Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-18
Message to Congress Impor-
tant 10 the People.
How Billion Dollars Are Scat.
tered with Lavish Hand.
Offers a Surprising Civil Service
Plan for Officers.

w Jan. 1t.-I1OW the pcb-
pie of the United states may have
saved for them millions Of dollars an
nualIy in the operation of their gov
ernmental machinery was outlined by
President Taft today in a message to
Congress on economy and efficiency
in the government service.
What the government does with
nearly 81 900 00o, coo each year." said
the President, lis as of as much con-
cern tc the average citizen as is the
manner 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 the civil service;
be removed from the influence of poll
tics and that their terms of Office he
not 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 sal
aries" said he, will have important
efficiency. The view that these vari-
Gus offices are to be filed as result
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
The President did not attempt to
Jotn he Of ha
omy and efficiency commission created
by act of Congress year and a half
ago. He sketched the outlines of inn
provements that he said could be
made in government service; declared
that they would effect q. saving of
many millions of dollars and asked
that Congress continue the commits
sion by granting an appropriation OF
100000 with $4,000 for printing its
reports. From time to time. he add
ed, reports of the commission propos-
ing particular reforms would be sent
to Congress.
Il ask" said the President. 1.-The
continuance of this commission on
Economy and Efficiency because of
the excellent beginning which has
been made towards the reorganization
on business principles. l ask it be-
cause its work is entirely non-parti-
san in character and ought To apply
Ia every citizen who wishes to give
effectiveness To popular government
in which We feel just pride | sim
cerely hope that Congress viii not,
in its anxiety to reduce expenditures.
economize by cutting off an appropri-
alton which is likely to offer greater
opportunity for real economy in the
future than any other estimated for
re date the President said, the COM
mission has cost the people about
$3.50. 900. Without having put in effect
more than a few reforms it has sug
gested changes that will save 81. 100000
a year. These" said the President,
represent only a few of the many
services which should be subjected to
n like painstaking inquiry. If this is
done, it is beyond question that many
millions of savings may be realized"
The value of such investigation in
increased interest which officers of
the government will take in their cwn
departments: their own work and
that of their subordinates. he said,
could hardly be estimated.
''InG Initial MO1k SdlQ IitSibtlt
Taft has been we'll done. The in
curry with its constructive measures
is well under way. The work should
now be presented with visor and re-
ceive the financial support necessary
to make it effective during the next
fiscal year. Every economy which mas
been or will be effected through
changes in organization or method
will inure to the benefit of the govern
ment and of the people in increasing
measure through the years Whlch
follow. / am convinced that results
which are really worth while cannot
be secured, or at least can be Sc
cured only i'm small part through the
prosecution at irregular intervals or
special inquiries bearing on particular
services or features of adminlstra-
ton. The benefits thus obtained must
be hut temporary. The problem OF
good administration is not one that
can be solved at one time. 1t IS a
continuously present one"
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