Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-01-18
President in Message to-
Congress on Economy
Favors Divorcing Jobs
From Politics.
WOULD CONTINUE
PRESENT COMMISSION
The improvements Already.
Made in Government Ser
vice Have Saved 10 Times
i, Cost Of Investigation.

Washington, D. c., Jan. IL How
the people of the United States may
have saved for them millions Of
dollars annually in the operation OF
their governmental machinery waA
outlined by President Taft today in q
message to congress on economy and
efficiency in the government serice."
What the government does with
nearly $1,O0O,000,OOO each year." said
the president, "is of as much concern
to the average citizen as is the man-5
ner Of obtaining this amount OF money
for the public use.''
Probably the most radical proposal
advanced by the president in today's
message was that all administrative
officers Of the government in the de
partments at Washington and In tns
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 ap-
pointed by the president with the
necessity of senate confirmation. he
said. but upon merit. "The extension
Of the merit system to these officers
and a needed read diustnen OF
'salaries,'' said g he. have I'M
jportant effect IN securing greater
economy and efficiency. The view that
these various offices are to be filled
as a result of political consideration
has for It's consequence the necessity
that the president and members Of
congress devote to matters of patron
age time which they should devote to
questions of policy and admfnistra-
ton"
Wants Commission Continued.
The president did not attempt to ex-s
plain in detail the work Of the economy
and efficiency commission created by
act of congress year and half ago..
He sketched the outlines of improve
mnts that 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 commission by
granting an appropriation Of 100000
with $4,000 for printing its reports.
From time to time, he added, reports
of the commission proposing particu-
lar reforms would be sent to congress.
'I ask" said the president, the con-
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. ask 1t because
it's work is entirely nonparttsan in
character and ought to apply to every
citizen who wishes to give effective
ness to popular government in which
we feel just pride. I sincerely hope
that congress will not, in it's anxiety
to reduce expenditures. economize by
cutting off an appropriation which ID
likely to offer greater opportunity for
real economy in the future than any
other estimated for.
Expenses, $4,000; Saving, $4,000, 900.
To date, the president said, the com.
mission has cost the people about
$3.50, 1000 Without having put In effect
more than a few reforms 1t has sug-
gested changes that will save $4,000
900 year. These" said the president,
represent only few Of the many
services which should be subjected
to like painstaking inquiry. II this 10
done, it is beyond question that many
millions of savings may be realized.
The value of such an investigation In
increased interest which officers OF
the government will take in their own
departments; their own work and that
of their subordinates, he said, could
hardly be estimated.
"The initial work. said President
Taft, has been we'll done. The In
quiry with its constructive measures
is we'll under way. The work should
now be presented with vigor and re-
ceiye the financial support necessary
to make it effective during the next
fiscal year. Every economy which
has been or will be effected through
changes in organization or method
will inure to the benefit of the gov.
ernment and Of the people in increas-
ing measure through the years which
follow. am convinced that results
which are really worth while cannot he
secured, or at least can be secured
only in small part, through the prosecu-
tion at irregular intervals or special
inquiries bearing on particular services
or features of administration The
benefits thus obtained must be but
temporary. This problem Of good ad-
is not one that can be