The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1912-01-19
Taft Tells Congress Results Of
Economy Inquiry.
SUBMITS SPECIAL MESSAGE
How Increased Effiolonoy In Govern
mont Service at Lower Cost May
30 Obtained, According TO
Special Commission.

follows:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
lives:
submit for the information of tho con-
gress this report of progress made in the
inquiry into the efficiency and economy of
the methods of transacting public bust
ness.
Efficiency and economy In the govern
ment service have been demanded with
increasing fnsistence for generation.
Real economy Is the result of efficient or
ganization. By perfecting the organiza-
ton the same benefits may be obtained
at less expense. A reduction in the to-
tai Of the annual appropriations IL not
in itself proof of economy. since It is
often accompanied by decrease in eff
cheney. The needs of the nation may de-
mand large increase of expenditure. yet
to keep the total appropriation within
the expected revenue Is necessary to the
maintenance OF public credit.
Upon the president must rest large
share of the responsibility for the de-
mands made upon the treasury for the
current administration OF the executive
branch OF the government. Upon the
congress must rest responsibility for
those grants of public funds which are
made for other purposes.
Plan Of the Work.
In accordance with my instructions, the
commission on economy and efficiency.
which 1 organized to aid me in the In
quiry, has directed Its Efforts primarily
to the formulation OF concrete recommen-
dations looking to the betterment OF the
fundamental conditions under which gov
ernmental operations must be carried on
With a basis thus laid It has proceeded
to the prosecution OF detailed studies of
nj M gla -
and of particular practices ana methods
pushing these studies as far sand cover
Ing rs many points and services. as the
resources and time at Its disposal have
permitted.
In approaching It's task It has divided
the work into five fields Of inquiry hav-
Ing to do respectively with organization.
personnel. business methods. accounting
and reporting. and the budget.
Comprehensive Plan Of Organization.
on Organization the commission has en-
tered upon the preparation OF three series
OF reports. The first series deals with
the manner in which the services OF the
government should be grouped in depart
ments. This Is n matter OF fundamental
Importance. II is only after a satisfac-
tory solution OF this problem that many
important measures of reform become
possible.
The second and third series OF reports
deal. respectively. with the organization
and activities OF particular services, and
the form Of organization for tho perform
ance OF particular business operations
One OF the reports of tho second Sc
ries Is upon the revenue cutter service.
which costs the government over two and
half million dollars each year. In the
opinion Of the commission Its varied ao-
tivities can be performed with equal. or
greater. advantage by other services
The commission, therefore. recommends
that II be abolished IL In estimated that
by No doing saving OF not less than a.
coo0oo year can be made.
Another report Illustrating the second
series recommends that the lighthouse
and life saving services be administered
by single bureau. instead Of as Mt pres
ent BY two bureaus located In different
departments These services have much
In common. Geographically. the are
similarly located; AdmlniStrativeiy, they
have many OF the same problems II IL
estimated that consolidation would result
In saving Of not less than $4,000 an
nually.
Abolition Of Local Offices.
Perhaps the part OF the organization In
which the greatest economy In public eN-
pendture is possible Is to be found In
the numerous local offices OF the govern
ment. In some Instances the establish.
ment and the dscontinuance Of these To-
cal offices are matters OF administrative
discretion. In other instances they are
established by permanent law IN such a
manner that their discontinunnce n be.
yond the power Of the president or that
Of any executive officer
The responsibility for the maintenance
Of these conditions must naturally be al
vided between the congress and the exc
eutiye Rut that the executive has per
formed his duty when ha has called the
attention OF tho congress 10 the matter
must also be admitted. Realizing my re-
sponsibllity In tho premises. I have d.
rscted the commission 10 prepare re-
port setting forth the positions In ,ha
local services Of the government which
may he discontinued with advantage, the
saving which would result from such ne-
ton and tho changes In law which nro
necessary Go carry into effect changes In
organization found Go be desirable on
the coming In Of the report, such ofnces
~ may b. found useless ana can be ahol.
ished will be 20 treated by executive or,
der
Classification Of Local Officers.
In my recent message 10 the congress
I urged consideration ~ tho necessity Of
placing IN the classified service all OF tho
local officers under the departments OF
the treasury, The interior, ppsiufieo and
commerce and labor
The next step which must he taken IL
20 require 81 heads Of bureaus In tho de,
phfimnnt= ht Washington. and ~ most Of
the local officers under the departments. ,
qualifications ~ capacity similar To those
now required Of certain heads ~ bureaus
and ~ local officers, Tho extension OF
the merit system 90 these officers and n
needed feadiuutmHnt NJ salaries will have
important effects IN securing greater
economy and efficiency.
In the nfHi place tho possession by tho
ineumbHnts Of these positions Of requisite
qualifications must In itself promote sfn-
cheney,
In the second place. tho removal NJ 10.
cal officers from the realm of political
patronage IN many caHeH would reduce
the pay roll ~ the flrid services AZ the
present tins the inrumbenis Of many Of
these positions leave the actual perform
hnrs " many ~ their duties 10 deputies
and assistants The government often
pays two persons for doing work that
could easily be done by ono, What n tho
les- 10 the government cannot be stated,
but that Il 10 very large cannot BE- denied.
In tho third place. 20 long 80 local ~.
nfsfs are within the sphere ~ political