Omaha daily bee., 1912-01-18
MAKES EFFICIENCY, HIS THEME
Asks Appropriation to Continue
Economy Commission.
HOW TO SAVE MANY MILLIONS
Use Made of Billion Per Year Con-
Germs Every Citizen.
WOULD FREE WORK OF POLITICS
Chief Executive Sketches Outlines
of Improvements which Can BE
; Made In Government Service
at Great saving.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 17.-Hcw the
people of the United States may have
saved for them millions OF dollars an
nuslly In the operation OF The govern
mental machinery was outlined By Pres
ident Taft today in message TO congress
on economy and efficiency in the gov
eminent service
What the government does with nearly
81, ,ooo, 900 each year said the president,
''1s of as much concern TO the average
citizen as is the manner Of obtaining this
amount of money for the public use"
Probably the most radical proposal ad-
yanced by the president in today's mes
sage was that all administrative officers
Of the government In the departments
at washington and In the field be put
under the civil service; be removed from
the influence OF politics and that their
terms OF office be not limited as at
present to four years Such officers
should not be appointed by the president
with the necessity OF senate confirmation,
he said. but upon merit.
The extension of the merit system
TO these officers and needed read
justment Of salaries" said he, will have
important effects in securing greater
economy and efficiency. The view that
these various offices are to be filled as
Q result of political consideration mas
for its consequence the necessity that the
president and members of congress de-
vote to matter of patronage time which
they should devote to questions OF policy
and administration"
.
Outline of improvement.
The president did not attempt TO ex-
plain in detail the work OF the economy
ans efficiency commission created BY ae,
OF congress a year and half ago. lie
sketched the outlines Of improvements
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 commis-
sion by granting an appropriation OF sao'-
go with 10000 for printing its reports.
From time to time. he added. reports OF
the combustion proposing particular re-
forms would be sent TO congrsss-
"I ask" said the president. "the can
tinuance 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.
1 ask Il because its work Is entirely non
partisan in character and ought to apply
TO every citizen who wishes TO give eff
fectiveness TO popular government IN
which We feel Just pride. / sincerely
hope that congress will not, In Its anxiety
10 reduce expenditures, economiEe by cut
ting off an appropriation which is likely
TO offer greater opportunity for real
economy in the future than any other
estimated for
save. Two Millions Yearly.
To date, the president said. the commits
sion has cost the people about 'lO,Oca
Without having put in effect more thAn
a few reforms it has suggested changes
that will save s2.Oo0ooo year.
These" said the president. represent
only few Of the many services which
should be subjected to like painstaking
inquiry. II this Is done. 1t is beyond ques-
ton that many millions of savings may
be realized" The value Of such iuyestI-
cation in increased interest which officers
Of the government win take in their own
departments, their work and that Of
their subordinates, he said. could hardly
be estimated. 4
The initial work" said President Taft,
s'has been well done. The inquiry with its
Continued on Second Page)