The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1912-01-19

and members Of congress devote to mat
ters OF patronage time which they should
devote to questions Of policy and admin
istYntion.
Business Methods.
In every case where technical pro-
ceases have been studied It has been DEM
onstrated beyond question that large eoo-
Monies may be Effected The subjects
first approached were those which lie
close to each administrator, viz. office
practices. An illustration Of the posi-
oilities within this fisld may be found In
the results Of the inquiry into the meth
DDS Of handling and filing correspondence.
Every office In the government has re-
ported its methods to the commission.
These reports brought to light the fact
that present methods were quite IN the
reverse Of uniform. Some offices follow
the practice Of brisnng all correspon-,
dence; some do not. Some have nat
files; others fold all papers before fling.
Some use press copies; others retain only
carbon copies.
Need for lavor-Savlne Offlco Devices.
The use of labor-saving office devices in
the service has been made the subject Of
special inquiry An impression prevails
that the government is not making use
Of mechanical devices for economiEinR
labor to the same extent as are efficiently
managed private enterprises. A study
has been made of the extent to which
devices of this character are now being
employed In the several branches Of the
government and the opportunities that
exist for their more general use.
The efforts Of the commission resulted
also In the adoption by several bureaus or
departments OF improved methods of do
Ing copying. The amount of copy work
heretofore done by hand each year In the
many offices is estimated to aggregate
several hundred thousand dollars. The
commission exhibited. at Its Offices ap-
planes that were thought to be especial
ly adapted to this kind OF government
work. Following these demonstrations
methods of copying were introduced
which have brought about saving Of
over 70 per cent In offices where used
for six months This change In one small
cross-section OF office practice will more
than Offset the whole cost of by inquiry.
Waste In the Distribution Of Public
Documents.
Going outside the office, one of the
business processes which have been in
vestigated is the distribution OF depart
ment documents. This is a subject with
which both the congress and admins
tration heads are familiar. The prevail
Ing practice In handling departmental
publications is TO have them manufao-
tured at the government printing office;
each job when completed is delivered to
the department.; here the books or pam
phlets are wrapped and addressed; then
are then sent to the postoffce: there they
are assorted and prepared for shipment
through the malls: from the postofnce
they are sent to the railroad station,
which is only n few steps from the gov
eminent printing office. when they
started. The results of this laborious and
circuitous method In to make the use OF
the best mechanical equipment impractic-
nh Ala. TFaA -. -.
quarter OF a million dollars OF govern
ment funds In useless handling. to say
nothing OF the indirect loss due to lack
Of proper coordination.
The use OF equipment Is n matter which
also has been investigated. Up TO the
present time this investigation has been
In tho main confined TO the subject OF
electric lighting.
Lack Of Specifications.
The Importance OF establishing and
maintaining standard specifications IL
found not only In the possibility of very
materially reducing the direct cost Of gov
eminent trading. but also in insuring to
the service materials. supplies and equip
fnent which are better adapted TO Its
purposes. one OF the results OF indenn-
iteness Of specifications 10 TO impose CON
tract conditions which make II extra ha-
zardour for persons TO enter into con-
tractunl relations This not only deprives
the government OF the advantage OF
broad competition. but causes II TO pay
an added margin In price to vendors who
must carry the risk.
The Budget.
The United States Is the only great ma
ton whose government Il operated with
out n budget This fact seems 20 be more
striking when Il il considered that bud
gets and budget procedures are tho OUT
nr 14FmnFFufNa nFN AaN
had an important part In the development
Of modern constitutional rights The
American commonwealth has suffered
much from responsibility on the part OF
lis governing agencies. The constitution
al purpose OF budget Is TO mako gov
eminent responsive TO public opinion and
responsible for It's acts.
The Budget as an Annual Program.
A budget should b. the means for get
ting before the legislative branch. before
tho press. and before the people definite
annual program OF business 20 be nnan-
oedi II should be In the nature OF pros.
pectus both OF revenues and erpsndi-
lures: Il should comprehend every reia.
tion Of the government TO the people,
whether with reference TO the raising OF
revenues or the rendering Of service
The principal government objects In
which the people of the United States
are interested Include:
The national defense. the protection OF
persons and property. the promotion Of
friendly relations and the protection Of
American interests abroad. the regulation
OF commerce and industry. tho promotion
OF agriculture. fisheries. forestry and min
Ing. the promotion OF manufacturing.
commerce. and banking. the promotion OF
transportation and communication; the
postal service. including postal savings
and parcels post the care for and utlls
Ention Of the public domain. the promo
tion OF education. art scionc. and recres
alton. the promotion Of the public health,
the care and education ~ the Indians
and other wards Of the nation.
These hrr public welfare questions IN
which ! assume ryery citizen has vital
interest believe that every member Of
congress. as an official representative Of
tho people. each editor a. non.oficial
representative 81 public opinion. zach
citizen. ms a beneficiary Of tho trust i'm
posed on officers OF the government.
should be- ahls readily "a ascertain how
much has been spent for each Of these
purnt sssi how much has been hppropH.
Airh Tor the current year. how much the