The Holly chieftain., 1912-01-19


mands in many buildings the present
equipment IL taxed to its limit ana u
the present methods are continued moc"
of this wiring must be done over. IN
many places employees are worAlnS AZ .
great physical disadvantage, due TO IN
adequate and improper lighting. and
thereby with reduced efficiency. In every
place where the inquiry has been con-
Quoted 1t appears that there 10 lares
waste: that without the cost OF re~i1-
ing simply by giving proper attention 70
location of lights and the use Of proper
lamps and rehectors. the light efficiency
at points where needed may be much IN
creased and the cost OF current reduceo
from " to % per cent. Other inquiries
into the use which 10 being made OF prop,
critics and equipment are contempiatso
which promise even larger results.
Lack Of Specifications.
Tho Importance of establishing and
maintaining standard specifications II
found not only in the possibility of very
materially reducing the direct cost Of gov
ernment trading. but also in tnsuring 70
the service materials. supplies and equip
ment which are better adapted TO It's
purposes. One OF the results OF indenn-
iteness of specifications 10 to impose con-
tract conditions which make It extra ha-
zardous for persons to enter into con-
tractual relations. This not only deprivss
tho government Of the advantage OF
broad competition. but causes 1t to pay
an added margin in price to vendors who
must carry the risk.
Better Methods for Purchasing.
Through long period of years and by
numerous laws and orders there has
grown up q procedure governing public
advertising and contracting that IL more
burdsnsome and expensive in some cases
than Is necessary. The procedure Is not
uniform in the various departments: 1t 10
not uniform in many cases for the DIFF
ferent services In the same department
To make uniform the requirements SO far
a. practicable will be in the interest OF
economy and Efficiency and bring about
that simplicity that will secure the larg-
est opportunity for contractors to bid for
government work. and will secure for the
government the most favorable prices OBJ
tained by any purchaser.
The Budget.
The United States Is the only great ma
ton whose government 10 operated with
out budget This fact seems to be more
striking when It is considered that bud
gets and budget procedures are tho out
growth Of democratic doctrines and have
had an important part In the development
Of modern constitutional rights. The
American commonwealth has suffered
| much from irresponsibiiity on the part Of
its governing agencies. The constitution
eminent responsive to public opinion and
responsible for its acts.
The Budget ~ an Annual Program.
A budget should be the means for get
ting before the legislative branch. before
the press. and before the people . definite
annual program of business to be hnan-
ced: It should be in the nature of q pros
pectus both of revenues and expendi-
lures: It should comprehend every rela-
tion of the government to the people.
whether with reference to the raising of
revenues or the rendering Of service.
Pubile-WeIfare Questions.
The principal government objects in
which the people of the United States
are interested include:
The national defense; the protection of
persons and property: the promotion of
friendly relations and the protection OF
American interests abroad: the regulation
OF commerce and Industry; the promotion
Of agriculture. fisheries. forestry and min
ing; tho promotion of manufacturing,
commerce. and banking; the promotion of
transportation and communication; the
postal service, including postal savings
and parcels post; the care for and utilt-
zation of the public domain: the promo
| tion OF education. art, science and recre-
alton: the promotion of the public health:
| the care and education of the Indians
| and other wards OF the nation.
These are public-weifare questions in
| which assume every citizen has q vital
!, interest. believe that every member of
congress- as an official representative of
the people, each editor. q Unofficial
representative of public opinion. each
citizen. as q beneficiary of the trust I'm
| posed on officers of the government,
should be able readily to ascertain how
much has been spent for each OF these
| purposes; how much has been appropri-
| tho
! administration Is asking for each OF these
purposes for the next fiscal year.
| Furthermore. each person interested
| should have laid before him a clear. we'll
| dlgested statement showing in detail
| whether moneys appropriated have been
| economically spent and whether each d.
| vision or office has been efficiently run
| This is the Information which should be
| available each year in the form of
| budget and in detail accounts and reports
supporting the budget.
Continuance Of the Commission.
ask the continuance OF this commits
sion on economy and efficiency because
| of the excellent beginning which has been
| made toward the reorganization of the
| machinery Of this government on busi-
| ness principles. ! ask 1t because Its work
| is entirely non-partisan in character and
| ought to apply to every citizen who
| wishes to give effectiveness to popular
government in which we feel Just pride,
| The work further commends itself for
the reason that the cost of organization
| and work has been carefully considered
| at every point. Three months were taken
| In consideration of plans before the In
qury was begun; six months were then
| spent in preliminary Investigations before
the commission was organized before
March 8. 19ll when I asked for con-
tinuatton OF the original appropriation