Evening journal., 1912-04-04
PRESIDENT
AGAIN URGES
ECONOMIES
In Special Message He SuG-
QeStS Abolition Of the
Patronage System
WOULD PUT POLITICAL
JOBS ON CLASSIFIED LIST
BY The United Press.

BY The United Press.
WASHINGTON. April Abolition
of the patronage system of appointees
as first and second class postmasters
in the pension agency, land offices,
internal revenue and customs SER
vices, and transfer of such political
Jobs 20 the classified civil service list
of the government. was the the sweep
ing recommendation urged upon Con-
gress today by President Taft in
second chapter message on economy
and efficiency.
I'm the interest of an efficient and
economical administration of the vast
business Of the government" the
President summed up, II urge the ne
cessity for the Inauguration OF this
important reform. and recommend
that the necessary, amendment be
made 10 the laws governing appoint
ments. such amendments TO 80 into
cffect not later than July /. 1913. so
that there may be secured TO the peo-
pie the benefits TO be derived from a
conduct of their affairs by officers Sc
iected on merit basis. and devoting
duties Of their offices.
In my opinion each of the forego-
ing recommendations II acted ON. will
result in the saving of many millions
of dollars. This will leave
Congress free TO determine whether
The amount thus saved shall be utilized
10 reduce taxation or to provide funds
with which 90 extend activities al
ready carried on aud TO enter on bene-
ncial projects which otherwise could
hot be undertaken for lack Of funds -
In the Post Office Department the
President declared that investigation
OF the economy commission indicated
that in many cases two persons we're
paid for doing the work of one.
"As the annual operating expenses
of the first and second class Offices
aggregate the enormous sum of more
than $4,000. 600" the message said.
undoubtedly it the postmasters OF
those offices were embraced IN the
classified service and required to de-
vote all their time to the public ser
vice the annual saving would
amount TO about S4,500,00O.
A further similar saving. the mes
sage declared would be effected by
abolition of assistant postmasters.
"An annual saving OF nearly S62,
GOO would be made" Taft asserted
"n pension agents were put IN tn
civil service list More cthclen
work would be coupled with econ
omical administration" he said. II
the post of receiver. as land once
he abolished and the registrar give
those duties i'm addition TO his ow
and nut on the classified ist
Large expenditures are made "a
salaries OF political appointees
the internal revenue and custom
service the message continued
"m both, a direct saving In salarie
and an indirect economy through IN
creased efficiency In service at thes
four divisions would improve IN
classified service.
I'm the other field services th'
saving which result from the class
6cation OF the local officers unde
the departments is not as marke'
but there Is no dout
that substantial saving would re
sulta II is not to be doubted tina
where no saving would result, th
classification would increase the ct
hciency of the service. IL would b
desirable also TO place all marshall
deputy marshals and assistant al
torneys in the classified service, a
though but little direct econom
would result"
other officers urged for the CIV
and field agents of the Bureau
Fisheries.
other reforms in the interest Z
economy urged in the message wei
as follows;
Consolidation of the Tight hous
and life saving services. estimate
saving annually 100000
Consolidation of the revenue Gu
ter service with the Department
Commerce and Labor
Consolidation of the auditing o
fees of The departments, estimate
saving 5000 600 yearly.
L. eislation unifying travel e.
penses for government officers.
Simpifcation of correspondent
filing systems
A central distributing ohice I
mailing OF all public documents; G
timated annual saving S242 600.
Simplihcation of the estimaul
system for appropriations; estimat
saving s45 600 annually.
The President also asked for S25
156 additional appropriation for {
nconomy Commission