The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-18
TAFT RECOMMENDS
 CIVIL SERVICE FOR ]. ALL DEPARTMENTS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE |,

ciently he may have performed his duties, will inevitably be raised periodically Sc long as appointments to these offices must be confirmed by the Senate. and so long as appointments to them must be made every four years, just so long will it be impossible to provide a force of em- ployes with a. reasonably permanent ten ure who ars qualified by reason of educa- ton and training to do the best work"
 Gives Examples
 Giving examples of excessive govern nlent expenditure along certain lines. the President told Congress that in one de- partment it cost $5.S4 per thousand to handle incoming mail and in another de- partment $84.40 per thousand For hand ling outgoing mail, one department ex- pended s594 per thousand; another S69.S9. Either one department paid too much or tIi9 other not enough. he said. In travel afne the government eXpends about SIP 0 900 8 year. Definite tests. he pointed out, have shown that saving in this item alone of little over half of l cent a mile probably could be effected.
 Through the introduction of labor saV- ing machinery, through the elimination of unnecessary copy work, by cutting down needless expense in the distribu- ton of public documents and in many other ways could millions be saved each year. Tine President urged the adoption of the "budget system" which would bring before Congress, the press and the peo- pie of the country not only the proposed expenditures of the government, but it's revenue. The United States is the only great nation whose government is op- erated without a budget" he said. Later, the President declared, he intends to send to Congress plan for the retirement of civil service employees on pensions, which will safeguard the government interest and yet provide for their old age.
 The Message To the Senate and the House of Repre- sentatives:
 I submit for the information of the Congress this report of progress made in the inquiry into the efficiency and economy of the methods of atransacting public business.
 Efficiency and economy in the govern ment service have been demanded with increasing insistence for a generation. Real economy is the result of efficient organization. By pelfectings the organ ization' tIte same benefits may be ob- tained at less expense. reduction in the total of the annual appropriations is not in itself a proof of economy since il is often accompanied by decrease in efficiency. The needs of the nation may demand larger increase of expendi-
 
 within the expected revenue is necessary to the maintenance of public credit.
 Upon the President must rest a large share of the responsibility for the de- mands 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 made for other purposes.
 Reason fOr the Tuouiry
 Recognizing my share of responsibility for efficient and economical administra- ton, I have endeavored during the past two years. with the assistance of heads of departments, to secure tse best results. As one of the means to this end I re- ouested grant from Congress to make my efforts more effective.
 An appropriation of si00,000 was made June 9, 1910. 'to enable the President to inquire into the methods of transact ing the public business of the executive departments and other government estab- lishments and to recommend to Congress such legislation as may be necessary to carry into effect changes found to be desirable that can not be accomplished by executive action alone" l have been given this fund to enable me to take ac- ton and to make specific recommenda- tions with respect to the details of trans acting the business of an organization whose activities are almost as varied as those of the entire world. The operations of the government effect the interest of every person living within the jurisdic-