Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-06-21
Assistant Secretary of
Department, Roosevelt
Fires Broadside at Anti
quated Methods.
Recommends That Bud
get System be Adopt
ed; Wants New Way of
Getting Needed Funds.

Washington, June 20.-Revision of
methods of making appropriations and
reclassification and redistribution Of
work of the various executive depart
ments. are recommended by Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt in letter to Rep
resentative Ireland, Republican, Of
Illinois, which was made public Sunday
at the navy department.
Mr. Roosevelt wrote in reply TO an
inquiry as to whether any reorganiza-
tions, reforms, or consultations could be
made in the navy department. The as
sstant secretary did not confine him
self to that department. He recommend
ed that congress-:
Create budget system. not the
small beginning already attempted.
Consolidate Appropriations.
" CONSOLIDATE the appropriations in one
general committee, with subcommittee
to deal with separate subjects.
PUT into law the general principles
recommended by the Redistribution
committees report. together with the
authorization of adequate salaries to
government employees.
Invite a conference with the execu-
tive branch looking to reclassification
and redistribution of the work of the
departments.
Give by law greater authority to
heads of the executive departments in
conducting their business, at the same
time holding these heads more directly
responsible for successful administration
of their work"
Mr.. Roosevelt said "the entire system
of relationship which exists between
congress and the executive departments
is fundamentally wrong
Hands are Tied.
Congress for VARIOUS reasons he
said. has so tied the hands of the
executive officers that they have no dis
cretion in the fundamental questions Of
employment / do not believe. of course,
that the civil service commission should
be wiped out. or that we should return
to the 'spoils system. But there il al
together too much assumption in this
government that executive officers will
use their authority for political pUr-
poses. Ny own wonder is that, consider
ing existing circumstances. employees OF
the government are as efficient as they
are
AS to consultations of any bureaus
so as TO increase efficiency, Mr.. Roose-
welt said lot of work was being done
in other departments which ought to be
properly under the navy. and that a
great deal of work was being done by
the navy department which could pro-
perly be transferred to other depart
ments.
After seven years down here in an
executive position" he continued, Il
cannot help the conclusion that our
governmental methods are cumbersome
and wasteful. l am equally frank in
telling you that | think the first i'm
provement must come in what is. after
all. the source of governmental activ-
tiles, i. e., the executive branch. | hope
you will not take it as a criticism of
any individual or this particular con-
gress when / call attention to the very
unwieldy, inadequate and unbusinesslike
methods under which the house and
senate conduct their business. For in
stance, the navy department had to go
before the naval affairs committee for
its main appropriation; it also has to go
to the appropriation committee for the
money to run the force in Washington
and l can cite numberless instances
where the department has fallen be-
tween the fires of the two committees