The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-05-23
HARDING WOULD
PUT GOVERNMENT
ON SOUND BASIS
President Discusses Econo-
my in Federal Machinery
Before Academy of
Political Science

(By The Associated PresS
New York, May 23-The administra-
tion's purpose to place the federal gov
ernment on a sound business basis even
at the cost of offending certain
class of politicians" was reaffirmed
by President Harding today in an al
dress here at a luncheon Of the acd-
DENY Of political science.
The task, the president declared, al
ready had shown that to be successfully
completed. it would require "persistent,
determined stony-hearted devotion tn
the public interest" without a trace of
sympathy for the office holder whose
only excuse for drawing a salary Is
that he needs the money. Loss OF cer.
tain sort Of prestige to the administra-
ton, Mr.. Harding said. was certain to
result though it might be compensated
in the long run by realization of the
good accomplished for the general pub.
lie.
Recapitulating the work already done
by the reorganization committee create
by congress and by executive orders Of
the administration, the president said
considerable progress was promised
for the immediate future. He predicted
that the reorganization task would be
long one. however, and invited pubic
suggestions as TO ways and means.
The presidents address follows il
part:
Everywhere we turn we note that
government has in recent time assumed
a more complex relationship to the pub
lie. The mobilization Of man-power, in
dustrial forces and financial resources,
which was made necessary in the wars
exegencies, could only have been accom-.
plished through the exertion OF the ut
most powers OF government.
AS result Of that demonstration of
governments capacity to force great
results in emergencies. there has grown
up school OF thought which assumes
that even in time OF peace the same au-
tocratic authority might well be ex.
ercised.
Those who look below the surface
know that the things which govern.
mcnts accomplish during the war ac-
complished a staggering cost; cost
which society could not bear for long:
cost that has left society burdenei
with debts which mortgage generations
OF the future. They know that the few.
erish seeming Of prosperity was not
genuine, but was possible only because
society was literally burning up its
stocks Of capital; and that this destruc-
ton OF capital was responsible for the
reaction and depression which are nov
felt universally. In this process the bur.
dens OF government were immensely
increased and IL is for us now to find
means for tightening those burdens.
Government. To a greater extent now
than ever before Is under obligation 20
give the greatest service for the low
est possible cost. But IL is. for obvious
reasons. difficult 10 DO this. because
government is not under the necessity 70
earn profits, nor to obey laws which
regulate competition. These are the
prime guarantees OF efficiency and fa.-
dealing In private business They do not
apply under a strict sway OF the meth
ods which are applied In private bust
ness TO secure these ends
Mr.. Harding spoke Of the multlplicq.
ton OF bureaus and departments In re-
cent years and continued.
Fortunately, the prospect Is not so
hopeless as might appear, because the
present organization Is so bat that the
insistent application Of few estab-
llshed principles OF sound business or
ganization will result In recent econo.
mics.
"Thc present congress has already
provided for a Joint committee on the
reorganization OF the administrative
branch of the government A rcpresen-
tative OF the government will serve with
this committee 30 that there Is now no
progress thorough study Of the whole
problem. The task will require soms
time and ultimate results must await Il.
More. II will demand resolutc courage
to affect the abolition Of the useless and
the coordination OF the useful.
But, meanwhile. we shall. true,
have budget system In operation un-
der the law. before the opening Of the
new fiscal year.
TOO much stress cannot be laid on
the fact that eternal vigilance is the
price OF economy and efficiency. II re.
Quircs persistent. determined. stony.
hearted devotion to the public interest.
There must be utter sacrifice Of all SYM
pathy for the place-holder. whose rs,l
reason for keeping his position Is ths,
he wants the salary. The administration
which devo,es itself relentlessly to such
work must understand Il will lose q
good deal Of immediate loyalty on the
APART OF a certain class OF politicians.
Nevertheless. thankless and unsra
ciuus as the task will be FOR most II
those who devote their efforts TO T..
! II must ana will be attacked and II Is