Norwich bulletin., 1912-01-18

quiries bearing on particular services or features of administration. The benefits thus obtained must be but temporary. The problem of good ad ministration is not one that can be solved at one time. It is a continuous. ly present one.
 Plan of the Work.
 In accordance with my Instructions the commission on economy and eff ciency, which 1 organized to aid me in the inquiry, has directed its efforts primarily to the formulation of con crete recommendations looking to the betterment of the fundamental condi- tions under which governmental opera tions must be carried on. With basis thus laid it has proceeded to the prose cution of detailed studies of individual services and classes of work and of particular practices and methods, push ing these studies as far and covering as many points and services as the re- sources and time at it's disposal have permitted.
 In approaching its task it has divid- ed the work into five fields of inquiry having to do respectively with organi- zation, personnel, business methods, ac- counting and reporting and the budget
 Oroanization.
 I have stated that the congress, the president and the administrative of ficers are attempting to discharge the duties with which they are intruSted without full information as to the agencies through which the work of the government is being performed. To provide more complete information on this point the commission has sub mitted to me a report on the organi- zation of the government as 1t existed July l, 1911. This report, which is transmitted herewith, shows in great detail, by means of outlines, not only the departments. commissions, bureaus and offices through which the govern ment performs its varied activities, but also the sections, shops, field sta- tions, etc, constituting the subordinate divisions through which the work is actually done. It shows for the serv- ices at Washington each such final unit as laboratory, library, shop and administrative subdivision and for the services outside of Washington each station and point at which any actiV- ity of the government is carried on.
 Specific Economies Demonstrated.
 With this outline as basis the com mission has entered upon the prepara- ton of three series of reports.
 The first series deals with the man. ner in which the services of the gov ernment should be grouped in depart ments.
 The second and third series of re- ports deal. respectively, with the or ganization and activities of particular services and the form of organization for the performance of particular busi- ness operations.
 One of the reports of the second se- ries is upon the revenue cutter service, which costs the government over $2,50O, 900 each year. In the opinion of the commission it's varied activities can be performed with equal or great CT advantage by other services. The commission therefore recommends that 1t be abolished. It is estimated that by so doing saving of not less than $1,000, 900 year can be made.
 Another report Illustrating the sec ond series recommends that the light house and life saving services be ad- ministered by single bureau instead of, as at present, by two bureaus locat- ed in different departments. These services have much in common. Geo graphically they are similarly located; administratively they have many of the same problems It is estimated that consolidation would result in Q saving of not less than S1O0,000 an. nually.
 In third report the commission has recommended the abolition of the re- turns office of the department of the interior. This action. in It's opinion will cause no loss in service to the public and will result in q direct say. ing of not less than $25,0o0 a year, in addition to large indirect economy in the reduction of work to be per formed in the several offices.
 In another report the commission has recommended the consolidation of the six auditing offices Of the treasury and the Inclusion in the auditing system ot the seven naval officers who now audit customs accounts at the principal ports The changes recommended will improve in many ways the auditing of public accounts and, will result in an Ammedl. ate saving of at'least S135, ,00o annually
 A third series of reportsig being pre- pared on those branches of the organ fxatfon which are technical in. charac ter and which exist for the service oi the government as whole-branches which have to do with such matters as public printing, heating, lighting, tht making of repairs. the providing oi transportation and the compilation oi statistics where 5mechanical equipment is essential.
 Abolition of LeeaI Offices.
 Perhaps the ypartvof the organization in which the'greatest' economy in pub lic expenditure is possible Is to bt found in the numenouselocale offices oi thA -nnNHArznaant a Insanme inEtancessths