Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1912-04-04
TAFT COUDSELS
REAL ECONOMY
He Would Place All Washing.
ton Employees Under
Civil Service
ANNUAL Loss IS StO,0OO,0OO
Special Message to Congress to
Which Democrats viii
Give Little Heed.

! Washington, D. c., April 4.-Presi-
dent Taft today submitted to Con
gress a message in which he made
strong recommendations bearing up
on greater efficiency an economy in
! the methods used in transaCting the
/ public business of the various exec
utiVe departments and other govern.
mental establishments.
| The President referred TO the "ad-
vantages to be derived from placing
in the classified service the local Of
fcers under the departments of the
treasury, of the postoffice. of justice,
of the interior and of commerce and
labor and stated, that indirectly
the changes proposed will result in
the saving of many millions of dollars
of public funds" besides greatly in
creasing the efficiency of the service
affected.
| The message says in part: Il have
several times called attention to the
advantages to be derived from placing
in the classified service the local Off
GERS under the departments of the
treasury, Of the pOstOffiCe, of justice,
of the interior and of commerce and
labor. In my message submitted 10
the congress on January Il, | referred
to the loss occasioned to the govern
ment because of the fact that in many
cases two persons are paid for doing
the work that could easily be done b.
one"
i The President in his message stated
| that the loss on this account had
been shown by an inquiry to amount
to $10,00O,00O annually
Civil Service Tor Postmasters.
For example, he said, lit appears
! that a very substantial economy would
result from putting experienced and
! trained officers in charge Of the first
and second class postoffices. instead
of selecting. the postmasters in ac-
cOrdance with the present practice.
AS the annual operating expenses
Of the first and second class Offices
/ aggregate the enormous sum of more
than $S0,000,000, undoubtedly, If the
| pCstmasters of these offices were en,-
! hraced in the classified service, the
annual saving would eventually rep
resent many millions of dollars. The
! saving in salaries alone, not taking
| into account any saving due 10 in
! creased efficiency of operation, would
amount to about S4,500,000.
In the case of postmasters at offices
of the third class, large annual say
| ing could be made"
Classified Service for Land Offices.
| The message stated that nearly $62,-
! 900 could be saved annually by plac.
ing the pension agents in the classi-
| fed service and that the field service
of the general land office. could be
more efficiently and economically op.
Grated if it was provided by law that
! the offices of receiver of land offices
be abolished and the duties transferr-
ed to the register, assisted by bond
ed clerk and the register placed in
the classified service"
1t has been estimated that the
adoption of this plan would cause an
annual saving Of 100000 according to
the message.
Internal Revenue Collectors Too.
A direct saving in salaries, and an
indirect economy through increased
efficiency would follow the transfer OF
the internal revenue and customs Of
ffcers, now political appointees, to the
classified service, the President sad
in his message.
In conclusion, the President, refer
ring to all the reports and recommen-
dations in his message, said: Again
| urge upon Congress the desirability
of providing whatever funds can be
used effectively to carry forward with
all possible vigor the work now well
begun. The 100000 required fot
prosecution of the inquiry during the
ensuing year, and the $4,000 esti
mated for the publication Of the re
suits, are inconsiderable in comparr
son with the economics which can be
realized.