The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-17

FIan or tnc WorSs
 Tn accordance with my instructions the commission on economy and etfi- ciency. which organized to aid me in the inquiry. has directed it's efforts primarily to the formulation of con crete recommendations looking to the betterment of the fundamental condi- tions under which governmental opera tions must be carried OF. With basis thus laid 1t has proceeded to the prose cution of detailed studies of individual services and classes of work and of particular practices and methods. push ing these studies as far and covering as many points and services as the re- sources and time at It's disposal have permitted.
 In approaching its task it has divid- ed the work into five fields of inquiry having to do respectively with organi- zation. personnel. business methods, ac- counting and reporting and the budget
 Organization.
 have stated that the congress. the president and the administrative of- ficers are attempting to discharge the duties with which they are iutrusted without full information as to the agencies through which the work of the government is being performed. To provide more complete information on this point the commission has sub mitted to me q report on the organi- zatiou of the government as it existed duly 1. 1911. This report. which is transmitted herewith. shows in great detail, by means of outlines, not only the departments. commissions, bureaus and offices through which the govern ment performs its varied activities. but also the sections. shops. field sta tions. etc, constituting the su ubordInate divisions through which the work is actually done. It shows for the serv- ices at Washington each such final unit as a laboratory. library. shop and administrative subdivision and for the services outside of Washington each station and point at which any activ- ity of the government is carried or-
 Specific Economics Demonstrated.
 With this outline as basis tne com mission has entered upon the prepara- tion of three series of reports.
 The first series deals with the man. ner In which the services of the goy- ernment should be grouped in depart ments.
 The second and third series of re- ports deal, respectively. with the or ganization and activities of particular services and the form of organization for the performance of particular busi- ness operations.
 One of the reports of the second se ries is upon the revenue cutter service. which costs the government over g. 100000 each year In the opinion of the commission it's varied activities can be performed with equal or great CT advantage by other services. The commission therefore recommends that it be abolished. It Is estimated that by so doing a saving of not less than $1 100000 a year can be made.
 Another report illustrating the sec ond series recommends that the light house and life saving services be ad- ministered by single bureau instead of. as at present. by two. bureaus locat- ed in different departments. These services have much in common Geo graphically they are similarly located: administrativeIy they have many of the same problems. It is estimated that consolidation would result tn a sa-ing of not less than $1Oo.O00 an nualIy.
 In e third report the commission has recommended the abolition of the re- turns office of the department of the interior. This action. in its opinion, will cause no. loss in service to the public and will result in a direct saw ing of not less than $25.0O0 a year. in addition to large indirect economy i'm the reduction of work to be per formed in the several offices.
 In another report the commission has recommended the consolidation of the six auditing offices of the treasury and the inclusion in the auditing system of the seven naval officers who now audit customs accounts at the principal ports. The changes recommended will improve in many ways the auditing of public accounts and will result in an lmmedi- ate saving of at least S135.O0O annually.
 third series Of reportsis being pre- pared on those branches of the organ ization which are technicaI-in charac- ter and which exist for the service of the government as a whoIe-branches which have to do with such matters as pulAic printing. heating. lighting. the making of repairs. the providing of transportation and the compilation of statistics where mechanical equipment is essential.
 Abolition of Local Offices.
 Perhaps the part of the organization in which the greatest economy in pub lie expenditure Is possible is to be found in the numerous local offices of the government. In some instances the establishment and the discontinunnce of these local offices are matters of ad- ministFative discretion. Tn other in- stances they are esfa flishe1 Inv norma nent law in such a manner that their disco,ltinuance is beyond the power of the president or that Of any executive officer Tn number of services these laws were passed nearly century ago. Changes in economic conditions have taken place which have had the effect of rendering certain offices not only useless. but even worse than useless in that their very existence needlessly swells expenditures and complcates the ad G-e4ou,