The Washington times., 1912-01-17
TAFT EXPLAINS
HOW NATION MAY
SAVE MILLIONS
Special Message Urges Con-
tinuation of Economy
Board for One Year.
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
total annual appropriations. since econ
crny is but poor economy II 1t is accom-
panied by a decrease in efficiency. The
gross expenditures Of the Government
amount to s, ,OOo. 900, 600 annually, and, in
cluding the military and naval estab-
lishments, more than 100000 persons are
required to do the work Of the execu-
tive branch alone.
To 80 over this vast business organ
ization with its ramiflcations in every
State and city in the Union as we'll as
IN the insular possessions and find all
the spigots' Of waste, was q stu
penduous undertaking even for a body
of experts, the President says. The
work Is SO great, he says, that 1t can
not be accomplished in one year
and maybe not In two. 1t is so impor-
tant though, he adds, that 1t would be
folly not to pursue 1t to the end, now
that the inquiry has been begun.
Divided It's Work.
In approaching the task the Economy
and Efficiency Commission divided the
work into five fields of inquiry, namely,
organization, personnel, business meth
DDS, accounting and reporting, and the
budget, The President submits under
each of these heads the findings SO far
achieved and the results which may
reasonably be expected.
A particularly strong argument Is
made In the message for an annual
budget. The United States is the only
without an annual budget, he says, and
as result this country has suffered
much from irresporsibility on the part
or the governing agencies. The con-
make government responsive" the mes
sage says, 'to the public opinion and
responsible for it's acts"
Much space is devoted In the message
10 the abolition and classification of
local offices. Many useless offices have
already been found in the Government
service. and many of them are subject
Win se Sy cut
promises. as soon as is practicable, but
those which are established by law and
can be abolished only by law will be,
In due time. reported to Congress for
May Abolish Offices. "
The President believes that the great
est single economy may be accomplished
by wedding out useless offices. Per
haps the part of the organization in
which the greatest economy in public
expenditure is possible. he says. us
found In the numerous local offices of
the Government. Changes In economic
conditions have taken place which have
but. even worse than useless in that
their very existence needlessly swells
expenditures and complicates the ad-
ministrative system"
argues strongly for the removal Of all
the subordinate offices under the De-
partmants Of the Treasury. Interior,
postoffiee. and Commerce and Labor
from Presidential appointment. He
wants all collectors Of internal revenue,
collectors OF customs, customs officers,
United States marshals, postmasters of
placed under the civil service, leaving
only the judges, district attorneys, and
the diplomatic officers subject to
change by the Executive.
Tho Presidents message in part is as
Text Of Message.
To the Senate and House Of Represen-
I submit for the information Of the
Congress this report of progress made
in the inquiry into the efficiency and
economy Of the methods Of transacting
nniciency and economy in the Gov.
eTnment service have been demanded
with increasing insistence for q genera
ncient organization. BY perfecting the
organization the same benefits may be
obtained at less expense. A eduction
In the total Of the annual appropriations
snos not z z osn onHSa sS as
crease In efficiency. The needs of the
nation may demand a large increase Of
expenditure, yet to keep the total ap-
nue. is necessary to the maintenance Of
public credit.
Upon the President must rest a large
share of the responsibility for the de-
mands made upon the Treasury 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.
Reason for Inquiry.
Recognizing my share Of responsible
ty for efficient and economical admins
tration, have endeavored during the
past two years, with the assistance Of
heads of departments, to secure the best
results. AS one Of the means to this
end, I requested a grant from Congress
to make my efforts more effective.
An appropriation of 100000 was made
June 25, 1910. ito enable the President
to inquire into the methods of trans
acting the public business of the execu-
tive departments and other Government
establishments and to recommend to
Congress such legislation as may be
necessary to carry into effect changes
found to be desirable that can not be ac.
complished by Executive action alone.
I have been given this fund to enable
TO take dCtlOn 10 Hldhc SptCllC
recommendations with respect to the de-
tails of transacting the business of an
organization whose activities are almost
as varied as those of the entire business
world. The operations of the Govern
ment affect the interest of every person
living within the jurisdiction of the
United States. Its organization en-
braces stations and centers of work
located In every city and in many local
subdivisions of the country. Its gross
expenditures amount to nearly $1,000,
OOO,OOO annually. Including the personnel
of the military and naval establish
ments more than 100000 persons are re-
1uired to do the work imposed by law
upon the executive branch of the Gov
ernment.
First Complete Investigation.
Notwithstanding that volumincus re-
ports are compiled annually and pre-
eented to the Congress, no satisfactory
statement has ever been published OF
the financial transa actlons Of the Gov
ernment as a whole. Provision is made
for due accounta bility for all moneys
coming into the hands of officers Of the
Government, whether as collectors OF
reNenue OF disbursing agents, and for
inslIinE that authorizations for TS-
penditures as made by law shall not bt
exceeded. But no general system has
eSor been devised for reporting and pre-
-. q.