The Oskaloosa herald., 1913-01-09
SYSTEM WOULD
| SAVE MILLIONS
LOOSE METHODS IN VOGUE AT
WASHINGTON EXPENSIVE.
TAFT MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS
Defends Work Of Economy and Eff.
cheney Committee and Urges That
Their Plans Be Put In oper-
alton and Extended.

Washington, d. c., Jan. S. How
Uncle Sam can save millions of dol.
| lars annually through administrative
reforms recommended by the Econo-
my and Efficiency committees was
pointed out by President Taft today
in special message to congress. The
report recommended larger and con-
tinued appropriations for the commit.
tees, and a reorganization of paper
work of the department is recon-
mended by President Taft. The
commission insists 1t can save at
least six million dollars each year,
and perhaps more. Pensions for sup
erannuated government employees, a
reorganization of salaries upon a
stronger and more efficient basis, and
the adoption of modern labor saving
devices and systems in all govern
ment offices are urged
The report of the Commission con.
tains description of ITO subjects of
work and report, the results of Il
months of work since its organiZa-
ton. OF these, Is have been hereto
fore submitted as reports to Con-
gress, 68 have been submitted as re-
ports to the president or to heads of
departments, and q are still in pro-
gress. The message of today trans
mits IL other reports to Congress,
making 26 all told which have been
made available for publication.
In addition to the great saving that
may be made in Washington, the
President also cites the New York
Customs House and postotfice as illus
trating the relative Importance of
services outside of Washington. at
is of interest to note that the cost of
clerk hire at the New York postoffice
alone is more than that incurred in
the Departments of War, Navy, State,
Justice, and Commerce and Labor at
Washington; that in the customhouse
at New York the cost of clerk hire is
greater than in any one department
lat Washington.
an my opinion the technique and
procedure of every branch and Office
| of the government should be submit
tied TO the same painstaking exanin'
alton as has been given TO these on
which reports have been made. To
do this, however. ample funds must
be provided AS stated in previous
messages to Congress on the subject,
there is no greater service that can
be rendered to the country than that
of the continuance of the work OF the
commission until some form OF or
ganization is provided for continuous
| ly doing this kind of work under the
Executive | have asked. therefore,
that $250,000 be provided for the con-
limitation of the Investigation which
has been so we'll begun, and that
these funds be made available March
4. In my opinion this Is not a matter
| in which the Congress should assume
that public money will be unwisely
spent. At total cost of about $780,
900 during the 81 months covered by
the work of the commission, facts
have been developed and recommend
atoms have been made that, if fol-
lowed up, will result in savings OF
millions of dollars each year. This
has been done under the handicap of
inadequate funds and uncertainty OF
continuation, which interfered with
the making of plans which could not
be completely executed within a few
months. 1t would be very much to
! the advantage of the administration
| if the President were authorized to
spend whatever amount he NAV deem
to be necessary within the next two
years, the only condition attached be-
| ing that he render an account OF eX-
| penditures. VIM. II. TAFT.
THE White House, Jan. 8, 1913"