Evening star., 1917-09-23

tion and overlapping of statistical and
scientific work. TO revamp the methods
of whole division or bureau.
1t might he thought that organ
ization Of this kind would be pretty
sure ~ cause irritation. possibly to
arouse antagonism in departments and
other bureaus. for it is not in the ma
ture OF things TO relish suggestions
from outsiders. The bureau met occa-
sional opposition at the start. But it is
patient; it takes time to show where
weakness exists and how service may
be strengthened.
Fortunately for all concerned. little
real opposition has been met, and that.
naturally. has been found in those de-
partments where considera bile amount
of inertia exists. The federal officials
understand that the government is
ma king an Intelligent effort to run the
business OF its Offices in the most mod
ern and effective manner. AS a matter
of fact. in every single case. so far. any
initial antagonism has melted away
under a demonstration of the real
worth Of the proposed changes. 1nva-
riably incredulity, where it exists. has
given way to q lukewarm approval, and
finally has merged into enthusiastic CO.
operation.
y Hypothetical case illustrates the
mode of operation of this carefully
working bureau. Let US suppose there
is bureau of canals. Let US ina gine
that this bureau has the supervision of
"a vast system Of government water
WAYS in all parts of the country: that
il has various field agencies. and that it
receives and keeps in Washington
masses of detailed reports and
counts And let us make one more
supposition-by no means a wild one
that in the course of years the bureau
of canals had collected numerous bar
nacles on its methods that it was try
ing to andle n greatly expanded VOL
r;ne of business by the same ways and
means that it had created for a simpler
day. that it had hard work to keep up
with the growth of its activities and
was constantly calling FOR new clerks
and increased appropriations.
At this juncture the bureau Of eff
cheney light be invited to step in and
see what it could do to clean away the
barnacles that had fastened themselves
on this organization. The procedure
would be as follows: The bureau of eff
ficieucy would send small staff Of In
vestigators to the offices of the bureau
Of canals who would go through it's
documents and books and would find
out precisely what the bureau was do
ing. for what purposes and by what
means Then the investigators would
work out. among themselves, by con-
ferences and study. plan for improve
Inent. Although this plan would be but
the beginning of the steps to be taken.
Il would be as thorough going as poss-
BILE. They might decide, for example.
that new system OF audits and ac-
counts was imperative, with possibly
the use of bookkeeping machines. They
might find that IT would save clerk hire
TO have the reports on canal traffic
coming into the central Office. arranged
by length of haul and ton-miles rather
than by geographic districts for
merly. They might devise scientific
system of efficiency ratings for en-
ployes. and they might conclude that
the number of subofaces throughout
the United States could with advantage
he reduced from twenty-nine to twelve.
These and other changes the efficiency