The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1912-01-18
SEES BETTER AND
CHEAPER SERVICE
President Submits an Economy
and Efficiency Message.
RESULTS OF INQUIRY TOLD
SpeciaI Commission Found Extrava-
CANT and Anticipated Methods In
Government Work and Many
Unnecessary Offices.

washington - President Taft has
submitted to congress a special message
on economy and efficiency In the govern
ment service. The message in part is as
follows:
To the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives:
i submit for the information of the con-
gress this report of progress made In the
inquiry into the efficiency and economy of
ness.
Efficiency and economy in the govern
ment service have been demanded with
increasing insistenCe for a generation.
Real economy is the result of efficient or
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 It Is
often accompanied by a decrease in eff
cheney. The needs OF the nation may de-
mand a large increase of expenditure, yet
to keep the total appropriation within
: the expected revcneu is necessary TO the
maintenance of public credit.
Upon the president must rest a 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.
Reason for the Inquiry.
Recognizing my share of responsibility
for efficient and economical administra-
ton, ] have endeavored during the past
two. years, with the assistance of heads
of departments, to secure the best re-
suits As one of the mama RI this and
I requested a grant from congress to
make my efforts more effective.
An appropriation of 500, 600 was made
June Is, 1910, to enable the president to
inquire into the methods of transacting
the public business Of the executive de-
partments and other government estab-
lishments and to recommend to congress
such legislation as may be necessary to
carry into effect changes found to be de-
sirable that cannot be accomplished by
executive action alone. I have been given
this fund to enable me to take action
and TO make specific recommendations
with respect to the details of transaCting
the business of an organization whose &C
tivities are almost as varied as those Of
the entire business world. The opera
tons of the government affect the inter
est Of every person living within the jur-
isdiction Of the United States. It's or
ganization embraces stations and centers
VI "Oih IOCdttu III every CITY anu III
many local subdivisions of the country.
Its gross expenditures amount to nearly
l,OD, OOO,O0o annually. Including the per-
sonnet of the military and naval estab-
lishments. more than 400, 900 persons are
required 10 do the work imposed by law
upon the executive branch of the govern
ment.
Plan of the Work.
In accordance with my instructions, the
commission on economy and efficiency,
which I organized to aid ne in the in
quiry, has directed it's efforts primarily
to the formulation of concrete
dations looking to the betterment of the
Fundamental conditions under which gov
ernmental operations must be carried on.
With a 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 its disposal have
permitted.
In approaching it's task 1t has divided
the work into five fields of inquiry hav-
ing 10 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. 1t is only after a satisfac-
tory solution of this problem that many
important measures of reform become
possible.
n second and third series of reports
deal, respectively, with the organization
n-I an.s.gtt1H - -a~ti-,,Inr aryinaS nn6
the form of organization for the perform
ance 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
a half million dollars each year. In the
opinion of the commission Its varied ac-
tivities EAR be performed with equal, or
greater, advantage by other services.
The commission, therefore. recommends
that IL be abolished. 1t Is estimated that
by so doing a saving Of not less than ST.
C00.0G0 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. they are
similarly located: Enthusiastically. they
have many OF the same problems. 1t Is
estimated tIldI COHSOiiudtiOH "ouiu iSShii
in a saving of not less than 100000 an
nually.
Abolition Of Local Offices.
Perhaps the part of the organization In
which the greatest economy In public ex-
penditure Is possible Is to be found In
the numerous local offices of the govern
ment. In some instances the establish
ment and the di-scontinuance of these To-
cal Offices are matters of administrative
discretion. In other instances they are
established by permanent law In such q
manner tina their di-scontinuance Is be-
yond the power of the president or that
OF any executive officer.
The responsibility for the maintenance
of these conditions must naturally be d.
viced between the congress and the exc
cutive. But that the executive has per-
formed his duty when he has called the
attention Of the congress TO the matter
must also be admitted. Realizing my re-
sponsibility in the premises. l have d.
rected the commission to prepare a re-
port setting forth the positions In the
local services of the government which
NAV be discontinued with advantage. the