The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-09-07

and restrict us in the exercise of our CON
lstitutional liberties"
The speaker said that the Presidents
| Invitation of several nations to attend the
conference for the limitation of ornaments
would bring about a meeting which, in
| his opinion, possesses more potenhality
| for good for mankind than any single
event in the last 1921 years." He pre-
dicted it would be the most important
meeting of mems minds in all history.
Service to Former Soldiers.
Referring to the drive of the admins
tration for efficiency and economy in gov
ernment." Mr. Hays told of what had
| been achieved in the war risk insurance
bureau. There, he said. the 100000 claims
! and cases which We're waiting to be dis
posed of on the 4th of March had been
| cleaned up and claims We're now disposed
of with promptness approximating that
| Of Insurance companies. This, he said,
was one of the things President Harding
had been able to accomplish.
Changes Suggested.
! Mr.. Hays outlined some of the steps
which the people should be taking to ac-
complish the appalling task" of making
the government efficient. 1t would seem
natural, he said, to expect the creation
of department of public works and de-
apartment of public welfare, the latter OF
| which would have charge of relief work
for veterans of the war with Germany.
He suggested the. stripping of the treas
ury department of all except its necessary
and proper fiscal functions. lie would
transfer all nOn-military work from the
war department and the navy department
TO the regular civilian departments of the
government.
He would transfer to the department. of
commerce all agencies having to do with
1.-THE promotion of commerce and protection
Iof navigation and would establish cen
tralized purchasing agency to do the buy
ing of all branches of the executive esta5-
llishment. lie would expect a full func-
tioning of the budget system and all to-
gether "a reorganization which will bring
a material reduction of the overhead ex-
lpenses of the federal establishment and
| Improvement in the quality of service
RENDERED the public" There would then
be more business in government as well
as less government in business.
TIE Postal Service.
Speaking of what must be done in the
direction of administrative efficiency in his
own department. Mr.. Hays said that the
postal service was THE biggest distinct
business in the world. with 100000 EN-
ployes and 100.000000 customers. II
was the largest express company in tn,
world handling over 1000 100000 pack
ages last year and it had the largest saw
Iings bank in the world in number of de
positors.
One of the difficulties of the department
Twas that - per cent of all mail posted is
ldumued into the postofice at the end o
each day straining the human postal ma
chine almost to the breaking point. Tn
settled claims for indemnity on lost anI
damaged parcels had been reduced from
l17J,0O0 in March last to a condition
(which would be current in 30 days more
Fundamental changes were being mad
ldaily in the operation of the service.
Labor Not a Commodity.
- When he took hold. he said. it SCENE,
Y to him that the greatest progress coult
/ most quickly be made by improving tn
morale of the service. he had found thi
A assumption correct. We are gettin
u away in the postoffice service from an
idea that labor is a commodity he con
N tinued. 4 am determined to go to grea
n lengths to develop in the department tn
II spirit that we are 100000 partners. II
/ said the postal employees unquestionabl
had the brains to do their job well bu
H ''some place along the line the heart ha
1 been lost out of the work.
HI Summarizing his purposes, he said the
IN were that the merit system should con
N troll. to assure a square deal, to Strengthe
4 and broaden the postal service and put
h upon a purely business basis so SCUM
and serviceable that no political part
4 would ever again dare to ignore or evad
lit.
Al Big Saving Effected.
III Another accomplishment of the admir-
\ istration he mentioned was the bulge
n commission and the saving of owe
III 1926, 900, 900 in the current year
u He pointed also to the aid the admin
= iStration has given to the farmers by Pre-
I yiding additional working capital for farI
| loan banks with a reduction of the rate O
| interest; and to the provision of $500
/ 100000 TO the war finance corporation t
| be used by bankers and dealers to carr
/ farm commodities.
/ Pure Radium Color of Silver.