Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-04

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with the advice and consent of the sen
ate, and recommends that various 10
cal officers, such as postmasters, col
lectors of internal revenue, ETC., anC
heads of bureaus in the departmental
service, be included in the classified
service. is transmitted herewith CAP
pendix No. u. The report and recon-
mendations are approved by me.
Legislation Needed to Establish the
! Merit System.
| In the interest of an efficient and
economical administration in the vast
business OF the government, | urge
the necessity for the inauguration OF
this important reform, and recommend
that the necessary amendments be
made to the laws governing appoint.
ments, such amendments to take effect
not later than July 1, 1918, so that
there may be secured to the people
the benefits to be derived from a con-
duct of their affairs by officers select
ed on a merit basis and devoting their
time and talents solely to the duties
of their Offices
Consolidation of Lighthouse and Life
Saving Services.
The commissions report (Appendix
No. y recommends that the Life-Sav-
! ing service of the department of the
treasury be discontinued as. a separate
organization and that the maintenance
and operation of the life-saving sta
! tions of the country be made one Of
the duties of the Bureau of Light
,, houses of the department Of commerce
and labor. I concur in this recommen-
dation and urge that the necessary
legislation for carrying it into effect
be enacted.
Both of these services are organized
and maintained for the same general
purpose - the protection of life and
property endangered along the coasts
and other navigable waters. Both
maintain stations along the coast.
which are located for the most part
in close proximity. Both have SUBJ
stantially the same business problems
to meet in locating, constructing and
maintaining these stations; in recruit
ing the personnel; in manufacturing
or purchasing equipment; in purchas-
ing, housing in depots, and distribut-
ing supplies; in operation a fleld-in-
spection service; in maintaining tele-
phonic and other means of communi-
cation; in disbursing funds; in keep
ing proper books Of accounts; and in
rendering reports showing financial
and other transactions. The mainte-
nance of two separate services, as at
present, means a. duplication of or
ganization in respect to all of these
operations. The recommendation of
the commission does not contemplate
any essential change in the work Of
the life-saving stations; it is for the
transfer Of the business management
Of these institutions to the bureau Of
lighthouses. That bureau being fully
organized for the administration of
stations of this character will be able
to direct and manage these stations
with comparatively little addition to
its present force and equipment The
commission estimates that, in addi-
ton to the advantage that will be
obtained through having these two
services operated by the same organi-
cation, a direct economy will be Sc
cured of at least 100000 annually,
and that the saving will greatly ex-
coed this sum after the first year.
= Revenue-Cutter Service.
The report of the commission on the
revenue-cutter service (Appendix No.
81 represents a detailed investigation
Of the history, organization, and &C
tivities of this branch Of the govern
ment service and its relations to 9TH
er services. The conclusion is reach
ed that all of the duties now being per-
formed by this service can be per-
formed with equal efficiency by other
services and that great economy will
result by having these duties so per-
formed. The commission accordingly
that the service be abol-
ished as distinct organization: that
It's equipment be distributed among
other services requiring the use OF
marine craft: and that provision be
made for the performance of the work
now being done by it by such other
services.
With these fundamental recommen.
dations of the commission am in full
accord, and I recommend that the nec
essary action be enacted to put them
into effect.
At the present time the revenue
cutter service is organized as naval
The country Is. in ef- |
feet. maintaining two navies, and is |
using one of these navies for the per-
Torrance of duties of a civil charac- |
ter. The maintenance of two separate !
naval establishments entails unneces-
Iary expense and is not in the inter