Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1912-01-19


eminent should be grouped in depart
ments. This is a matter of fundament-
al Importance. 1t is only after a sat
isfactory solution of this problem that
many important measures of reform be-
come possible. Only by grouping serv-
ices according to their character can
substantial progress be made In elm
mating duplication Of work and plant
and proper working relations be es-
tablished between services engaged in
similar activities. Until the head OF
a department is called upon to deal
exclusively with matters falling in but
one or very few distinct fields, ef-
fective supervision and control is Inn
possible. As long as the same depart
ment embraces services so diverse In
character as those of life saving and
the management of public finances.
Standardization of accounting methods
and Of other business practices lie ex-
ceedingly difficult of attainment.
So dependent are other reforms upon
the proper grouping OF services that
I have instructed the commission to
indicate in its report the changes
which should be made in the existing
organization and to proceed In the
same way as would far-seeing archi-
tects or engineers in planning for the
improvement and development OF
great city. My desire is to secure and
to furnish to the congress a scheme
of organization that can be used as
basis of discussion and action for years
to come.
In the past services have been Gre
ated one by one as exigencies have
seemed to demand, with little or no
reference to any scheme of organiza-
ton of the government as whole.
am convinced that the time has come
when the government should take
stock of Its activities and agencies and
formulate a comprehensive plan with
reference to which future changes may
be made. The report OF the commits
sion is being prepared with this idea
in mind. When completed 1t will be
transmitted to congress. The recon-
mendations will be of such charac
\ ter that they can be acted upon one
by one II they commend themselves
to tho congress and as action in re
gard to any one of them is deemed te
be urgent.
Report on Particular Services.
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 Sc
ries is upon the revenue cutter service
which costs the government over two
and a half million dollars each year
In the opinion of the commission III
varied activities can be performed will
equal, or greater, advantage by othel
services. The commission. therefore
recommends that 1t be abolished. L
is estimated that by so doing say
ing of not less than 100000 a veal
can be made.
Another report illustrating the sec
ond series recommends that the light
house and life saving services be ad
ministered by a single bureau. insteac
of as at present by two bureaus 10
Gated In different departments. Thes'
services have much in common. Geo
graphically, they are similarly located
administratively, they have many o
the same problems. 1t Is estimated
that consolidation would result In |
saving of not less than 100000 an
nually.
General Technical Services.
A third series of reports is being pre-
pared on those branches OF the organ
ization which are technical In charac
ter and which exist for the service o
the government as whole-branche
which have to do with such matters a
public printing, heating, lighting. tn,
making of repairs, the providing o
transportation. and the compilation o
statistics where mechanical equipmen
Ia essential.
Abolition Of Local Offices.
Perhaps the part Of the organization
In which the greatest economy in pub
lie expenditure Is possible is to b,
found in the numerous local Offices o
the government. In some instances tn
establishment and the discontinuanc
of these local ofices are matters of ad
ministrative discretion. In other In
stances they are established by pei
manent law In such manner tina
their discontinuance is beyond tn
; power of the president or that of an
executive officer. In number of serv
ices these laws were passed nearly
century ago. Changes In economic cor
ditions have taken place which hav
had the effect OF rendering certain o.
fees not only useless, but even wors
than useless In that their very exis
ence needlessly swells expenditure
and complexities the administrativ
system.
The attention Of congress has bee
} called repeatedly to these conditions
In some instances the congress has al
, proved recommendations for the abe
lition of useless positions. In othe
cases not only do the recommends
/ lions OF the executive that useless pt
sitions be abolished remain unheedeC
bat laws are passed to establish ne'
Offices at places where they are nc
] needed
The responsibility for the mali
! tenance Of these conditions must ma