Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-05-27

NEW YORK, May 23.-Ruthless
efficiency at Washington even at the
risk of offending a certain class OF
politicians, was the ideal President
Harding set for himself in an ad-
dress before the Academy of Political
Science here today.
The government must be con-
Quoted under strictly business meth
DDS, the president said, adding that
he we'll knew that in SO doing he
will lose good deal of immediate
loyalty on the part of certain class
of politicians"
He scored the confusion and red
tape at Washington, declaring that
the humblest household similarly
conducted would meet with financial
disaster. "Stony hearted, devoted
resolute courage" is needed to carry
out this program, he admitted, but
insisted that his administration will
combat existing inertia" at every
point
Sympathy for the professional job
holder, must be sacrificed. he said.
Speech Direct and Emphatic.
The speech, by far the most direct
and emphatic he has made since be-
coming president, was the result Of
two and one-half months experience
as chief executive. Although pre-
pared for scholarly ears and couched
in dignified language, the feeling be-
hind the discourse, was apparent.
"Too much stress cannot be laid
on the fact that, eternal vigilance is
the price of economy and efficiency,
he said. Nothing is easier in gov
eminent establishment than to con-
tinue in existence offices, positions
and employments, once they are
created. It requires persistent, de-
termined. stony hearted devotion to
the public interest to do otherwise.
There must be utter sacrifice of all
sympathy for the place holder whose
real reason for keeping his position
is that he wants the salary. There
must be constant examination to de-
termine how, in the process of evolv-
ing functions and methods, forces
may be reduced and Implications OF
work eliminated.
p rr,h{ @c ci1vy tho 0po0f.
est force in governmental organiza-
tions must be combatted at every
point.
"The fact that a thing has existed
for a decade or a century - that
things have been done in certain
way for a generation-must not be
accepted as proving that it ought to
continue that way. The men who
conscientiously and intelligently do
this work must not expect to popu-
larize themselves with the Office
holders and the liberal spenders.
Even the administration which de-
votes itself relentlessly TO such work
must understand that it will lose a
good deal of immediate loyalty on
the part Of a certain class Of poll
ticians which will not be compen-
stated to It at once in the apprecia-
ton Of the public; for the public will
not have the deep. immediate inter-
est or the active concern which will
animate the person who finds him
self pried loose from the purse
strings"
The president told Of the special
committee on reorganization of exc
cutive departments which is at work
under his personal representative.
mapping out q program of efficiency.
and added that he had meantime is
sued executive orders directing i'm
mediate changes so Tar as are in his
province.
Budget Not Panacea.
He told Of the impending enact.
ment of budget legislation which.
while expected to be, helpful, must
not be regarded as an efficiency
He said that the findings
of the commission on efficiency ap-
pointed during the Taft administra-
ton would be utilized in shaping the
reorganization.
Prefacing his discussion with a
brief survey Of the financial and
economic situation, President Hard
ing said the existing depression is
the natural result Of the destruction
of capital during the war He dis
scented from the view that return
to autocratic powers exercised over
business during the war would aid
the situation now, declaring that the
''feverish seeming Of prosperity" dur
ing war days. was because society
"was literally burning up its stocks
Of capital"
Government" he said, "to
greater extent now than ever before,
Is under obligations to give the
greatest service for the lowest pos
sib'e cost.