The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-17
TAFT'S MESSAGE
ON GOVERNMENT
ECONOMY TODAY
Shows Wherein the People
Can Save Millions of
Dollars
WANTS ALL GOVERNMENT
SERVANTS UNDER CIVIL SERVICE
AL Administrative Positions Should Be
Made by the President Upon Mer.
1t of the Appointecs and Without tho
Consent of the Senate.

Washington, Jan. l7-How the peo.
pie of the United States NAV have
saved for them millions of dollars an
nuallN in the operation of their gov
ernmental machinery was outlined by
PRESIDENT Taft today in a message to
congress on economy and efficiency
IN the government service"
What the government does with
nearly $1,000, 100000 each year" said
the president. lis of as much con-
corn to the average citizen as is the
manner of obtaining this amount of
money for the public use."
PROBABLY the most radical proposal
advanced by the president in today's
MESSAGE was that all administrative
on!cers OF the government in the de-
partmants at Washington and in the
heid ne put under civil service; he re-
moved from the influence of politics
and that their terms of office be not
UNITED as at present to four years.
Such officers should not be appointed
by the president with the necessity
of senate confirmation, he said. hui
upon merit. THE extension of ths
merit system to these officers and a
needed readjustment of salaries" said
ne. VIII have important effect in se-
! curing greater economy and effcien.
cE." The view that these various Of
noes are to be filled as result OF
poiltical consideration has for its con.
sequence the necessity that the presi.
dent and members of congress devote
TO matters of patronage time which
theN should devote to questions of DO.
licN and administration"
The president did not attempt to cx.
plain in detail the work of the econ-
omy and efficiency commission created
nH act OF congress a year and half
ago. He sketched the outlines of inn
proVements that he said could be
made in government service; declared
that they would effect a saving OF
many millions of dollars and asked
that congress continue the commission
bN granting an appropriation of 5000.
900 with $4,000 for printing its re-.
ports. From time to time, he added.
reports of the commission proposing
particular reforms would be sent to
| congress.
Il ask" said the president, "the
continuance of this commission on
economy and efficiency because of the
excellent beginning which has been
made towards the REORGANIZATION of
the machinery of this government on
business principles l ask it because
lts work is entirely non-partisan in
character and ought to apply 10 every
! citizen who wishes to give effective
ness 10 popular government in which
we feel just pride. l sincerely hone
''ias N'hS'eSS Will moi, III It's anxiety
to reduce expenditures. econon,izc by
cutting off an appropriation which is
likely to offer greater opportunity for
real economy in the future than any
other estimated for
To date the president said. the COM
mission has cost the people about
$4,000. Without having put in ef-
feet more than few reforms it has
suggested changes that will save So
100000 year. These said the
president, represent only few of the
many services which should he sub
jected to Il like painstaking inquiry.
II this is done. it is beyond question
that many millions of savings may loo
realized" The value of such inves-
tigation in increased interest which Of
ficers of the government will take in
their own departments; their own
work and that of their subordinates,
he said. could hardly be estimated.
Initial Work Done
The initial work. said President
Taft, has been we'll done. The in
quiry with its constructive measures
is we'll under way. The work should
now be presented with vigor and re-