The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-04-10

What is true in the matter of nay.
ment OF pensions Is also true in the
service under the general land office.
The field service of this Office could be
more efficiently and economically oper-
ated IL 1t were provided by law that
the office of receiver of district land
Offices be abolished and the duties
transferred to the register. assisted by
bonded clerk and the register placed
in the classified service. II has several
times been estimated that more than
100000 would be saved annually and
the efficiency of the service greatly In
creased by the adoption of such a plan.
Internal Revenue and Customs Offices.
Large expenditures are made for sal
aries Of political appointees in the in
ternal revenue and customs services
In both services direct saving in sal.
aries and an indirect economy through
increased efficiency would follow a
transfer of such Offices to the classified
service.
Other Local Offices.
In the other field services the saving
which would result from the classifca-
tion of the local officers under the de-
partments is not as marked or prob
ably capable of as exact estimation as
In those mentioned, but there is no
doubt that substantial savings would
follow. 1t is not to be doubted that
where no saving would result the
classification Of the local officers
would increase the efficiency of the
service. 1t would be desirable also
to place all marshals, deputy marshals
and assistant attorneys in the classl-
fed service, although but little direct
economy would result. Supervising
inspectors in the steamboat inspection
service and the members of the field
service in the bureau of fisheries should
be placed in the classified service.
Commissions Report on Local Offices.
The report on methods of appoint.
ment submitted to me by the commits
sion, which covers fully the subject of
appointments by the president by and
with the advice and consent of the SEN
ate and recommends that various local
officers, such as postmasters, collectors
of internal revenue, etc, and heads of
bureaus in the departmental service, be
included in the classified service, is
transmitted herewith (appendix No. y.
The report and recommendation are
approved by me.
Legislation Needed to Establish the
Merit System.
In the interest of an efficient and eco
nomical administration of the vast
business of the government I urge the
necessity for the Inauguration Of this
important reform and recommend that
the necessary amendments be made to
the laws governing appointments, such
amendments to take effect not later
than July 1. 1913, 80 that there may be
secured to the people the benefits to be
derived from conduct of their affairs
by officers selected on a merit basis
and devoting their time and talents
solely TO the duties of their offices.
Consolidation of Lighthouse and Life
Saving Services.
The commissions report (appendix
No. p recommends that the life saw
ing service of the department of the
treasury be discontinued as q separate
organization and that the maintenance
and operation of the life saving sta
tons Of the country be made one of the
duties of the bureau of lighthouses of
the department of commerce and labor.
l concur In this recommendation and
urge that the necessary legislation for
carrying 1t into effect be enacted.
Both of these services are organized
and maintained for the same general
purpose-the protection of life and
endangered along the coasts
and other navigable waters. Both
maintain stations along the coast
which are located for the most part
in close proximity. Both have sub
stantially the same business problems
TO meet In locating, constructing and
these stations; in recruit
ing the personnel, In manufacturing or
purchasing equipment; in purchasing.
housing in depots and distributing sup
plies; in operating a field inspection
service, in maintaining telephone and
other means of communication, in dis
bursting funds, In keeping proper books
Of accounts and in rendering reports
showing financial and other transac-
tions. The maintenance of two sep
arate services, as at present, means a
duplication Of organization in respect
to all of these operations. The rec
Of the commission does
not contemplate any essential change
in the work of the life saving stations.
1t is for the transfer of the business
Of these institutions to
the bureau Of lighthouses. That bu-
reau, being fully organized for the ad-
Of stations of this char
acter, will be able to direct and man
age these stations with comparatively
little addition to its present force and
equipment. The commission estimates
that, In addition to the advantage that
will be obained through having these
two services operated by the same or
a direct economy will be
secured OF at least 100000 annually
and that tha wing Uill 0paatlW AZ