The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-08
ASKS FOR MONEY
The President i'm a Special Mes
sage to Congress
Urges an Appropriation of
$25O,OOO at Once.
FOR HIS SUCCESSORS USE
To Extend Work of Economy
and Efficiency Commission.
Reviews the Work That Has
Been Accomplished.
FOR HIS SUCCESSORS USE

Washington, Jan. S.-Congress was
asked today in a special message from
the president to appropriate $780, for
continuing the investigation of the
commission on economy and efficiency
in the executive departments of the
government.
In his message the president points
out that there is no greater service
than can be rendered to the country
than that of the continuance of the work
of the commission until some form of
organization is provided for continu-
ously doing this kind of work under the
executive. The president expresses the
opinion that the technique and proce-
dure of every branch and office of the
government should be submitted to the
palnstaking examination such as that
given those on which reports have been
made. To do this, however, President
Taft says that ample funds must be
provided and he asks that congress
make the $250,000 appropriation by
March A, for the incoming president
In my opinion" says the president,
this is not a matter in which the con-
gress should assume that public money
will be unwisely spent.
AT a total cost of about $3.50, 900 dur
ing the 81 months covered by the work
of the commission facts have been de-
veloped and recommendations have
been made that if followed up will re-
suit in savings of millions of dollars
each year. This has been done under
the handicap of inadequate funds and
uncertainty of continuation which in
terfered with the making of plans
which could not be completely executed
within a few months. It would be very
much to the advantage of the admin
istrat ton if the president were author
w "a he,
deem to be necessary within the next
two years, the only condition at
tached being that he render an account
of expenditures.
Referring to the fact that it has not
been possible for the commission to
make final detailed reports on more
than a few of the hundreds of offices
IN washington the president says the
reports submitted will serve to Illus
trate the character of results which
may follow an extensive investigation
of office technique and procedure.
1T is farther to be noted" continues
the president, that the offices which
have been reported on are those which
have been frequently under scrutiny.
From what is known of the offices
outside of Washington it is thought
that it is in this field that the largest
opportunities for economy will be
found.
''As illustrating the relative impor-
tance of service outside of Washing
ton, it is of interest to note that the
cost of clerk hire at the New York
postoffice alone is more than that in
CURED in the departments of war,
navy, state, justice and labor at Wash
ington; that in the custom house at
New York the cost of clerk hire is
greater than in any one department
at Washington
TIE report of the commission con-
taius a description of 10 subjects
the result of 21 months of work. The
recommended by the commits
sion carry definite estimates of a
yearly saving of several millions of
dollars