The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-04-05
TAFT URGES TRANSFER OF
SECOND CLASS POSTMASTERS
TO THE CIVIL SERVICE LIST
Sends Second-C Chapter Message
To Congress on Economy
and Efficiency
WOULD SAVE MILLIONS
Money Could Be Used 10 Re-
duce Taxation or Further
Beneficial Projects

WASHINGTON, April abolition
OF the patronage system OF appointees
as first and Gecond-class postmasters
in the pension agencies. land Offices,
interval revenue and customs services,
and transfer of such political Jobs TO
the classified civil service list OF the
government was the sweeping recon-
mendation urged upon congress today
by President Taft in second chap
ter" message on economy and eff
cheney.
In the interest of an efficient and
economical administration OF the vast
business Of the government" the pres
ident summed up. II urge the neces-
sity for the Inauguration OF this Inn
portant reform, and recommend that
the necessary amendments be made
10 the laws governing appointments,
such amendments TO take effect not
later than July 1, 1913, SO that there
may be secured TO the people the bene-
fits TO be derived from conduct or
their affairs by officers selected on
merit basis. and devoting their time
and talents solely to the duties OF their
Offices
"In my opinion each OF the fore
going recommendations, II acted on,
will contribute largely TO increased
efficiency. Directly and indirectly the
changes proposed will result In the
saving OF many millions OF dollars.
: This will leave congress free to deter
mine whether the amount thus saved
shall be utilized TO reduce taxation or
to provide funds with which to extend
activities already carried on and 10
enter on beneficial projects which
otherwise could not be undertaken for
lack of funds"
In the postoffice department, the
president declared that Investigations
OF the economy commission indicated
that In many cases two persons were
paid for doing the work of one.
las the annual operating expenses
OF the first and second class offices ag-
gregate the enormous sum OF more
than $80,000,000," the message said,
undoubtedly If the postmasters Of
these Offices were embraced in the
classified service and required TO de-
vote all their time to the public SER
Woe, the annual saving would amount
TO about $4,500,000."
A further similar saving, the mes
sage declared, would be effected by
abolition OF assistant postmasters.
An annual saving of nearly $4,000
would be made, Taft asserted, II per-
sion agents were put In the civil SER
vice list. More efficient work would
be coupled with economical admins
tration, he said, IL the post OF receiver
at land Offices be abolished and the
register given those duties in addition
TO. his own, and put on the CLASSIFIED
list
Large expenditures are made for
salaries of political appointees In
the internal revenue and customs SER
vice." the message continued. in
both a direct saving in salaries ana
an indirect economy through increased
efficiency, would follow a transfer OF
such Offices TO the classified service.
I'm the other field services, the saw
ing which would result from the class
ification OF the local officers under the
departments is not as marked
but there is no doubt that substan-
tial saving would follow, II is net
to be doubted that where no saving
resulted, the classification would in
crease the efficiency Of the service.
II would be desirable also TO place all
marshals, deputy marshals and assist.
ant attorneys in the classified service,
although but little direct economy
would result"
Other officers urged for the civil
service were steamboat inspectors and
field agents OF the bureau OF fisheries.
other reforms in the interest OF
economy urged In the message We're:
Consolidation OF the lighthouse ana
life-saving services; estimated saving
annually 100000.
Consolidation of the revenue cutter
service with the department OF COM
merce and labor.
Consolidation of the auditing Offices
OF the departments; estimated saving
100000 yearly.
Legislation unifying travelling ex-
p.nses for government officers.
Simplification OF corresponding nj
ing system Cor,
central distributing Office 1or
mailing of all public documents; esur
mated annual saving $242,OOO.
qualification OF the estimating sys'
TENS for appropriations; estimated
i, aaviug $40 900 annually
Taft also asked for $25O,0OO auul-
tional appropriation for the economy