Norwich bulletin., 1912-01-18


 nent law in such 8 manner that their discontinuance is beyond the power of the president or that of any executive officer. In a number of services these laws were passed nearly a century ago. Changes in economic conditions have taken place which have had the effect of rendering certain offices not only useless, but even worse than useless in that their very existence needlessly swells expenditures and complicates the administrative system.
 The responsibility for the mafnte- nance of these conditions must nat urally be divided between the con gresS and the executive. But that the executive has performed his duty when he has called the attention of congress to the matter must also be admitted. Realizing my responsibility in the premises, have directed the commission to prepare a report setting forth the positions in the local services of the government which may be dis continued with advantage, the saving which would result from such action and the changes in law which are nec- essary to carry into effect changes in organization found to be desirable. On the coming in of the report such offices as may be found useless and can be abolished will be so treated by executive order.
 Personnel.
 In my recent message to the con- gTess I urged consideration of the ne- cessiry of placing in the classified sery- ice all of the local officers under the departments of the treasury, the in terior, postofice and commerce and la 5or.
 As yet little if any attempt has been made by law to secure, either for the higher administrative positions in the service at Washington or for local of fees, the qualifications which the in cumbents of these positions must have if the business of the government is to be conducted in the most efficient and economical manner. Furthermore, in the case of many of the local of f1cers the law positively provides that the term of office shall be of four years dura ton.
 Extension of Merit System.
 The next step which must be taken l is to require of heads of bureaus in the departments at Washington and of most of the local officers under the departments qualifications of capacity similar to those now required of cer- tain heads of bureaus and of local of | ficers. The extension of the merit sys- tem to these officers and a needed re- adjustment of salaries will have i'm portant effects in securing greater economy and efficiency
 In the first place, the possession by the incumbents of these positions of the requisite qualifications must in It. self promote efficiency.
 In the second place, the removal of local officers from the realm of po- ttical patronage in many cases would reduce the payroll of the field serv. ices. At the present time the incum- bents of many of these positions leave the actual performance of many of their duties to deputies and assistants. The government often pays two per sons for doing work that could easily be done by one. What Is the loss to the government cannot be stated, but that 1t is very large cannot be denied when 1t is remembered how numerous are the local officers in the postal, GUS toms, internal revenue, public lands and other field services of the govern ment.
 In the third place, so long as local officers are within the sphere of pO- htical patronage it is difficult to con. s1der the question of the establish ment or discondnuance of local offices apart from the effect upon local DO. htical situations.
 Finally the view that these various offices are to be filled as a result of political considerations has for It's con sequence the necessity that the presi. dent and members of congress devote to matters Of patronage time which they should devote to questions of pol. icy and administration.
 Dangers of Fixed Term System:
 The greatest economy and efficiency and the benefits which may accrue from the presidents devotlng his time to the work which is most worth while may be assured only by treating all the distinctly administrative officers in the departments at Washington and in the field in the same way as inferior officers have been treated The time has come when all these officers should be placed in the classified service. The time has also come when those pro. visions of law which give to these ofH. cers fixed term of years should be re- pealed. So long as a fixed term is pro v1ded by law the question of reappoint ment of an officer, no matter how eff cfently he may have performed his du. ties, will inevitably be raised period ically. So long as appointments to these offices must be confirmed by the senate and so long as appointments tc them must be made every four years just so long will 1t be impossible tf provide farce of employees with | reasonably permanent tenure who are qualified by reason of education and training to do the best work.
 Superannuatien.
 shall submit in the near future foI the consideration of the congress 6 plan for the retirements of aged em