Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1912-04-12
.SHOWSHOWTOS
SlO,0O0,0OO A YEAR
TAFT POINTS OUT 1T CAN BE
DONE BY EXTENSION OF
CLASSIFIED SERVICE.
SENDS MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
Greater Economy and Efficiency In De-
partments Of Treasury, of Post
office, Of Justice, of inte-
rlor and Of Commerce
and Labor.

and Labor.
Washington, d. C.-President Taft
sent to both houses of congress on
April A second message on economy
and efficiency in the government serv-
ice. In this message he makes spe-
cific recommendations as to how the
government can save at least 100000
900 year. He expresses his approx
al of the changes recommended by the
special commission appointed in 1910.
He says:
Local Offices In Classified Service.
have several times called attention
to the advantages to be derived from
placing in the classified service the
local officers under the departments
OF the treasury, of the post office, of
justice, of the interior, and of COM
merce and labor. In my message sub
mitted to the congress on January II
l referred to the loss occasioned to
the government because of the fact
that in many cases two persons are
paid for doing the work that could
easily be done by one. In the mean
time have caused an inquiry to be
made as to the amount in money of
this loss. The results of this inquiry
are that the loss amounts to at least
$i0,000,000 annually. For example, it
appears that a very substantial econ
omy would result from putting ex-
perienced and traineA officers in
charge of the first and second-class
postoffices instead Of selecting the
fpostmasters in accordance with the
present practice. AS the annual oper-
ating expenses of the first and second
class offices aggregate the enormous
sum OF more than $S0,000,000," un-
doubtedly If the postmasters of these
offices were embraced in the classified
service, and required to devote all
their time to the public service, the
annual savings would eventually rep
resent many millions of dollars The
saving in salaries alone, not taking
into account any saving due to in
creased efficiency Of operation, would
amount to about $4,5O0.000. At the
present time the salaries of postmas-
ters of the first and second-class
amount to s6,076,900 while the sal
aries of assistant postmasters of the
same classes amount to $2,S20,000. If
the position of postmaster were
placed in the classified service and
those officers were given salaries
equal to 20 per cent more than the
salaries now given to the assistant
postmasters, the latter position being
no longer required, there would be a
saving in salaries to the government
of S4.512, 900. In the case of post,
masters at offices of the third-class a
large annual saving could be made.
Pension Agencies.
An annual saving of nearly $4,000
could be made il the position of pen,
sion agent were placed in the classi
fled service, since the work now done
by a pension agent at a salary OF
$4,000 and a chief clerk at salary
ranging between S1,400 and s2,25C
could easily be done by one person in
the permanent classified service at q
: salary varying from S2,100 to $4,000
Greater economy and efficiency WOULD
result from the abolition of the pen
sion agencies and from the adoption
of plan in accordance with which
pensions would be paid by the pension
Office in Washington.
District Land Office.
What is true in the matter of pay
ment of pensions is also true in the
service under the general land office
The field service Of this Office could bt
Nmore efficiently and economically op
Grated IL it were provided by law tina
the Office of receiver of district lant
offices be abolished and the duties
transferred to the register, assisted
by bonded clerk, and the registe
placed in the classified service. 1t ha.
several times been estimated tina
more than 100000 would be savet
annually and the efficiency of tn,
service greatly increased by the adop
tion of such plan.
Internal Revenue and Customs Offices
Lerge expenditures are made TO
salaries of political appointees in tn,
internal revenue and customs serv
ices. In both services direct saving
in salaries, and an indirect econom,
through increased efficiency, woul,
follow transfer of such offices to tn
classified service.
Other Local Offices.
In the other field services the say
ing which would result from the class
ification of the local officers under tn
departments is not as marked or prof.
ably capable of as exact estimation a
in those mentioned. but there is n
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