Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25
SEES BETTER AND
CHEAPER SERVICE
President Submits an Economy
and Efficiency Message.
RESULTS OF INQUIRY TOLD
Special Commission Found Extrava-
CANT and Anticipated Methods in
Government Work and Many
Unnecessary Offices.

Government Work and Many
Unnecessary Offices.
Washington. - President Taft has
submitted to congress special message
on economy and efficiency in the govern
ment service. The message in part is as
follows
TO tie Senate and House Of Representa-
ttges
submit for the information o. the con
gress this report Of progress made in the
inquiry into the efficiency and economy Of
the methods Of tTansacting public bust
ness
Efficiency and economy in the govern
ment service have been demanded with
increasing insistence for generation.
Real economy is the result of efficient or
ganization By perfecung the Organiza-
Lon the same benefits may be obtained
at less expense. A reduction in the to-
tai Of the annual appropriations is not
In itself proof Of economy, since it is
often accompanied by deer ase in eff
cheney. The needs Of the nation may de-
Iaand a large Increase Of expenditure. yet
10 keep the total appropriation within
the expected reveneu is necessary to the
maintenance OF public credit.
Cpon tine president must rest a large
share Or the responsibility for the de-
Inands 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
Znade for other purposes.
Reason for the Inquiry.
Recognizing ny share Of responsibility
for efficient and economical adminlstra-
EaF e.rr1aa.v-r7raE
two years with the assistance Of heads
q departments to secure the best re
suits AS one Of the means to this end
requested a grant from congress to
make my efforts more effective
An appropriation of 100000 was made
June -, 1910. to enable the president to
inquire into the methods of transacting
the public business Of the executive de
partments and other government estab-
Iishments and to recommend to congress
such legislation as may be necessary to
carry into effect changes found to be de-
sirable that cannot be accomplished by
executive action alone. I have been given
this fund to enable me to take action
and to make specific recommendations
with respect to the details Of transacting
the business of an organization whose &C
Invites are almost as varied as those Of
the entire business world. The opera
tQns of the government affect the inter
est Oh every person llklHS WlLllD the IllT
isdlcttOn of the United States. It's or
ganization embraces stations and Centers
OF work located IN every city and in
many local subdivisions Of the country.
Its gross expenditures amount to nearly
l,00G.O00O00 annually. Including the per
sonnet of the military and naval estab-
lishments. more than 100000 persons are
required to do the work imposed by law
upon the executive branch of the govern
ment
Plan of the Work
In accordance with my Instructions. the
commission on economy and efficiency,
which L organized to aid me in the in
quiry. has directed it's efforts primarily
TO the formulation of concrete recommen-
dations looking to the betterment of the
fundamental conditions under which gov
erumental operations must be carried on.
With a basis thus laid, il has proceeded
TO the prosecution of detailed studies of
individual services and classes OF work,
and of particular practices and methods,
pushing these studies as far and cover
Ing as many points and services. as the
resources and time at its disposal have
permitted.
Tn approaching its task it has divided
the work into five fields of inquiry hav-
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
oG reports. The first series deals with
the manner in which the services of the
government should be grouped in depart
ments This is a matter of fundamental
Importance. 1t 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
ard activities Of particular services and
the form Of organization for the perform
aEce of particular business operations
One of the reports of the 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 &C
tiyities can be performed with equal or
greater, advantage by other services
The commission, therefore. recommends
that it be abolished. Il is estimated that
by so doing a saving of not less than ST.
100000 a year can be made.
Another report illustrating the second
series recommends that the lighthouse
by a single bureau, instead Of as at pres
ent by two bureaus located in different
departments These services have much
similarly located, Enthusiastically. they
estimated that consolidation would result
in saving OF not less than 100000 an
nualIy