The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1912-01-18
cost Of handling this part Of the gov
eminent business at Washington.

eminent business at Washington.
Need For Labor Saving Office Devices.
The use of labor saving office devices
in the service has been made the sub
ject of special inquiry. An impression
prevails that the government is not
making use Of mechanical devices for
economizing labor to the same extent
as are efficiently managed private en-
terprises A study has been made Of
the extent to which devices of this
character are now being employed in
the several branches OF the govern
ment and the opportunities that exist
for their more general use. In order
to secure information as to the various
kinds Of labor saving devices that are
in existence and as TO their adaptable
ity to government work. an exhibition
of labor saving Office appliances was
held in Washington from July to 10.
1911. One hundred and ten manufac-
turers and dealers participated. and
more than 10000 officers and employees
visited the exhibition There is no
doubt that the exhibition served the
purpose of bringing to the attention of
officers devices which can be employed
by them with advantage The holding
of this exhibition was. however. but a
step preparatory to the contemplated
investigation.
Unnecessary Cost of Copy Work.
The efforts of the commission result
ed also ia the adoption by several bu-
reaus or departments of improved
methods of doing copying. The amount
of copy work therefore, done by hand
each year in the many offices is esti-
mated to aggregate several hundred
thousand dollars. The commission ex-
hibited at its offices appliances that
were thought to be especially adapted
to this kind of government work. Fol-
lowing these demonstrations methods
Of copying were introduced which have
brought about saving of over IS per
cent in offices where used for six
months. This change in one small cross
section of office practice will more than
Offset the whole cost of my inquiry.
Waste In Distribution of Public Doeu-
ments.
Going outside the Office, one of the
business processes which has been in
vestigated is the distribution of depart
mental documents. This is subject
with which both the congress and adj
ministration heads are familiar. The
prevailing practice In handling depart
mental publications is to have them
manufactured at the government print
ing Office Each job when completed
is delivered to the department. Here
the books or pamphlets are wrapped
and addressed. They are then sent to
the postoffice. There they are assorted
and prepared for shipment through the
mails. From the postoffice they are
sent to Nthe railroad station. which is
only few steps from the government
printing Office. whence they started.
The results Of this laborious and cir
cuitouS method Is to make the use of
the best mechanical equipment imprac-
ticable and 70 waste each year not less
than a quarter of million dollars of
government funds in useless handling.
to say nothing Of the indirect loss due
to lack of proper coordination.
WastefuI Use of Properties and Equip
ment.
The use of equipment is a matter
which also has been investigated. Up
to the present time this investigation
has been in the main confined TO the
subject Of electric lighting The gov
eminent pays over $6OO.OOO per year
for electric current. Ii has made large
capital OUTLAWS for wiring and fixtures.
With the increasing demands in many
buildings the present equipment is tax
ed to its limit, and If the present meth
DDS are continued much of this wir-
ing must be done over In many places
employees are working at a great
physical disadvantage. due to made
quate and improper lighting and there
by with reduced efficiency In every
place where the inquiry has been con-
Quoted it appears that there is large
waste: that without the cost of re-
wiring. simply by giving proper atten-
ton TO Iocatio of lights and the use
of proper lamps and refectcrs. the
light efficiency at points where need
may be much increased and the cost
of current reduced from 80 to go per
cent. Other inquiries into the use
which is being made OF properties and
equipment are contemplated which
promise even larger results. \
Unnecessary Cost of Insurance.
1t Is the policy Of the government
not to insure public property against
fire and other losses. Question has
been raised whether the government
might not apply the same principle &c
other forms of risk, including insur
ance of the fidelity Of officials and en-
ployees. A report Is now in prepare
ton on the subject which will show
opportunities for large savings. | be-
lieve that the present expense for in
surfing the faithful execution of con-
tracts. which. though paid by the con-
tractor. is more than covered in the
added price to the government. can be
largely reduced without taking away
any element of security.
The Importance Of establishing and
maintaining standard specifications is
found not only in the possibility of
very materially reducing the direct
cost of government trading. but also
In insuri1g to the service materials.
supplies and equipment which are bet