The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-12-04
SYSTEM
NEEDED In U. s.,
TAFT DECLARES
Best Method of Handling Ma
tiOn's Finances, Former Presi-
dent Tells Bankers
APPROPRIATION PLAN
CALLED "HORRIBLE NESS
Says Millions Could be Saved
Yearly by Use of Business
Principles

Declaring that the appropriation
system of the United States is "a
horrible mess" and asserting that a
mere surface investigation had re-
vealed the fact that at least SS,000.-
900 could be saved without sacrifice
OF efficiency in the conduct Of the va
rious Washington departments, viii.
liam Howard Taft, former president
of the United States, made an effec.
tive plea for the adoption of a ra-
tional budget system for the in
telligent disbursement of the public
moneys in his speech before the De-
troit Bankers club, at=its annual din
ner in the Pontchartrain hotel, We'd
nesday night.
Although Mr.. Taft launched few
goodnatured shafts at the Jefferson
ian government which is advocating
extension OF federal control on a
scale of which Alexander Hamilton
never dreamed" his speech was large
ly non-partisan. He freely admitted
that neither party has been exempt
from pork barrel legislation" when
In power.
The currency law he indorsed ex-
pressing hts qualification that some
thing has at last been done looking
toward the placing of the banking
business OF the country on sane and
reasonable basis"
Although the banqueters we're pro-
vided with choice selection OF wines,
Mr.. Taft set a temperate example by
turning his glass. Many followed his
example.
Economy and efficiency in govern
ment," was the subject of Mr.. Taft's
address. Most OF his talk was de.
voted to resume of the work of the
economy commission headed by Fred.
erick A. Cleveland, who he appoint.
ed while president to make a report
on the efficiency of the various gov
ernmental departments. In this con-
nection Mr. Taft said
| have not time to go into the
many reports which were filed by this
commission There were more than
100 In number Thirty-six OF them
we're for recommendations which
could be carried out by executive or
ders. and 81 executive orders were Is.
sued TO carry them out Some 20 were
made recommending legislative action.
and only one was followed, and that
contained such limitation as to de-
feat the object OF the recommendation
The rest OF the reports were merely
for the information OF congress as
preliminary to futureo recommends
tions. The executive orders saved
some s2.000,G00 or $3,000,000 annually.
The cost OF the commission was $685.
900. | advised the commission TO
make special reports In various
bureaus and departments Just TO illus
trate how the introduction OF modern
methods could effect real economics
80 upon investigation they recon.
mended the union OF the live saving
service, OF the deep sea rescue work
and Of the lighthouse service. by
which union, without interfering with
the efficiency. a million dollars could
be saved annually. After examining
the revenue marine and the duty that
| IL had 10 perform, and familiarizins
themselves with the navy department
/ they recommended that the duties OF
the revenue marine be discharged by
naval vessels, thus saving annually
some s2.000.o00. They examined the
lqrestion OF the cost OF carrying pub
lie documents published in the city
OF Washington, and pointed out that
by the concentration In one depart
ment Of this distribution. in a place
! tcentisued on Page sever.)