The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-12-08
Government ECONOMY
IS VERY IMPERATIVE
Urges Systematic Reorganization to
Gain Greater Efficiency.

Before l close may l say few
words upon two topics much discussed
out OF doors upon which it is highly
important that our judgments should
be clear, definite and Steadfast?
One Of these is economy in govern
ment expenditures. The duty of econ
| omy is not debatable 1t is ,nifest
and imperative. In the appropriations
we pass we are spending the money
OF the great people whose servants we
are-not our own. We are trustees and
responsible stewards in the spending.
The only thing debatable and upon
which we should be careful to make
our thought and purpose clear Is the
kind Of economy demanded OF us.
assert with the greatest confidence
that the people of the United State
are not jealous of the amount their
government costs if they are sure that
they get what they need and desire fo
the outlay, that the money is being
, spent for objects Of which they ap
rove and that it is being applied with
good business sense and management.
Governments grow piecemeal both
in their tasks and in the means by
| " men tuDSc ttiShS al = W DE ptA VI LII C'i'
md very few governments are organ
ized. l venture to say, as wise and eX-
pcrienced business men would organize
them if they had clean sheet OF paper
to write upon. Certainly the govern
mcnt of the United States Is not.
think that 1t is generally agreed that
there should be systematic reorganl
Zation and reassembing OF its parts
50 as to secure greater efficiency and
effect considerable savings in expense
But the amount of money saved in thai
way would. | believe, though no doub
considerable ia itself. running, it may
be, into the millions. be relatively
Small-small l mean, in proportion t
the total necessary OUTLAWS of the gov
eminent 1t would he thorough!
worth effecting, as every saving would
great or small.
! Our duty is not altered by the scale
. of the saving. But my point is tina
. the people of the United States do no
wish to curtaii the activities of this
government. They wish rather. to en-
+ large them, and with every enlarge
\ ment. with the mere growth. indeed
Ibl inc COUNTY ltetIi. til'lt ''t"A ND'AA'
of course, the inevitable increase OF ex
y pcnSe The sort of economy we ough
| to practice may be effected and ough
; TO be effected. 10y ii careful study an'
, assessment of the tasks to be per
: formed. and the money spent ought t
be made to Yield the best possible re
, Turns in efficiency and achievement
+ And like good stewards. we should s.
: account for every dollar of our appro
, priatious as to make it perfectly evi
/ dent what it was spent for and Il
: what way it was spent.
2 1t is not expenditure but extrava
sAnce that we should fear being crit
, iScd for. not paying for the leSit
:, mate enterprises and undertakings O
| | great government whose people con
T. nand what it should do. but addin
g what will benefit only Il few or pour
Il | n- money out for what need not hav
e been undertaken at all or might hav
I peen postponed or better and NOR
G economically conceived and carrie
II nut The nation is not niggardly; 1t
= very generous. 1t will chide us onl
y f we forget for whom we pay none
: out and whose money it is we pa,
II These are large and general standards
q but they are not very difficult OF appl
n cation to particular cases.