Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-01-24

1OAOWSs
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tiVes:
1 submit for the information of the con-
gress this report of progress made in the
inquiry into the efficiency and economy of
the methods Of transacting public bust
ness.
Efficiency and economy in the govern
ment service have been demanded with
increasing insistence for q generation.
Real economy is the result of efficient or
ganization. BY perfectfng the organiza-
ton the same benefits may be obtained
at less expense. A reduction in the to-
tai OF the annual appropriations is not
In itself proof Of econo ny, since it is
often accompanied by a decrease in eff
cheney. The needs of the nation may de-
mand large increase of expenditure, yet
to keep the total appropriation within
the expected revenue is necessary to the
maintenance of public credit.
Upon the president must rest q large
share of the responsibility for the de-
mands made upon the treasury for the
current administration of the executive
branch of the government. Upon the
congress must rest responsibility for
those grants of public funds which are
made for other purposes.
Plan of the Work.
commission on economy and efficiency,
which 1 organized to aid me in the in
Quiry, has directed it's efforts primarily
TO the formulation of concrete reconlmen-
dations looking to the betterment of the
fundamental conditions under which gov
ernmental operations must be carried on.
With basis thus laid, it has proceeded
to the prosecution of detailed studies of
individual services and classes of work,
and of particular practices and methods,
pushing these studies as far and cover
ing as many points and services, as the
resources and time at it's disposal have
permitted.
In approaching it's task it has divided
the work into five fields of inquiry haV
ing to do respectively with organization,
personnel, business methods, accounting
and reporting, and the budget.
Comprehensive Plan of Organization.
On organization the commission has en-
tered upon the preparation of three series
of reports. The first series deals with
the manner in which the services of the
government should be grouped in depart
ments. This is matter Of fundamental
Importance. 1t is only after a satisfac-
tory solution of this problem that many
important measures of reform become
possible.
The second and third series of reports
uSdI, respectively With Inc OISdIlIZdllOl
and activities of particular services, and
the form of organization for the perform
Rnce of particular business operations.
One of the reports of the second Sc
ries is upon the revenue cutter service.
which costs the government over two and
q half million dollars each year. In the
opinion of the commission its varied ac-
tivities can be performed with equal, or
greater, advantage by other services.
The commission, therefore, recommends
that 1t be abolished. 1t is estimated that
by so doing a saving of not less than ST.,
600, 600 a year can be made.
Another report illustrating the second
series recommends that the lighthouse
and life saving services be administered
by a single bureau. instead of as at pres
ent by two bureaus located in different
departments. These services have much
in common. Geographically, the are
similarly located; enthusiastically, they
have many of the same problems. 1t is
estimated that consolidation would result
In a saving Of not less than 100000 an