of the government.
Magnitude of the Task.
This vast organization has never
been studied in detail as one piece of
mechanism. Never have
the foundations been laid for d
thorough consideration of the relations
of all of Its parts. No comprehensive
effort has been made to list its multi
farious activities or to group them in
such way as to present clear pic
ture of what the government is doing.
Never has a complete description been
given of the agencies through which
these activities are performed. At no
time has the attempt been made to
study all of these activities and agen-
cies with q view to the assignment of
each activity to the agency best fitted
Cor its performance. to the avoidance
Of duplication of plant and work, to
the Indignation of all administrative
agencies of the government, so far as
may be practicable, into a unified or
ganization for the most effective and