Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-09-23
MASTERS Still
IN THE SADDLE
IN WASHINGTON
Millions Continue To Be Squan.
dered, Times-Recorder Cor
respondent Shows
SOME OUTSTANDING
EXAMPLES OF WASTE
Only Check BY President And
Congress Can Save Tax
payers Money
BY NORRIS QUINN.

!
ernment waste of taxpayers money
still goes forward at a rapid pace. II
will be checked only when the presi-
dent and congress put into effect the
recommendations of the economy de,
partments they have created. Out.
standing examples Of waste are:
l. The deficiency appropriation
system, which enables departments
TO appear to be making an economy
record, while really they are greatly
exceeding the appropriations provid-
ed by congress.
2. Maintenance of topheavv rail.
road administration with 1900 EN-.
pioyes to settle old railway claims.
AT The same time defective legisla
ton virtually empowers the railways
TO continue drawing on the federal
treasury.
8. Employment by the United
States Shipping Board of huge staffs
at London, Boston and New York
Congressional Investigators saw the
Shipping Board could get along with
oneZtenth the forces they now employ
at these ports.
! q. The revenue cruiser service,
which maintains 40 vessels securing
the seas for smugglers who no long.
er exist. All it functions could be
handled by the navy.
5. Renting of thousands of build
lngs throughout the country by all
government departments. The gov.
ernment could use its borrowing pow
er and buy all necessary buildings,
thus effecting saving of millions
paid to landlords. '
6. Duplication in buying supplies
Some departments buy supplies at
top prices while other departments
sell out the same things for a song.
Agencies of Thrift
Three governmental agencies are
at work trying to check waste. They
are:
The Bureau of the Budget, headed
by Gen. Charles G. Dawes.
The congressional committee on
department reorganization under the
| direction of Walter F. Brown.
The United States Bureau of Eff.
cheney, directed by Herbert P
Brown.
Dawes department has shown how
appropriations in the coming year can
! be cut $112,000,0 1000; cut off $685..
100000 waste in the government
printing office, and suggested means
of doing away with rent waste.
Walter F. Brown has probed
thoroughly exery government de-
partment and submitted a compre-
| hensive scheme of reorganization,
supplanting the present hodge -podge
| arrangement.
Seeking Small Leaks.
Herbert p. Brown is continually
watching for small leaks in the gov
| ernment machinery. 1t will be fin
| ished in December. Then copies will
! be placed in the hands of Dawes and
Walter F. Brown.
Every one of the 220 governmental
| units is handled in detail in this re-
port. The whole report will cover
| 1000 pages of letter-head size, close
| ly typewriter.
The report on each department will
show its history, digest of laws af.
fecting it, functions, organizations,
personnel, appropriations and rela-
tion to other governmental units.
Revision and reorganization of gov
| ernment departments, as planned by
| Walter F. Brown, will be based al
most entirely on this voluminous re-
port.
Features of Reform.
Probable main features of the re-
organization plan that will be adopt
| ed are:
Creation of two new departments
Public Welfare and Public Works.
, Both will be administered by cabinet
| secretaries. Under them will be
| grouped MANY functions now super
vised by the War, Interior, Treasury
and Labor Departments.
Placing solicitors for various de-
partments under the jurisdiction of
the departments they serve. instead
of under the Department of Justice,
as at present.
Adding to the State Department of
Justice of the Division of Secret Ser.
/ vice, now under the Treasury De-
partment, and the office of the Alier
Property Custodian, now independ-
| Cnt
Recently we were called into one
department by its chief to suggest
economy measures" Brown said
eve averaged a saving of $100,000
a week. One reform we set up will
save more than $1,000.000 a year,
eve have an appropriation OF
| S125,000 this wear. We shall save
the government from 10 to 80 tim9s
that much. il our recommendations
are enforced"