Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-18
Mad "a. Labor Saving offos ns.iess

loot n, .neciol inquiry. An impression
rr.,ni,. that the government Is not
making use OF mechanical devices for
ecouomizing labor to the same extent
a. are efficiently managed private en-
tornr,.es A study has been made Of
tho e,tont 10 which devices Of this
choracter ore now being employed in
ths several branches Of the govern.
ment and the opportunities that exist
for their more general use. In order
10 secure information MS to the various
kinds Of labor saving devices that are
I'm existence and AS to their adaptable
ity IN government work, an exhibition
of labor saving office appliances was
held in Washington from July to Is.
1911. One hundred and ten mnnufac-
turers and dealers participated, and
more than 10000 officers and employees
visited the exhibition. There Is no
doubt TINT the exhibition served the
purpose Of bringing 10 the attention Of
officers devices which can be employed
by them with advantage. The holding
of this exhibition was. however. but a
step preparatory to the contemplated
investigation.
Unnecessary Cost Of Copy Work.
The efforts Of the commission result
cd also III the adoption by several Btu
reaus or departments Of improved
methods of doing copying. The amount
Of copy work therefore, done by band
each year in the many offices il esti-
mated to aggregate several hundred
thousand dollars. The commission ex-
hlhited at it's offices appliances that
were thought to be especially adapted
to this kind of government work Fol
lowing these demonstrations methods
Of copying were Introduced which have
brought about Il saving OF over - per
cent in offices whore used for six
months. This change in one small cross
section Of office practice will more than
offset the whole cost Of my inquiry.
Waste In Distribution Of Public Doeu-
ments.
Going outside the Office one of the
business processes which has been in
vestigated is the distribution Of depart
mental documents. This is "A subject
with which both the congress aud ad-
ministratiOn heads are familiar. The
prevailing practice in handling depart
mental publications is to have them
manufactured at the government print
Ing office. Each job when completed
Is delivered to the department Here
the books or pamphlets are wrapped
and addressed They are then sent to
the postofiice. There they are assorted
and prepared for shipment through the
mails From the postofiice they are
sent to the railroad station. which IL
only few steps from the government
printing Office. whence they started.
The results Of this laDoriouS and cir
cuitOus method Is TO make the use of
the best mechanical equipment irnprnc-
ticable and 10 waste each year not less
than n quarter Of million dollars Of
government funds in useless handling.
to shy nothing VI the indirect loss due
to lack of proper coordination.
Wastefui Use Of Properties and Equip
nnent.
The use Of equipment Is matter
which also has been investigated. Up
10 the present time this investigation
has been in the main confined to the
subject ~ electric lighting. The gov
eminent pays over $6OOOoO per year
for electric current. II hns made large
capital OUTLAWS for wiring and fixtures.
With the increasing demands In many
buildings the present equipment is tax
ed TO its limit. and If the present meth
nds are continued much Of this wir.
Ing must be done over In many places
employees are working at great
physical disadvantage due to made
luate and improper lighting and there
by with reduced efficiency. In every
place where the inquiry has been con-
Quoted it appears that there is large
waste: that without the cost Of re-
wiring. simply by giving proper atten-
ton 10 location OF lights and the use
Of proper lamps and retlertors. the
light efficiency at points where needed
may be much increased and the cost
OF current reduced from 30 to 60 per
cent Other inquiries into the use
which is being made of properties and
equipment are contemplated which
promise even larger results.
Unnecessary Cost Of Insurance.
1t is the policy Of the government
NOT to insure public property against
AVn Nd Il. hnnStiNn ha.
been raised whether the government
might not apply the same principle Il
other forms of risk. including ins,Ir
ance of the fidelity Of officials and en-
ployees. A report is now in prepare
ton on the subject which will show
opportunities for large savings. be
lieve that the present expense for In
surfing the faithful execution of con
/ tracts. which. though paid by the con
tractor, is more than covered In the
added price to the government. can bt
largely reduced without taking away
any element OF security.
! The importance Of establishing an(
/ maintaining standard specifications I!
found not only in the possibility o
very materially reducing the direc
cost OF government trading but als'
in insuring 10 the service materials
supplies and equipment which are bet
ter adapted TO Its purposes. One q
the results Of Indebtedness Of speciti
cations Is to impose contract condi
| tions which make It extra hazardou
for persons to enter into contractua
relations. This not only deprives thu
Government NJ the ADVANTAGE OF brOat