The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-01-17

cured. or at least can be secured only
In small part, through the prosecution
at irregular intervals of special In
quiries bearing ON particular services
or features of administration. The
benefits thus obtained must be but
temporary The problem of good ud.
ministratlon is not one that can be
solved at one time. 1t is a continuous
ly present one.
Plan Of the Work.
In accordance with my instructions
the commission on economy and efii-
cheney, which organized to aid me i'm
the inquiry, has directed its efforts
primarily to the formulation of con-
trete recommendations looking TO the
betterment of the fundamental condi-
tlons under which governmental opera
tlons must be carried on. With q basis
thus laid It 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 its disposal have
permitted.
In approaching its task it has divld-
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.
l have stated that the congress, the
president and the administrative Of
flcers are attempting to discharge the
duties with which they are intrusted
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 a report on the organi-
zation Of the government as it existed
July ], 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 subordinate
divisions through which the work Is
actually done. 1t 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-
fly Of the government is carried on.
Specific Economies Demonstrated.
With this outline as basis the COM
mission has entered upon the prepara-
ton of three series of reports.
The first series deals with the man
ner in which the services Of the gov
ernment should be grouped in depart
ments.
The second and third series OF re-
ports deal, respectively. with the or
ganlzation 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 Sc
ries Is upon the revenue cutter service,
which costs the government over
S2,j00,OO0 each year. In the opinion OF
the commission its varied activities
can be performed with equal or great
er advantage by other services. The
commission therefore recommends that
it be abolished. II is estimated that
by so doing a saving of not less than
100000 a year can he 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;
admnistratively they have many of
the same problems. II IS estimated
that consolidation would result in a
saving of not less than 100000 an
nually.
In third report the commission has
recommended the abolition of the re-
turns office OF the department Of the
Interior This action, I'm its opinion,
will cause no loss in service to the
public and will result I'm direct saw
ing Of not less than $4,000 n year, In
addition to a 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 mt the principal ports.
The changes recommended will improve
in many ways the auditing OF public
accounts and will result in an immedi-
Ite saving OF at least $135,000 annually.
A third series of reports Is being pre-
pared on those branches of the organ
izatlon which are technical in charac-
ter and which exist for the service Of
the government as a whole-branches
which have TO do with such matters as
public 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 pnrt Of the organization
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