Evening star., 1921-07-17
ECONOMY ORDERED
|BY DISTRICT HEADS
AS NEW ERA OPENS
Highest Efficiency Demanded
as Basis for Business
Administration.
COMMISSIONERS CONFER
WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS
Deficiencies to Be Pruned and
Requisitions Watched, According
to Announced Policy.

A new era of efficiency and econ
ohiy In the running of the District
government was ushered in yester-
day when the Commissioners called
before them all heads Of depsr,
ments for plain talk" on munich
pal affairs.
three subjects were discussed by
the Commissioners: First, the ques-
tion OF deficiencies in appropriations.
second. the possibility of effecting
savings in the appropriations for the
hscal year just beginning. and, third.
the survey of the District building
now being made by the United State.
bureau of efficiency.
Speaking of deficiencies. Commits
sloner Rudolph served notice on the
department heads that if an avoida-
| BILE deficiency occurs in the appro-
priation of any department il will
| be regarded as serious reflection
upon the administrative ability OF
the head of that department.
| Unavoidable Deficiencies.
rThe Commissioners realized" said
Mr.. Rudolph. that there are certain
deficiencies which cannot be avoided.
those which may be termed legally
Justifiable deficiencies and which tbe
| commissioners and heads of depart-
| ments are powerless to control. And
! IL is but reasonable to believe that
| oenciencles OF this nature will prob
aoiy continue to occur from year TO
year.
But Tor the artificial or preventable
denciency there can be no excuse. and
the commissioners avail themselves
OF this opportunity to say that de-
| nclency Of this kind will not be toler-
ated in any District appropriation,
To say the least. when a head OF de-
partment permits an avoidable de-
hciency to occur in an appropriations
for his service, it very seriously re-
fleets on his administrative capacity
| and efficiency"
Department Heads Warned.
The Commissioner warned the de-
partment chiefs to see to it that econ
omy is brought about by not employ
! ing persons whose services are not
absolutely required, and by not pur-
chasing unnecessary supplies.
On the second subject, that of saving
on appropriations already made.
Commissioner Rudolph said the Com
missioners intend to join in and sup
port the movement now under way in
the federal government to economize
in every way possible.
Commissioner Rudolph revealed the
fact that several days ago the budget
officer for the District government
called upon all department heads for
information as to how much of their
current appropriations could be saved
and allowed to revert to the Treas
ury.
His report shows that out of total
appropriations Pf s1s.546.o63 for the
ensuing fiscal year, only $104, 1882 is
said to be not necessary, and may re-
vert to the Treasury. OF that amount
100000 was reported by Maj. Brown
under certain appropriations for
school buildings. The Commissioners
have not had time to study carefully
the reports Of the heads Of depart
ments, and, therefore. are not Te-
pared to say that 100000 is all that
can be saved in the District service
this year.
VIII Watch Regulations.
!, Commissioner Rudolph made a spe-
cial appeal to Auditor Donovan and to
the purchasing officer to scrutinize
every requisition with the greatest
care and to refuse to pass any requi-
sition for whatever purpose that may
appear to be non-essential, or ex-
cessive in amount. In such instances.
however, the department head turned
down shall have the right to submit
the matter to the Commissioners for
review.
Commissioner Rudolph directed all
department heads to cooperate to the
fullest extent with the experts OF the
} bureau of efficiency who are about to
begin a survey of the District gov
ernment
!. The first aim of the survey will be
to establish grades of positions, ap-
praise the value of each job in terms
of salary and allocate each position 10
the several grades decided upon.
Mr. Rudolph said the Commissioners
also have asked the bureau OF ELL
cheney to include in its report any rec
concentrations which they believe
would improve the public service OF
the District government.
The bureau of efficiency also Will
report to the Commissioners what Of
fees have too many employees and
what offices should have more help.
II such a situation is found to exist
the Commissioners will consider the
transfer of employees where they are
lmost needed.
Business Administration.
In closing his remarks Mr.. Rudolph
said:
"I desire to say that the board Of
Commissioners intends to give the
people of the District Of Columbia as
good a business administration of the
municipal government as lies in their
power to do. To accomplish this We
must have the utmost efficiency on the
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