The Washington times., 1912-01-17

and at an early date will be sent to the
Congress with recommendations.
one OF the results or by-products of
this inquiry into travel expenses was
the Recommendation that the jurat or
AFFIDAVIT which Is now required by or
der OF the comptroller be discontinued.
The 5urat does not add to the value OF
tine s return, uI,a, involves persons travelling IN
before an officer competent to admins
ter oaths. while every disciplinary re-
suit is obtained through certification un-
the falsifcation OF accounts. A discon-
tinuance Of the 5urat in all cases would
result in direct saving OF about 100000
In many foreign countries the annual
budget program Ii discussed with
special reference to the revenue to be
raised, the thought being that the rails
Ing Of revenue bears more direct rela,
expenditure. Around questions of
source Of revenue political parties have
been organized, and on such questions
voters In the United States have taken
sides since the first revenue law was
proposed.
Citizen Interest In Expenditures.
In political controversy it has been
assumed generally that the individual
citizen has little interest in what ne
Government spends. In my opinion this
has been a serious mistake, one which
Is becoming more serious each year.
Now that population has become more
dense. that large cities have developed,
that people are required to 1--we n
congested centers, that the national re.
sources frequently are the subject OF
private ownership and private control. I
lie service facilities are held and oper-
ated by large corporations, what the
Government does with nearly $1,000, Co.,
the average citizen as is the manner
Of obtaining this amount. of money for
public use. In the present inquiry
special attention has been given to the
expenditure side Of the budget.
In prosecuting this inquiry. however,
It has not been thought that arbitrary
reductions should be made. The popu-
lar demand for economy has been 20
possible results for given cost.
We want economy and efficiency; we
| want saving, and saving for purpose.
We want to save money to enable the
beneficial projects which we are de-
barred from taking UP now because we
| can not increase our expenditures.
Projects affecting the public health, new
| tivities Of government can be furthered
] for every dollar OF the Government s
money which We expend.
Continuance of the Commission.
I ask the continuance of this Com
| mission on Economy and Efficiency be-
| cause of the excellent beginning which
has been made toward the reorganiza-
!; ton of the machinery of this Govern
| ment on business principles. 1 ask II
because its work is entirely nonparti-
san In character and ought to apply to
every citizen who wishes to give effec-
| tvenesS to popular government, in
which we feel a just pride. This work
| that the cost OF organization and work
has been carefully considered at every
| point. Three months were taken in
consideration of plans before the in
| auiry was begun: six months were then
spent in preliminary Investigations be-
fore the commission was organized: be-
fore March 8, 1911. when I asked for a
| continuation of the original appropria-
ton for the current year, only 81, ,00O
| / sincerely hope that Congress will
not, in its anxiety to reduce expendi-
lures, economize by cutting off an ap-
| greater opportunity for real economy
in the future than any other estimated
| for.
In this relation it may be said that
the present fiscal year is at the rate of
$3.50 900. The mass of Information which
must be collected, digested. and sum-
married pertaining to each subject of
inquiry Is enormous. From the results
obtained 1t is evident that every dollar
| which IL spent in the prosecution of
the inquiry in the future Will result in
manifold savings. Every economy which
has been or will be effected through
changes in organization or method will
inure to the benefit OF the Government
and Of the people in increasing measure
through the years which follow. 1t is
clearly the part of wisdom to provide
| for the coming year means at least
equal to those available curing the cur
rent year, and in my opinion the appro-
priation should be increased to $2Oo.0OO.
and an additional amount of $5O,GOO
should be provided for the publication
Of those results. which will be of con-
tinuing value to officers Of the Govern
ment and to the people.
WIN. II. TAFT.