Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1912-01-17
SENDS MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
EXECUTIVE SHOWS HOW MIL.
LIONS OF DOLLARS CAN BE
SAVED ANNUALLY
is AGAINST CONFIRMATION
He ASSERTS THAT PRESIDENT
SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO
NAME FUNcTIoNARlEs

Washington, January 17-How tn
people of the United States may hav,
saved several millions of dollars an
nually in the operation of their gov
ernmental machinery was outlined b,
President Taft today in a message tC
congress on economy and efficiency
in the government service"
What the government does with
nearly s1,OOO,OGO,OOO each year, said
the president, "is as of as much con.
Germ to the average citizen as is the
manner OF obtaining this amount OF
money for the public use."
Probably the most radical proposal
advanced by the president in today's
message was that all administrative
officers of the government in the de-
partments at Washington and in the
field be put under the civil service; be
removed from the influence of politics
and that their terms of office be not
limited as at present to four years
Such officers should not be appointed
by the president with the necessity
of senate confirmation, he said, but
upon merit. "The extension of the
merit system to these officers and
needed re-adiustment of salaries" said
he, 'will have important effects in
securing greater economy and eff
cheney. The view that these, various
offices are to be filled as result of
political consideration has for its
consequence the necessity that the
president and members of congress de-
vote to matters of patronage time
which they should devote to ques-
tions of policy and administration"
The president did not attempt to
explain in detail the work Of the
economy and efficiency commission
created by act of congress year and
a half ago. He sketched the outlines
of improvements that he said could
be made in government service; de-
clared that they would effect saw
ing of many millions of dollars and
asked that congress continue the
commission by granting an appropria-
tion Of 100000 with $4,000 for print
ing its reports. From time to time,
he added, reports of the commission
proposing particular reforms would be
sent to congress.
Fl ask" said the president, "the
continuance of this commission on
economy and efficiency because Of the
excellent beginning which has been
made towards the reorganization of
this government on business princi-
pies. ask it because its work, is
entirely non-partisan in character
and ought to apply to every citizen
who wishes to give effectiveness to
popular government in which we feel
a Just pride. l sincerely hope that
congress will not, in its anxiety to
reduce expenditures, economize by
cutting off an appropriation which is
likely to offer greater opportunity for
real economy in the future than any
other estimated for"
To date the president said, the
commission has cost the people about
$130,0OO. Without having put in ef-
feet more than few reforms it has
suggested changes that will save ST.
100000 year. These" said the
president, represent only a few Of
the many services which should be
subjected to a like painstaking in
ouiry. II this is done. it is beyond
question that many millions of saw
fmgs may be realized" The value OF
such Investigation in increased inter
est which officers of the government
viii take in their own departments;
their own work and that of their sub
ordinates. he said, could hardly be es-
timated.