Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1922-04-28
XNTi.
WE'RE COLD TO REFORMS

,.,..iS The Chief Executives have,
fi,t.. most part, not been executives
d. ., .rrm is NOW understood. Any
g.. 'td They /, Sardcd the govern
.... larhiur a. one regards It hired
,.. ,tu-a piece Of mechanism i'll
A., Fee grt sOInr"hCrr, and with no
u..-'. uf it> powcr-transmission
.,..,,.. ur economy of operation.
ST. luii did Scil~c the facr that he
A., = 'Ar head of IN organization
yl.-,. activities ur" almost as varied
g. ,,.,,.. of the entire business world.
Nr H4,ug. believe, shares this
r.
4. Mr. Taft pointed out. this great
,rl....Ai.um has never been studied
IN l.'aU ~ one piece of udminiStra-
tiy, mechanism. No comprehensive
pfo" ids been made until very re-
cpr,ly. 10 list its many activities or TO
youl ,hrlu in such way as to pre-
sell Il clrur picture Of what the gov
erpmrn' is doing. No satisfactory
nutru.rut has ever been published of
the nulncal transactions of the gov
ernlIrit as whole. With large in
tertstS at stake congress and the ex-
equity, have never had all the infOr-
nation which should be currently
available If the most intelligent direc-
ton j. to be given to the daily national
business.
Congress-. the President and the ad-
miNistrutve officers have been at
I,ttfn
wi,huU, full information as to the
agencies through which the work of
.hr government is being performed.
IN the past services. agencies, bureaus,
what hot, have been created one by
ON I> cAiE"nCies have seemed to de-
mani. with little or no reference to
any scheme of organization of the gov
eminent rs whole.
Mr. Taft pointed out all this and
mad" an earnest effort to change 1t.
With what result: Why, just exactly
none Congress was cold. The pub
lic--mcaning you and me-was colder.
We didn't take any interest in the
project, and therefore congress po-
llteiy yuwned it away into the tall
grass and out of sight. Mr.. Taft was
given enough money to employ an etfi-
Cheney and economy commission and
70 make inquiry Into the methods Of
tansact!ug the public business of the
executive departments and other gov
erninent establishments"
The inquiry was made and the
changes recommended, but nothing
has ever been done about 1t. This
economy and efficiency commission was
very conservative and cautious. 1t
took Mr.. Taft's view that the prob
!elU of good administration Is not one
that can b" solved ut one time. 1t is
continuously present one. This
Commission, made up Of excellent men,
suggested that the revenue-cutter serv-
Ice be abolished and its activities be
taken over by other services. 1t was
estimated that by so doing q saving
Of aot less than S1,0O0O00 could be
made.
Another report recommended that
the lighthouse and life-saving services
De administered by single bureau in
stead of as at that time, by two bu-
reaus located in different departments.
II was estimated that this cOnsolida-
uon would result in a saving of not
less than 100000 yearly.
The abolition Of the returns office Of
The Interior department was recon-
mended, AT an estimated direct saving
OF about S25,0OO year, In addition
10 large indirect economy In the
reduction Of work to be performed in
The several offices.
Ile consolidation Of the six auditing
ouces of the treasury and the inclu-
son IN the auditing system of the
seven naval officers who audited Gus
tols accounts at the principal ports
was urged. The change was expected
70 produce an immediate saving of at
least Sl35,0O0 yearly.
From this modest start other changes
ana reforms and savings were to be
made.
But we weren't interested In the
uiSh cost Of government or the high
COST OF living eleven years ago. Mr.
tatt didn't get a rise out of US. BE
Ho'S VI u pull Will COu-
SresS' either, poor man. and all his In
Vulry went for nothing as far as any
acuon was concerned.
lie and his commission did bring out
Ao establish. however, certain factl
sno conditions. 1t was q Trustworthy
sno competent investigation as far al
went That Is something to the
good.
1here is patent disposition in con
SesS now to take the whole problem
tne routine administrative processes
VI the government under consideration
sno see how hest to improve them
whether anything really worth while
VAL Come out Of II will depend en-
Ire!y on the degree of interest vol
auplay. II you will take the troubl,
90 snow that you know that the ma
uohai business Is mismanaged an(
N'ts too much. and that you are tiret
" IT. there will be action.