The New York herald., 1921-04-24
us. PLANS SAVING
$SOO,OO0,OOO BY
REORGANIZATION
Thousands OF Employees to
BE Dropped and Useless
BuItaas Abolished.
HUGE TASK IN HAND
Department Consultations
VIII Eliminate Duplica-
! tion of Effort.
| MAY TAKE TWO YEARS
Experts Believe That Actually
] Saving Will Greatly Exceed
the Figure Set.
HUGE TASK IN HAND
MAY TAKE TWO YEARS
BY DONALD M,GREGoR.


sSeoiai Despatch 10 THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau
Washington, ID. c., April 49,
The forthcoming reorganization OF
the executive departments of the Gov
ernment will bring a saving of not less
than 100000. 900 to the taxpayers dur
Ing the first year, but during the sue
ceeding years the saving will be even
greater without sacrifice TO the SER
vice, in the opinion of Senator Reed
Smoot tUtah), chairman of the joint
Congressional committee which is
about to undertake the work.
This will be possible. Mr.. Smoot be-
heves, through an increase in Govern
ment efficiency, change in the sys-
tern of collecting taxes which viii
make unnecessary the present large
staff Of field agents, the elimination of
competition among bureaus which
now have virtually the same work to
perform and the dismissal of needless
clerks at present employed on useless
records.
At least 2o,000-maybe more-of the
100000 Federal clerks in Washington
are to be dropped from the rolls. Upon
the fair basis that it costs $4,000 a
year to maintain a clerk in Washing
ton, including salary, this alone means
a reductions In Government expense of
$50 900, 900
The hope is that 5000 now engaged
a. ~ o1l a.. l.
spared once the tax system is revised
to make the collections less difficult. on
the basis that 1t costs $4,000 a year to
maintain these agents the saving would
Ae s24,0o0.0o0.
Gut Of an annual Government expen-
Gf~lre of something like $500. 900 a
yest for construction and general engi-
neGsug work. now In the hands OF thir-
ty-nsht separate Government agencies
the CSpectation-based on the estimates
OF engineers themselves--is that at least
20 per cent. can be saved through uni
fed direction and proper organization
under one department. Such saving
would be in a year 20.000,000.
It is evident to those who have made
q preliminary investigation of condi-
tons that other great sums can be saved
through the consolidation of bureaus
which are similar in their functions, but
for one reason or another set into differ
enh departments Such advantages to
the taxpayer would come through uni
fed direction OF these bureaus and the
creation of a single staff TO handle ques-
tons OF personnel. accounting, disburse-
ments and the like
The truth Is that the joint Congress
sional committee which is just now pre-
pairing to plunge into the work or reor-
homes to exceed saving OF $300,O0O,OOO
a year. but is setting the figure low 80
that It may be on the safe side. There
are some in Congress who believe that
once the Government machine is looked
into by competent business efficiency en-
sinAars an annual saving or as mucn as
II .OO0. 900, 900 year can pe accom-
plished.
The more conservative Congressiohai
leaders do not expect such tning as
,hIs. especially II the Government con-
tinues It's present scope oI ac1sies' ,,tss
4 n such a saving Is to be accomplished.
,bev believe. IL will have to come
through q curtailment Of certain work
Of questionable value rather than py
the application OF efficiency methods.
Vow 20 Per Cent. Inefncient.
(0ngl0eTlnK
cost of the Government Is s5.OoO,0OO,ooU
A year. which, roundly Is the amount
OF the present appropriations saving
Of 81 1000, 900 900 a year through the
spplication OF better business methods
would mean that the Government "
40 per cent. inefficient. Congressional
leaders who are warning the people NOT
10 expect 100 much believe II is nearer
10 per cent inefficient and that the fg-
ure for saving will be something ike
$500. .o0o, 900 although for publication
they are willing to be quoted on not
more than $500 600.
The exact method TO he pursued by
the Joint Congressional Committee has
not been decided, but in all probability
n will engage staff OF business engi-
neers TO assist with the work Hear
inss are TO be held ana the engineers
are to be turned loose in the depart
ments. to study methods and - sug-
rest improvements. As rapidly as these
ara found to be desirable tie changes
will be made, so that the taxpayers
will not have TO wait until The work
is entirely completed befots they VII
enjoy the benefits.
In general Il Is the feeling that the
most practical way 10 70 about the work
OF effective reorganization is. FIRST. TO
accomplish a realignment Of the DIFF
ferent agencies grouping them or cor
solId ating them into departments which
seem to be the logical place for them.
and then, second. to set about making
them more efficient To attempt In an
instant TO put into effect broad
scheme OF reorganization turning from