Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1912-01-19
TAFT ON ECONOMY
AND EFFICIENCY
President Sends Another Special
Message to Congress.
PLANS FOR BETTER SERVICE
Results Of Commissions Inquiry Into
Methods of Saving Money and
Getting Better Work From
Government Employees.

Washington. Jan. II. - President
Taft submitted TO congress today an
other message. this time on economy
and efficiency in the government serv-
ice.
The message in part is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
l submit for the information of the
congress this report of progress made
in the inquiry into the efficiency and
economy of the methods of transact
ing public business.
Efficiency and economy in the gov
eminent service have been demanded
with increasing insistence for gener-
alton. Real economy is the result of
efficient organization. BY perfecting
the organization the same benefits
may be obtained at less expense. A
reduction in the total OF the annual
appropriations Is not In itself q proof
OF economy. since It is often accom-
panied by decrease In efficiency.
The needs of the nation may demand
a large increase of expenditure, yet to
keep the total appropriations within
the expected revenue is necessary to
the maintenance Of public credit.
Upon the president must rest a
large share Of the responsibility for
the demands made upon the treasury
for the current administration of the
executive branch of the government.
Upon the congress must rest RESPONSE
bility for those grants of public funds
which are made for other purposes.
Reason for the Inquiry.
Recognizing my share of RESPONSE
bility for efiicient and economical ad-
ministration, have endeavored dur
ing the past two years. with the as
sistance of heads Of departments. to
secure the best results. AS one of
the means to this end l requested a
grant from congress to make my eff
forts more effective.
An appropriation of 100000 was
made June rs, 1910, "to enable the
president to inquire into the methods
Nof transacting the public business of
the executive departments and other
government establishments and to
recommend to congress such legisla'
ton as may be necessary to carry into
effect changes found to be desirable
that cannot be accomplished by execu.
tive action alone" | have been given
this fund TO enable me to take action
and to make specific recommendations
with respect to the details of transact
ing the business of an organization
whose activities are almost as varied
as those of the entire business world
The operations of the government az
feet the interest of every person liv-
ing within the jurisdiction Of the Unit
ed States. Its organization embraces
stations and centers of work located
In every city and In many local sub
divisions Of the country. Its gross ex
penditures amount to nearly $1,000.
100000 annually. Including the per
sonnet of the military and naval es
adjustments. more than 100000 per
sons are required to do the work i'm
posed by law upon the executive
branch OF the government.
Plan OF the Work.
In accordance with my instructions
the commission on economy and EN-
cheney. which l organized to aid me
In the inquiry. has directed its efforts
primarily to the formulation OF con
crete recommendations looking to the
betterment of the fundamental condi
lions under which governmental op
erations must be carried on. With 3
basis thus laid, It has proceeded to the
prosecution of detailed studies OF In
dividuaI services and classes OF work
and OF particular practices and meth
DDS. pushing these studies as far. ant
covering as many points and services
as the resources and time at its dis
posaI have permitted.
In approaching its task 1t has di
vided the work into five fields of in
quiry having to do respectively will
Organization. personnel business meth
DDS, accounting and reporting. anC
the budget
Organization.
have stated that the congress, th'
president, and the administrative OH
GERS are attempting to discharge tht
duties with which they are intrustet
without full information as to thu
agencies through which the work o
the government Is USluB pSTIOFulcu
To provide more complete Information
on this point the commission has sub
mitted to me q report on the organize
ton of the government as 1t existet
July /, 1911. This report, which i
transmitted herewith. shows In grea
detail, by means OF outlines. not onl.
the departments. commissions. bu
reaus and Offices through which tn
government; performs It's varied &C
tivities, but also the sections. shops
field stations. etc. constituting tn
subordinate divisions through whicl
the work is actually done. 1t show
for the services at Washington eacl
such final unit as a laboratory. library
shop and administrative subdivision
and for the services outside of Wash
ington each station and point at whicl
any activity of the government is car
ried on.
Comprehensive Plan Of Organization
With this outline as basis. tn
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