The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-03-06

eminent as wnole. with large liz
tereSts at stake congress and the eX-
ecutive have never had all the infOr-
nation which should be currently
available if the most intelligent direr-
ton is to be given to the daily national
business.
Congress. the President and the adj
miniStratiVe officers have been at
tempting to discharge their duties
without full information as to the
agencies through which the work of
the government is being performed
In the past, services. agencies. bureaus
what not, have been created one by
one as eXigencieS have seemed to de
mand, with little or no reference to
any scheme Of organization of the gov
eminent as a whole.
Mr.. Taft pointed out all this and
made an earnest effort to change it.
With what result? Why. just exactly
none. Congress was cold. The pub
ic-meaning you and me-was colder.
We didn't take any interest i'll the
project, and therefore congress po-
litely yawncd 1t away into the tail
grass and out OF sight. Mr.. Taft Was
given enough money to employ an eff
cheney and economy commission and
to make inquiry into the methods OF
tranSacting the public business Of the
executive departments ana otter gov
eminent establishments
The inquiry was made and the
changes recommended, but nothing
has ever been done about it. This
economy and efficiency commission was
very conservative ANA cautious. Ii
took Mr.. Tatt'S view that the prob
lem of good administration is not one
that can be solved at one time. Ii -
continuously present one. a.
commission, made up Of excellent n1"n.
suggested that the revenue-cutter serV-
ice be abolished and its activities be
taken over by Other services. 1t Was
estimated that by 50 doing a saving
of not less than Sl,000O00 could be
made.
Another report recommended thar
be administered by single bureau in
stead of as at that time by two bu-
reaus located in different departments.
1t was estimated that this consOlidH-
ton would result i'll Il saving Of moi
less than 100000 yearly.
The abolition of the returnsSoflice Of
the Interior department was recon-
mended, at an estimated direct saving
of about $4,000 a year, in addition
to a large indirect economy in the
reduction of work to be performed in
the several offices.
The consolidation Of the six auditing
offices Of the treasury and the inclu-
sion III the auditing system of The
seven naval officers who audited Gus
toms accounts at the principal ports
was urged. The change was expected
to produce an immediate saving of III
least S135,000 yearly.
From this modest start other changes
and reforms and savings were to be
made.
But we weren't interested in the
high cost OF government or the nigh
cost of living eleven years ago. Mr..
Taft didn't get a rise out of us. He
didn't have much of pull with con
gress, either, poor man, and all his in
quiry went for nothing as far as any
action was concerned.
He and his commission did bring out
and establish, however, certain facts
and conditions. 1t was q trustworthy
and competent investigation as far as
it went That is something to the
good.
There is a patent disposition in con-
gresS now to take the whole problem
of the routine administrative processes
of the government under consideration
and see how best to improve them.
Whether anything really worth while
will come out of it will depend en-
tirely on the degree of interest you
display. If you will take the trouble
to show that you know that the ma
tional business is mismanaged and
costs too much, and that YOU are tired
of It. there will be action.