The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-04
Civil Service Extension Would
Cut Off $1O,OOO,OOO.
UNITE PENSION AGENCIES
And Put the Agent in the CIas-
Sified List.
Revenue Cutter Service Can Be
Done Away With.

| Taft today submitted to congress a
message in which he made strong
recommendations bearing upon great
er efficiency and economy in the
methods used in transacting the pub
lie business of the various executive
| departments and other governmental
establishments.
The president referred to 1.-The ad-
vantages to be derived from placing
in the classified service the local Off
GERS under the departments Of the
treasury of the postoffice, of Justice,
of the interior and of commerce and
labor" and stated that indirectly the
changes proposed will result in the
| saving of many millions of dollars OF
public funds" besides greatly increas-
ing the efficiency of the service af-
fected.
The message in part follows:
"On the 18th of January last sent
| a message to the congress describing
the work of the commission appoint
ed by me under authority of the acts
of June 25, 1910. and March 3. 1911,
granting appropriations to enable me
to inquire into the methods of trans
| acting the public business of the va
rious departments and other govern
mental establishments, and to make
a report as to improved efficiency and
greater economy to be obtained in the
| expenditure of money for the mainte-
nance of the government"
He Approves the Reports.
The message stated that the presi
dent had received the recommenda-
tions of the heads of the departments
on the reports of the commission and
the president adds: Il transmit this
message for the purpose of expressing
my approval of the changes recon-
mended by the commission and OF
laying before the congress the reports
prepared by the commission.
'I have several times called attention
to the advantages to be derived from
placing in the classified service the
| local officers under the department of
the treasury, of the postoftice, of jus
tice, of the interior and of commerce
and labor. In my message submitted
congress on January II 1 referred to
the loss occasioned to he government
because of the fact that in many cases
two persons are paid for doing the work
that could easily be done by one"
The president in his message stated
that the loss on this account had been
shown by an inquiry to amount to $10.-
600. 900 annually. For example" he
added, cit appears that a very substan-
tial economy would result from putting
experienced and trained officers in
charge of the first and second class
postmasters, instead of selecting the
postmasters in accordance with the
present practice.
LAS the annual operating expenses
of the first and second class offices ag-
gregate the enormous sum of more than
$50 O00 900. undoubtedly if the postmast-
ers of these offices were embraced in
the classified service. the annual saw
ing would eventually represent many
millions of dollars The saving in sal
aries alone, not taking into account any
saving due to increased efficiency OF
operation, would amount to about
81, 500, 900. In the case of postmasters
at offices of the third class a large
annual saving could be made"
Would Cut Down Pension Agencies.
The ga al ba cfa
that nearly $4,000 could be saved an
nually by placing the pension agent I'm
the classified service. Greater econ
omy and efficiency would result from
the abolition of the pension agencies"
the message added. 'and from the
adoption of a plan in accordance with
which pensions would be paid by the
pension office in Washington"
The message stated that the field SER
vice of the general land office could be
f-Cs duksuSsibello. i shrdlu mhm NH
more efficiently and economically oper-
ated if it were provided by law that
the office of receiver of district land
offices be abolished and the duties
transferred to the register, assisted by
a bonded clerk and the register placed
in the classified service" 1t has been
estimated that the adoption of this plan
would cause an annual saving of $780,
600, according to the message.
direct saving in salaries and an
indirect economy through increased
efficiency would follow the transfer OF
the internal revenue and customs Off
GERS, now political appointees, to the
classified service. the president said in
the message.
I'm the other field services the saw
ing which would result from the class
ihcation of the local officers under the
departments is not as marked or prob
ably capable of as exact estimation as
in those mentioned but there is no
doubt that substantial savings would
fc not hr I..rsl
where no saving would result the
classification Of the local officers would
increase the efficiency of the service.
1t would be desirable also to place all
marshals, deputy marshals and assist
ant attorneys in the classified service,
although but little direct economy
would result. Supervising inspectors
in the steamboat inspection service
and the members of the field service in
the bureau of fisheries should be
placed in the classified service.
Matter of Appointments.
The report on methods of ap-
pointment submitted to me by the
commission which covers fully the
subject of appointments by the presi-
dent by and with the advice and con-
sent of the senate, and recommends
that various local officers. such as
postmasters, collectors Of internal
revenue etc, and heads of bureaus in
in the classified service. is transmitted
herewith. The report and recon-
mendations are approved by me.
''In the interest of an efficient and
economical administration of the vast
business of the government, I urge the