The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1912-01-18
TAFT breaches
ECONOMY IN HIS
SHORT MESSAGE
TELLS CONGRESS THAT $1,ooo,-
100000 CAN BE SAVED AN
NUALLY BY REFORM LAWS.
Would Put All Offices Under Civil
Service Blanket and Stop Patronage
Battles Among the Lawmakers.
Likes Merit System Best.

washington, Jan. 17.-HoW the peo-
pie of the United States may have
saved for them millions of dollars an
nually in tre operation of their gov
ernmental machinery avs outlined by
PRESIDENT Taft today in message to
congress on Economy and Efficiency
in the Govtrnment Service"
What the government does with
nearly $1,OO0,00O, 900 each year, sa.u
the president, lis of as much concern
to the average citizen as is the man
ner of obtaining this amount of money
for the public USE"
Probably the most radical proposal
advanced by the president in today's
message was that all administrative
Officers of the government in the de-
partments at Washington and in the
field be put under tht civil service: be
removed from the influence of poll
tics, and that their terms of office
be .lot limited as at present to four
years. Such officers should not be
appointed by the president, with the
necessity of senate confirmation, he
said, but upon merit. "The extension
Of the merit system to these officers
and a needed readjustment of salar-
les, said he, "will have important eff
fects in securing greater economy and
efficiency. The view that these vari-
GUS offices are to be filled as a re-
suit of political consideration has for
its consequence the necessity that the
president and members of congress
devote to matter of patronage time
which they should devote to questions
OF policy and administration
Would Continue Commission.
The president did not attempt to ex-
plain in detail the work of the econ
omy and efficiency commission Great
ed by act of congress a year and a
half ago. He sketched the outlines
OF improvements that he said could
be made in government service; de-
clared that they would effect saving
of many millions of dollars, and
asked that congress continue the com
mission by granting an appropriation
OF 100000 with $4,000 for printing
its reports. From time to time, he
added, reports Of the commission pro-
posing particular reforms would be
sent to congress.
Il ask" said the president, "the
continuance of this commission on
economy and efficiency because of the
excellent beginning which has been
made towards the reorganization of
the machinery of this government on
business principles | ask it because
its work is entirely non-partisan in
character and oTght to apply to every
citizen who wishes to give effective |
ness to popular government in which
We feel a just bride. / sincerely hope
that congress will not, in it's anxiety
to reduce expenditures. econo,aize by |
cutting off an appropriation which is
likely to offer greater opportunity for
real economy n the future than any
other estimated for.
To Gate the pi esident said, the com
mission has CO It the people about
$1SO,000. Without having put in ef-
feet more than few reforms it has
suggested chanees that will save Sz,-
100000 year. These" said the pres
ident, ''repres ,1t only a few of the
man. services which should be sub
jected to a little painstaking inquiry
If this is done, it is beyond question
that many millions Of savings may be
realized" The clue of such investi
cation in increased interest which Of
ficers Of the government will take in
their own departments; their work
and that Of their subordinates, he said,
could hardly oe estimated.
Initial Work Done.
"The initial work, said President
Taft, has been well done. The in
quiry with its constructive measures
is well under way. The work should
now be presented with vigor and re-
ceive the financial support necessary
to make it effective during the next
fiscal year. Every economy which has
Deen or VIII De SHecLeu IhiOush
changes in or.y lnization or method
will irure to The benefit OF the gov
ernment and os the people in inereas-
ing measure t,.rOugh the years which
follow. / am convinced that results
which are really worth while cannot
be secured, OF at least can be secured
only in small Tart, through the pros
ecution at irr sgular intervals or spe-