The Nevada County picayune., 1912-01-19
Taft Tells Congress Results of
 Economy Inquiry.
DBMTTS SPECIAL MESSAGE
How Increased Efficiency In Govern ment Service at Lower Cost May es Obtained, According to
 Special Commission.

follows:
 To the Senate and House of Representa- tiyes:
 I submit for the information of tho con gress this report of progress made In the inquiry into the efficiency and economy of the methods of transactins public busi- meas.
 Efficiency and economy in the govern ment service have been demanded with Increasing insistence for generation. Real economy Is the result of efficient ganization. By perfecting 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 a proof of economy, since 1t is often accompanied by decrease in eff ciency. The needs of tAe nation may de- mand a large increase of expenditure. yet to keep the total appro priation within the expected revenue is necessary to the maintenance of public credit.
 Upon the president must rest 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 I organized to aid mo in the in- Quiry, has directed it's efforts primarily to the formulation of concrete recommen- dations looking to the betterment of the fundamental conditions under which gov ernmental operations must be carried on. With basis thus laid, 1t 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 its disposal have permitted
 In approaching its task 1t has divided the work into five fields of inquiry hay 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 a matter of fundamental importance. It fig only after a satisfae- tory solution of this problem that many important measures of reform become possible.
 The second and third series Ns>reports deal, respectively, with the oxpani1ation and activities of particular erSices .A,oa aoa the form of organization fZ the perform anse nee. of particular eus,1ss aS operations. n ohe oi pie Ieport the second Iii ii 11Ia ,hs<<o cutter service.
 LIS tre> tfnment over two and
 million dt liars each year. Tn the OS 'of the commission its varied tfvities can be performed with equal. or greater, advantage by other services. The commission. therefore. recommends 1 that 1t be abolished. It is estimated that | by so doing a saving of not less than sl.- \p00, coo year can be made.
 Another report Illustrating the second leries recommends that the lighthouse hnd 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 common. Geographically. the are Eilarly located; adminstratively, they ie many of the same problems. It is mated that consolidation would result saving of not less than Sio0 900 an
 opiitlon of Local Offices.
 the part of the organization in
 greatest economy in public ex-
 lis possible is to be found in
 rous local offices of the govern
 some instances tho establish
 the discontinuancs Of these To-
 k are matters of administrative
 In other instances they are
 q by permanent law in such a
 hat their dscontinuance is be-
 power of the president or that
 kecutive officer.
 Eponsibiity for the maintenance
 conditions must naturally be d.
 tween the congress and the exc
 But that the executive has per
 his duty when he has called the
 bn of the congress to the matter
 Also be admitted. Realizing my re-
 blity in the premises, I have d.
 the commission to prepare q re- Setting forth tho positions in the services of the government which
 e discontinued with advantage. the
 which would result from such ac-
 hd the changes In law which are
 ry to carry into effect changes in
 ation found to be desirable. On
 hing in of the report, such offices
 be found useless and can be abol-
 Eil be so treated by executive or Justification of Local Officers.
 ny recent message to the congress
 d consideration of the necessity of
 Tn the classified service all of the
 officers under the departments of easury. the interior. postoffice and erce and labor.
 next step which must be taken Is ure of heads of bureaus In the de- ents at Washington. and of most of cal officers under the departments, cations of capacity similar to those tequireo of certain heads of bureaus |of local officers. The extension of merit system to these officers and led readjustment of salaries will have brtant effects In securing greater pmy and efficiency.
 the first place the possession by the nbents of these positions of requisite fcations must in itself promote eff y.
 he second place. the removal of To- rfcora from the realm of political