The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-01-18

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sitities vithAa this Asld nay - sosaA n
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- Of handing and AiinS oorrespooAsaos.
Dvssy otAcs IN the government AA0 ~
ported its AethoAs - the eoaa1aa1oa.
fhses rsposts brought 70 Night tAs Al1e
that prsssat methods vsrs quite h II.
the psactSos Of bsisanG ali oorrasDoa-
Asncs: sons - not Some have Aat
alss: sthsrs folA sn papsrs hseors ahAs.
BONE uss pres copies; otAsrs sstain saiy
carbon eo0aAs.
Nesd see lsvsssavins oNRes osvIeea.
The uss e laber-saving Office Devices In
the service has bssa made the subjsct ol
special Inquiry. An impression prevails
that the government 10 not making use
labor to the same extent - are efficiently
managed private enterprises. 4 study
has bsen made Of the extent to which
devices OF this character are now bsln1
employed In the several branches OF the
government and the opportunities thaa
exist for their more general use.
The efforts Of the commission resulted
also In the adoption BY ssvaEl bursans -
departments Of improved m4thods Of Co.
Ing copying. The amount Of copy work
hsrstofors done by hand each year in the
many Offices 10 estimated to aggregate
several hundred thousand dollars. The
commission exhibited. at It's Offices ap-
pliances that were thought to be especial
iy adapted to this kind Of government
work. Following these demonstrations
methods of copying were introduced
which have brought about q saving Of
over 7b per osnt. 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
vestisated 10 the distribution Of depart
ment documents. This Is a subject with
which both the congress and adminis-
tration heads are familiar. The prevail
ing practice in handling departmental
publications IL to have them manufao-
tured At the government printing office;
each job when completed IL delivered to
the department; here the books or PAM
phlets are wrapped and addressed; then
are then sent to the postofHce: there they
are assorted and prepared for shipment
through the malls: from the postoffice
they are sent to the railroad station,
which 10 only a few steps from the gov
ernment printing office. when they
= a Ft tah he 70 ~ L. Lob nrH
circuitous method is to make the use Of
the best mechanical equipment impractic-
able and to waste each year not less than
quarter of q 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 IL q matter which
also has been Investigated. Up to the
present time this investigation has been
in the main confined to the subject OF
electric lighting.
Lack Of Specifications.
The Importance of establishing and
maintaining standard specifications 10
found not only in the possibility OF very
materially reducing the direct cost of gov
ernment trading. but also in insurinG to
the service materials. supplies and equip
ment which are better adapted to its
purposes. One of the results Of indefln-
iteness Of specifications 10 to Impose con-
tract conditions which make II extra ha-
zardous for persons to enter into con-
tractual relations. This not only deprives
the government of the advantage Of
broad competition. but causes 1t 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 is operated with
out budget This fact seems to be mora
striking when 1t Is considered that bud
gets and budget procedures are the out
growth of democratic doctrines and have
had an important part in the development
Of modern constitutional rights. The
American commonwealth has suffered
much from responsibility on the part of
its governing agencies. The constitution
al purpose of a budget is to make gov
ernment responsive to public opinion and
responsible for its acts.
The Budget ~ an Annual Program.
budget should be tho means for get
ting before the legislative branch, before
the press, and before the people definite
annual program of business to be hnan-
ced: II should be in the nature of q pros
pectus both of revenues and expendi-
lures: 1t should comprehend every rela-
tion Of the government to the people.
whether with reference to the raising Of
revenues or tho 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: the promotion
Of agriculture, fisheries. forestry and min
ing: the promotion Of manufacturing,
q