The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-20
REDF1ELD SARCASM
AIMED AT CONGRESS
COST, Economy That Hampers
I. :. Work Is Denounced
In Report.
IT'S LAuGHABLE. liz SAYS

II - bN WI DbT. liz "a
WhsutNGroN. Dec. 19.-"To any one
familiar with accounting or with BUSH
ness or industrial management, to say
that n man or a Congress or "a nation
Is ~eNtravagant merely because II spends
largely is to put the critic In a laugh
able position" Secretary Of Commerce
william G. Redheld says in his annual
report for the year ended June 30. 1915.
adds:
WAS the expenditure needed? Was
tho money well and productivity spent?
Was what was spent a due proportion
Of the funds available for all purposes?
These and others like them are the ques-
tons that determine economy. but 1t is
the merrst ,rifiing to take an aggregate
AMI assume either economy or the re-
verse from 1t.
illustrations are not wanting in the
t~foregoing) report OF the Costliness OF
what Is sometimes called economy. Was
II economical to have the Albatross lie
Ht tTc uDtk lllontn a1teT T1pHtu WIN HeT
crew under full pay for lack of an APP
preparation sufficient to buy supplies
and coal? Wa II economical TO keep
In service such wrecks as the Macarthur
u the tiedney, only to replace them
when prices are high and when vessels
must BE- hired while the new ones are
building lest the work needed for saw
Ing human life should stop?
ra.-. .
rs there economy in stopping the
reinspections of the steamboat inspec-
tion service Ia the busiest month of
the year and in giving instructions to
supervising inspectors to go about their
districts as little as possible because
there is not money enough for travelling
expenses?
These and other things like them
are the results neither OF econo,n nor
of accurate knowledge OF the work re-
quir.d. They mean only loss to the
country. and the people of the country
do not. in my judgment. want this sort
OF thing to go on.
s also any one familiar with real
cconoin must smile at the humorous
picture presented by a commercial agent
collecting knowledge around the world
and then being forbidden. save at his
personal cost, to communicate that
knowledge to a meeting OF the men for
whom he gathered It The feeling is
rather one of pity h of humor when
, subordinate employee, obliged 10
rave in an expensive portion OF the
untry must pay a portion of his trav-
Hing expenses out OF his own limited
pocket because the law ~ requires.
Whatever the cause that led to the
latter restrictions, the remedies sought
10y them are worse than the diseases
that they aim TO cure. and the injustice
wrought by them will continue to call
for II remedy until an equitable treat
ment OF them is secured. No one in
tended that these absurdities Of the
Law should exist any more than they
Intended that great Government depart
inents should have to discuss the color
Of bears.
Not ~riticisinR Anybody.
There is no criticism of person or per-
sons In the discussion Of these matters.
The effective administration OF the public
service. however, requires that they be
made clear, and the bringing OF the facts
10 light is certain to lead to their cor
rect!on."
Secretary Redfeld says in his report
that the work of the Department OF
Commerce and that of the Federal Trade
Commission has been seriously ham
pered by the action of the last Con
gress In denying an appropriation for
renting separate quarters. BY squeezing
an additional force into a space already
restricted IL has been physically possible
10 conane the force OF the commission
within the limits OF the Commerce build
ing. he says. but the overcrowding
hampered the work of the Bureau OF
Census at a time when the census OF
manufactures was actively proceeding
Congress he adds, should provide
funds promptly for the rental of quarters
for the Federal Trade Commission in
order hat the space II now occupies may
he made available for the employees OF
this Department. If this Ia not done II
will seriously overcrowd the building
will bring about ~unsanitary conditions in
the housing OF the employees. both in the
Department and in the Federal Trade
Commission. and will continue to restrict
and make more costly the operations OF
both. Money supposed to be saved in
such a way is wasted
Wants Department Building.
Mr.. Redhelh urged the d~esirability OF
having the bureaus of his Department.
except the Bureau of Standards. housed
in one Government building and said that
ct Is never good business practice to
sIdtt'T a htl'hi tib'' N'scee'
buildings located in different parts OF the
city.
"If poverty compels such a wasteful
course TO be pursued" the Secretary
added, '4t should at least he accepted
only as a temporary makeshift which
common sense would end as soon as
money could be found
The Secretary reviewed the work OF
the Bureau OF Standards. which he de-
scrlbed as a national physical labora-
tory. including such branches OF chemis-
try and engineering as are necessary 70
accomplish standardization in the broad
modern sense. It IL working in close
harmony with great technical and en-
cheering societies and is an intensely
practical service, bearing directly and
daily upon the life of the people.
The largest single task OF the Bureau
~ Census during the year. Mr.. Red
neld said, was the ~quinquennial census
Of manufactures taken as OF December
~. 1914. \ total of 1900 special agents
collected the statistics.
The Secretary recommended legisla-
ton providing for the annual collection
n statistics Of forest products. of cot
torsee4l and c~ottonseed products, and
of state finance. and the decennial col
lection of statistics OF marriage and
divorce.