The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1912-01-18

benefits thus obtained must be but
temporary. The problem of good ad-
ministration is not one that can be
solved at one time. 1t is a continuous
ly present one.
PIanlof the Work.
In accordance with my instructions
the commission on economy and eff
cheney, which 1 organized to aid me in
the inquiry. has directed its efforts
primarily to the formulation of con-
crete recommendation looking to the
betterment of the fundamental condi-
tons under which governmental opera
tons must becarried on. With basis
thus laid it has proceeded to the prose-
cution of detailed studies of individual
services and classes of work and OF
particular practices and methods. push
ing these studies as far and covering
as many points and services as the re-
sources and time at its disposal have
permitted.
In approaching it's task it has divid-
ed the work into five fields of inquiry
having to do respectively with organi-
cation, personnel. business methods. ac
counting and reporting and the budget.
Organization.
l have stated that the congress. the
president and the administrative Of
ficers are attempting to discharge the
duties with which they are intrusted
without full information as TO the
agencies through which the work of
the government is being performed
To provide more complete information
on this point the commission has sub
mitted to me report OH the organi-
Zation of the government as it existed
July !. 1911. This report. which is
transmitted herewith. shows in great
detail. by means of outlines. not only
the departments, commissions. bureaus
and offices through which the govern
ment performs its varied activities.
but also the sections, shops. field sta
divisions through which the work is
actually done. It shows for the serv-
ices at Washington each such final
unit as a laboratory. library. shop and
administrative subdivision and for the
services outside of Washington each
station and point at which any activ
ity of the government is carried on.
Specific Economies Demonstrated.
With this outline as basis the COM
mission has entered upon the prepare
ton of three series of reports.
The first series deals with the man
ner in which the services of the gov
eminent should be grouped in depart
ments.
The second and third series of re-
ports deal. respectively. with the or
ganization and activities Of particular
services and the form of organization
for the performance of particular bust
ness operations.
One of the reports of the second Sc
ries is upon the revenue cutter service.
which costs the government over
$2.5OO,OO0 each year. In the opinion OF
the commission its varied activities
AN be performed with equal CT great
commission therefore recommends that
it be abolished. 1t is estimated that
by so doing saving Of not less than
81 ,O0O.OlO a year can be made
Another report illustrating the Sec
ond series recommends that the light
house and life saving services be ad-
ministered by a single bureau instead
of. as at present. by two bureaus locat-
ed in different departments. These
services have much in common. Geo
graphically they are similarly located:
Enthusiastically they have many Of
the same problems. 1t is estimated
that consolidation would result In a
saving Of not less than 100000 an
nuaIly.
In third report the commission has
recommended the abolition of the re-
turns Office of the department Of the
interior. This action. in its opinion.
will cause no loss in service to the
public and will result in a direct saw
ing of not less than $4,000 year. in
addition to a large indirect economy
formed in the several offices.
In another report the commission has
recommended the consolidation Of the
six auditing offices of the treasury and
the inclusion In the auditing system of
the seven naval officers who now audit
customs accounts at the principal ports
The changes recommended will improve
in many ways the auditing OF public
accounts and will result In an immedi-
ate saving of at least S135. 900 annually
A third series of reports Is being pre-
pared on those branches of the organ
ization which are technical in charac-
ter and which exist for the service of
the government as a whole-branches
which have to do with such matters as
public printing. heating. lighting. the
making of repairs. the providing of
transportation and the compilation of
statistics where mechanical equipment
Is essential
Abolition of Local Offices.
Perhaps the part of the organization
In which the greatest economy in pub
lie expenditure is possible is to he
found in the numerous local offices of
the government. In some Instances the
establishment and the discontinuance
of these local Offices are matters of adj
ministrative discretion. In other in
stances they are established by perma-
nent law in such a manner that their
discontinuance is beyond the power of
the president or that of any executive