The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-01-18
Gan CUT EXPENSES
TAFT Isns Congress Results Of
Economy Inquiry.
SUBMITS SPECIAL MESSAGE

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WashiAgtoa--PrsslAs TAFT has SUBJ
economy aad sf4clsncy in ths govern
easnt ssrvies. 7hs msssaEs In part = -
folioWs:
10 the Senate and Houss Of Rspressnta-
tivss:
submit for the Information of the con-
gress this report Of progress made in the
inquiry into the efficiency and economy of
the methods OF transactin6 public busi-
Ne00.
Efncisncy and economy in the govern
Msnt service have been demanded with
tncreasing insistsncs for . gsneration.
Real economy 10 the result of efficient or
ganisation. BY psrfectins the organisa-
ton the same benefits may b. obtained
st LEES expense. A reduction In the to-
tai Of the annual appropriations 70 not
IN itself . proof Of economy. since II IL
often accompanied by . decrease in EN-
cheney. The needs of the nation may de-
mand . large increase of expenditure. yet
to keep the total appropriation within
the expected revenue - necessary to the
maintenance of public credit.
Upon the president must rest . large
share Of the responsibility for the de-
mands made upon the treasur, for the
current administration OF the executive
branch Of the government Upon the
congress must rest responsibility for
those grants OF public funds which are
made for other purposes.
Plan Of the Work.
In accordance with my instructions. tho
commission on economy and efficiency.
which organized to aid me in the In
quiry. has directed Its efforts primarily
to the formulation of concrete recommen-
dations looking to the betterment of the
fundamental conditions under which gov
ernmental operations must be carried on.
With a basis thus laid. 1t has proceeded
to the prosecution of detailed studies of
individual services and classes OF work.
and Of particular practices and methods,
pushing these studies as far and cover
ing as many points and services, as the
resources and time at its disposal have
In approaching its task 1t has divided
the work into i've fields of inquiry hav-
Ing to do respectively with organization,
personnel, business methods, accounting
and reporting, and the budget.
Comprehensive Plan Of Organization.
On organization the commission has en-
tered upon the preparation OF three series
of reports: The first series deals with
the manner In which the services Of the
government should be grouped in depart
ments. This is a matter of fundamental
Importance. 1t Is only after a satisfac-
tory solution of this problem that many
Nvp1F NVf mt ~ rnHo A
possible.
The second and third series OF reports
deal. respectively, with the organization
and activities Of particular services. and
the form of organization for the perform
ance Of particular business operations.
One Of the reports of tho second Sc
ries is upon the revenue cutter service,
which costs the government over two and
. half million dollars each year. In the
opinion of the commission its varied ac-
tfvities can be performed with equal. or
greater. advantage by other services.
The commission. therefore. recommends
that it be abolished 1t Is estimated that
by SO doing saving of not less than ST.
000, 900 a year can be made.
Another report illustrating the second
series recommends that the lighthouse
and life saving services be administered
by q single bureau. instead OF as at pres
ent by two bureaus located In different
departments. These services have much
in common. Geographically. the are
similarly located: administratively, they
have many OF the same problems. 1t II
in q saving Of not less than 800 900 an
nually.
Abolition Of Local oficss.
Perhaps the part of the organization In
which the greatest economy in public ex-
pendture Is possible Ia to be found in
the numerous local offices of the govern
ment. In some instances the establish
ment and the discontinuance of these 10
cal offices are matters of administrative
discretion. In other instances they are
established by permanent law in such a
manner that their discontinuauce Is be-
yond the power OF the president or that
of any executive officer.
The responsibility for the maintenance
of these conditions must naturally be d.
vided between the congress- and the exc
cutive. But that the executive has per-
formed his duty when he has called the
attention Of the congress to the matter
must also be admitted. Realizing my re-
sponsibility in the premises have d.
rected the commission to prepare a re-
port setting forth the positions in she
local services of the government which
may be discontinued with advantage, the
saving which would result from such ac-
necessary to carry into effect changes in
organization found to be desirable. On
the coming In of the report. such offices
as may b. found useless and can be abol-
ished will be 30 treated by executive or
der.
Classification Of Local ofsscers.
In my recent message to the congress
I urged consideration OF the necessity Of
placing In the classified service all of the
local officers under the departments of
the treasury, the interior. postoffce and
commerce and labor.
The next step which must be taken is
to require OF heads o. bureaus in the de-
partments at Washington. and OF most of
the local officers under the departments.
qualifications of capacity similar to those
now required of certain heads of bureaus
and OF local officers. The extension Of
the merit system to these officers and a
needed readjustment of salaries will have
important effects in securing greater
economy and efficiency.
In the first place. the possession by the
incumbents Of these positions Of requisite
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