Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-01-24
TAFT ON ECONOMY
AND EFFICIENCY.
President Sends Another Special
Message to Congress.
PLANS FOR BETTER SERVICE

MCSSdyc " Vuiiyt co..
PLANS FOR BETTER SERVICE
Results Of Commissions Inquiry Into
Methods Of Saving Money and
Getting Better Work From
4 Government Employees.
Washington, Jan. II. President
Taft submitted to congress today an
B other message, this time on economy
I and eff cheney in the government serv-
y ice. 81 n.
4S The message in part is as follows:
sentatives: ;5
Iysubmit for the information Of the
Il congress this report of progress made
! IN the inquiry into the efficiency and
Il economy of the methods of transact
y ing public business.
Efficiency and economy in the gov
eminent service have been demanded
with Increasing insistence for gener-
I 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
Is not in itself a proof
of economy, since 1t is often accom-
panied by a decrease in efficiency.
The needs of the nation may demand
/ q 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
Y large share of the responsibility for
Y the demands made upon the treasury
for the current administration of the
B executive branch OF the government.
Upon the congress must rest responsi-
bility for those grants OF public funds
which are made for other purposes
Reason for the Inquiry.
Recognizing my share of responsi-
& bility for efficient and economical ad-
ministration, l have endeayored dur
G ing the past two years, with the as
Z sistance Of heads of departments, to
4 secure the best results. AS one Of
4 the means to- this end requested a
grant from congress to make my ef-
forts more effective. Z. K
An appropriation OF 100000 was
made June rs. 1910, ito enable the
president to inquire into the methods
Of transacting the public business of
\ the executive departments and other
/ government establishments and ito
recommend to congress such flegtsla-
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
4 this fund to enable me to take action
Il 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 at
feet the interest of every person liv-
I ing within the Jurisdiction Of the Unit
ed States. Its organization embraces
Il stations and capters 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-
D Establishments. 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 tire Work.
In accordance with my instructions,
the commission on economy and eff
cheney. which 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-
4 tons under which governmental op
erations must be carried on. With
( basis thus laid. it has proGesded to the
prosecution of detailed studies Of In
dividual services and cIasses.of work.
and of particular practices and meth
DDS. pushing these studies as far, and
covering as many points and services.
rs the resources and time at its dis
posal have permitted.
In approaching its task it has d.
vided the work into five fields Of in
quiry having to do respectively with
organization. personnel business meth.
DDS, accounting and reporting. and
the budget.
Organization.
At i have stated that the congress, the
president, and the administrative Off
GERS are attempting to discharge the
duties with which they are intrusted
without full information as to the
agencies through which the work of
the government Is being performed.
SO provide more complete information
on this point the commission has sub
mitted to me report on the organiza-
ton of the government as it existed
4 July /, 1911. This report, which Is
. transmitted herewith, shows In great
detail, by means Of outlines. not only
the departments. commissions, bu-
reaus and Offices through which the
tivities. but also the sections. shops.
field stations. etc, constituting the
subordinate divisions through which
the work Is actually done. 1t shows
for the services at Washington each
such final unit as laboratory, library
shop and administrative subdivision;
and for the services outside of Wash
ington each station and point at which
any activity of the government is car
ried on.
Comprehensive Plan Of Organization.
With this outline as basis. the