The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1912-01-25
TAFT ON ECONOMY
AND EFFICIENCY
President Sends Another Special
Message to Congress.
PLANS FOR BETTER SERVICE
Results Of Commissions Inquiry Into
Methods Of Saving Money and
Getting Better Work From
Government Employees.

Washington, Jan. II. -- President
Taft submitted to congress today an
other message, this time on economy
and efficiency in the government serv.
ice.
The message in part is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
l 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 gener-
alton. Real economy Is the result OF
efficient organization. BY perfecting
the organization the same benefits
may be obtained at less expense. A
reduction in the total of the annual
appropriations is not in itself a proof
OF economy, since it Is often accom-
panied by decrease in efficiency.
The needs of the nation may demand
a large increase of expenditure, yet to
keep the total appropriations within
the expected revenue is necessary to
the maintenance of public credit.
Upon the president must rest
large share of the responsibility for
lhe demands made upon the treasury
tor the current administration Of the
executive branch Of the government.
Upon the congress must rest RESPONSE
bility for those grants of public funds
which are made for other purposes.
Reason for the Inquiry.
Recognizing my share of RESPONSE
bility for efficient and economical ad-
ministration, l have endeavored dur
ing the past two years, with the as
sistance OF heads of departments, to
secure the best results AS one Of
the means to this end l requested a
grant from congress to make my ef-
forts more effective.
An appropriation of 100000 was
made June Is, 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
recommend to congress such legisla-
tion as may be necessary to carry into
effect changes found to be desirable
that cannot be accomplished by execu-
tive action alone" have been given
this fund to enable me to take action
and to make specific recommendations
with respect to the details of transact
Ing the business Of an organization
whose activities are almost as varied
as those of the entire business world.
The operations Of the government af-
feet the interest of every person liv-
ing within the jurisdiction of the Unit
ed States. Its organization embraces
stations and centers Of work located
In every city and in many local SUBJ
divisions Of the country. Its gross ex-
penditures amount to nearly $1,000.
100000 annually. Including the per.
ssnnel Of the military and naval es-
Establishments, more than 100000 per-
sons are required to do the work i'm
posed by law upon the executive
branch Of the government.
Plan Of tho Work.
In accordance with my instructions,
the co.amtssion on economy and eff
cheney, which l organized to aid me
In the inquiry, has directed its efforts
primarily to the formulation of con-
crete recommendations looking to the
betternent of the fundamental condi-
tons under which governmental op
CREATIONS must be carried on. With a
basis thus laid, 1t has proceeded to the
prosecution Of detailed studies of in
dividual services and classes Of work.
and Of particular practices and meth
DDS, pushing these studies as far, and
covering as many points and services,
as the resources and time at its dis
pusal have permitted.
= In approaching It's task It has d.
vidcd the work into five fields of in
Quiry having to do respectively with
organization, personnel, business meth
DDS. accounting and reporting, and
the budget.
Organization.
have stated that the congress, the
esident, and the administrative Off
Gers are attempting to discharge the
duties with which they are intrusted
without full information as to the
agercies through which the work of
the government is being performed
To provide more complets information
on this point the commission has sub
mitted to lie report on the organiza.
ton Of the government as it existed
July l., 1911. This report, which is
transmitted herewith, shows in great
detail, by means of outlines, not only
tie Ea.slDents, commissions, bu-
reAus and Offices through which the
government performs its varied &C.
tiyit.es. but also the sections, shops,
field suations, etc, constituting tbs
sulNrdinste divisions through which
the work Is actually done. 1t shows
for the servioes at Washington each
such final ua1t as q laboratory library,
shop npd Administrative subdivision;
and for the services outside of Wash.
lngton each citation and point at which