The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1912-01-17
RADICAL CHANGES ARE
PROPOSED BY TAT
WOULD PUT ALL ADMINISTRA-
TIVE OFFICES UNDER
CIVIL SERVICE.
Such Officers Should Not BE Ap-
pointed by the President for
Confirmation by the Sem
ate--Mcrit System.
Associated Press Special.

Washington, Jan. 17.-How the
: people of the United States may
!, have saved for themselves millions
= ANNUALLY in the operation OF their
!. governmental machinery was outlin-
ed by President Taft today in mes
sage to congress on economy and
deficiency in the government ser
vice"
What the government does with
] nearly sI,opO. oe0 600 each year, .
lsaid the president, lis as OF as mach
IeonceFn to the average citizen as IS
: 1.-THE manner Of ohtaining this
/ tsmennt of money for the public
/ use
Probably the most radical proizo-
sal advanced by the president in TO
Iiayss message was that an admin
istrative Officers of the gofeEmmeni
fin the departments at Washington
land in the field BIZ pat under the
ievn service. be removed from the
Influence of politics and that their
terms OF office be not limited as a.
present to four wears. Such Officers
ishoald not be appointed by the pres !
tident with the necessity of senate |
confirmation, he said but upon |
merit. THE extension of the merit
system to these officers and need
ed readjustment of salaries" said
he. will have important effect ia
securing greater economy and eff
cheney The view that these various
offices are to be filled as result Of
political consideration has for its
consequence the necessity that the
president and members of congress
devote to matters of patronage time
which they should devote to ques-
lions of policy and administration.
The president did not attempt to
explain in detail the work of the
economy and efficiency commission
created by act of congress a year
and a half ago. He sketched the out
lines OF improvements that he said
could be made in government ser
vice; declared that they would eff
feet saving of many millions of
dollars and asked that congress \
leontfnue the commission by grant
ling an appropriation OF $500 ,ooo
itwith S5o,o 900 for printing f's
q tports. From time TO time, ne aaosc
e reports of the commission proposink
m particular reforms would be sent tc
20 congress.
II ask said the president, the
continuance of this commission on
e ECONOMY and efficiency because of
{ the excellent beginning which has
lbeen made towards the re-organiza
Itfon of the mac hinery of this govern
iment on business principles | ask
| it because its work is enirely nom
| partisan in character and ought to /
Happily to every citizen who wishes tod
| give effectiveness to popular govern
ment In which we feel a just pride. |
| sincerely hope that congress will
not, in its anxiety TO reduce expen-
ditures, economic by cutting off an
appropriation which is likely to Of
fer greater opportunity for real
economy In the future than any
other estimated for"
To date, the president said, the
commission has cost the people |
about $4,000. Without having put |
in effect more than a few reforms |
/ 1t has suggested changes that win
save 100000 a year. These
tsaid the president, represent only a
few of the many services which
should be subjected to like pains
taking inquiry II this is done, it
is beyond question that many mil
lions of savings may be realized"
The value of such investigation in
Increased interest which officers Of
the government will take in their
Town departments; their own work
= and that of their subordinates, he
said, could hardly be estimated
The initial work" said President
: Taft, has been well done, The in
qulry with its constructive measures
is well under way The work should
now be presented with vigor and re-
y ceiye the financial support neees-
II sary TO make It effective during the
i next fiscal year Every economy
which has been or will be effected
~ through changes in organization OF
method will inure TO the benefit OF
the government and of the people il
III increasing measure through tbs
q years which follow. I am convinced
e. while cannot be secured, or at least
IS can be secured only in small part
'e through the prosecution at irregular
J. intervals or special inquiries bearina
. on particular services or features o.
o administration The benefits thus
obtained must be but temporary
The problem of good admi IN istration
y is not one that can be solved at one
Q time. 1t is continuously present
e one"
v In many ways the President iG-
Z, formed congress, decrease in the
g cost of government might be as
= sured. There is need, he said. of re-
= organization of the government DC
t partments, a consolidation and n
o wedding out of bureaus that overlap
= in their work scores of local Off
/. IA