The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-17
HOWARD BROTHERS, Distributors,
South Barre, Vermont.

ton of the machinery of this govern
ment on business principles I ask it
because its work is entirely nonpar-
tisan I'm character and ought to apply
to- every citizen who wishes to give
effectiveness to popular government,
in which we feel just pride. This
work further commends itself for the
reason that the cost of organization
and work has been carefully consider
ed at every point. Three months
were taken in consideration Of plans
before the inquiry was begun; six
months were then spent In preliminary
investigations before the commission
was organized. Before March 8, 1911.
when | asked for continuation OF
the original appropriation for the cur
rent year. only $4,000 had been spent.
1t is matter of public record that
the three largest insurance companies
In New York when under legislative
investigation spent more than $780,
900 for expert services TO assist the
administration to put the business on
u modern basis, but the economies the
first year were more than tenfold the
cost. | am informed that New York,
Chicago. Boston, St Louis. Cincinnati,
Milwaukee and other cities are prose-
cutting inquiries the cost Of which Is
largely disproportfonate to the cost in.
Cured by the federal government.
Furthermore, these inquiries have the
vigorous support and direct co-opera-
ton of citizen agencies which alone
are spending not less than 100000
per annum.
| sincerely hope that congress will
not in its anxiety TO reduce expendi-
lures economize by cutting off an ap.
preparation which is likely to offer
greater opportunity for real economy in
the future than any other estimated
for.
AS has been said, the changes which
have already been made are resulting
in economies greater than the cost OF
the Inquiry. Reports in my hands,
with recommendations, estimate APP
proximately 100000 of possible an.
nual economies. Other subjects under
investigation indicate much larger re-
suits. These represent only few of
the many services which should be sub
jected to like painstaklng inquiry. IL
this is done 1t is beyond question that
many millions of savings may be real
lied. Over and above the economy and
increased efficiency which may be said
TO result from the work of the commits
sion as such is an indirect result that
cannot well be measured | refer to
the influence which a vigorous, thor
oughgolng executive inquiry has on
each of the administrative units.
In this relation it may be said thai
the expenditure for the inquiry during
the present fiscal year is at the rate of
100000. The mass of information
which must be collected. digested and
summarized pertaining to each sub
ject of inquiry is enormous. From the
results obtained 1t is evident that ev.
cry dollar which is spent in the prose-
cution of the inquiry in the future will
result in manifold savings. Every
economy which has been or will be eff
fected through changes in organization
or method viii inure to the benefit of
the government and OF the people in
measure through the years
which follow. 1t is clearly the part of
wisdom to provide for the coming year
means at least equal to those available
during the current year, and In my
opinion the appropriation should be in
creased to $4,000, and an additional
amount of $4,000 should be provided
for the publication of those results,
which will be of continuing value to
officers of the government and to the
people. WILLIAM 81. TAFT.
The White House, Jan. II. 1912.