The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-01-26

Message Proposes Civil Service
for Federal Officers.
Recommends Continuancs Of Gem.
miasion On EfFicisncy oseause
Of Good Beginning Made.

Warrington, D. Glow the people
OF the United States may have saved
for them millions Of dollars annually
in the operation Of their governmental
machinery was outlined BY President
TAFT in . message to congress on
economy and efficiency in the Rov-
eminent service"
What the government does with
nearly 81, 900, 600, 900 each year" said
the president, lis Of a. much concern
to the average citizen as is the man
ner Of obtaining this amount of money
for the public use"
Probably the most radical proposal
advanced by the president in this mes
sage was that all administrative off,
GERS of the government in the depart
ments at Washington and in the field
be put under the civil service; be re-
moved 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 readiust-
ment of salaries, said he, twill have
important effects in securing greater
economy and efficiency. The view
that these various Offices are to be
filled as result Of political considers
tion has for its consequence the neces-
sity that the president and members
of congress devote to matters of pat
ronage, time which they should devote
to questions of policy and administra-
tion."
81 ask" said the president. "the
continuance 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. ! ask it because
it's work is entirely non-partisan in
character and ought to apply to every
citizen who wishes to give effective
ness to popular government in which
we feel just pride. ! sincerely hope
that congress will not, in its anxiety
to reduce expenditures, economic by
cutting off an appropriation which 10
likely to offer greater opportunity for
real economy in the future than any
other estimated for"
To date, the president said, the
commission had cost the people about
$3.50, 900. Without having put in eff
feet more than few reforms it has
suggested changes that will save ST.
0O0, 900 year.
In many ways, the president in
formed congress, q decrease in the
cost of government might be assured.
There is need, he said, Of reorganiza-
ton Of the government departments.
q consolidation and . wedding out Of
bureaus that overlap in their work;
scores Of "local Offices" throughout
the country should be abolished, and
hundreds Of political appointees who
do but little work should be taken of
the payroll.
The Treasury department, Mr.. Taft
showed, looked after the nationl's
finances and the life-saving service.
The commission, he said, had recon-
mended the abolition Of the revenue
cutter service, which would mean .
saving Of 81, 00O, 900 year.
The president urged the adoption Of
the budget system, which would
bring before congress, the press and
the people of the country not only the
proposed expenditures of the govern
ment, but its revenues.
"The United States il the only
great nation whose government is
operated without budget, he said.
later, the president declares, he in
tends to send to congress q plan for
the retirement of civil service employ
es on pensions.