The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-01-11
Copyright. Western Newspaper Union
XXI.
WE'RE COLD TO REFORMS

l.
dent who was business man or VIII
, had close acquaintance with bushes
methods. The Chief Executives have
for the most part, not been executive
as that term is now understood. Any
thing but. They regarded the govern
mental machine as one regards hiret
motor cara piece of mechanism II
which to get somewhere, and with IL
thought of its power-transmissior
system or economy Of operation.
Mr.. Taft did sense the fact that he
was at the head of an organization
whose activities are almost as varied
as those of the entire business world
Mr.. Harding, l believe, shares this
feeling.
AS Mr.. Taft pointed out, this great
organization has never been studied
In detail as one piece of administra-
tive mechanism. No comprehensive
effort has been made, until very re-
Gently, to list it's many activities or to
group them in such a way as to pre-
sent a clear picture of what the gov
eminent is doing. No satisfactory
statement has ever been published Of
the financial transactions of the gov
eminent as a whole. With large in
terests at stake congress and the ex-
ecutive have never had all the infOr-
nation which should be currently
available if the most intelligent direc-
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
eminent as whole.
Mr.. Taft pointed out all this and
made an earnest effort to change 1t.
With what result? Why, just exactly
none. Congress was cold. The pub
lic-meaning you and me-was colder.
project, and therefore congress pO-
litely yawned it away into the tall
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 and other 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 and cautious. 1t
took Mr.. Taft's view that the prob
lem of good administration is not one
that can be solved at one time. 1t is
q continuously present one. This
made up of excellent men,
that the revenue-cutter serv-
ice be abolished and it's activities be
taken over by other services. 1t was
estimated that by so doing a saving
IF not less than $1,000,000 could be
made.
Another report recommended that
he lighthouse and life-saving services
)e administered by a single bureau in
stead of as at that time, by two bu-
eaus located in different departments.
{ was estimated that this consOlda-
ion would result in saving Of not
ess than 100000 yearly.
The abolition of the returns office Of
he Interior department was recon-
lended, at an estimated direct saving
f about $4,000 year, in addition
0 a large indirect economy in the
eduction Of work to be performed in
he several Offices.
The consolidation Of the six auditing
fiices of the treasury and the inclu-
ion in the auditing system of the
even naval officers who audited GUS
pms accounts at the principal ports
as urged. The change was expected
produce an immediate saving of at
ast S135,0O0 yearly.
From this modest start other changes
nd reforms and savings were to be
ade.
But we weren't interested in the
Oh cost of government or the high
,st of living eleven years ago. Mr..
aft didn't get a rise out Of US. He
dn't have much of pull with con-
ess, either, poor man, and all his in
liry went for nothing as far as any
ton was concerned.
He and his commission did bring out
ID establish, however, certain facts
d conditions. 1t was a trustworthy
d competent investigation as far as
went. That is something to the
cd.
There IS a patent disposition in con-
ess now to take the whole problem
the routine administrative processes
the government under consideration
d see how best to improve them.
neither anything really worth while
Il come out of it will depend en-
ely on the degree of interest you
play If you will take the trouble
show that you know that the ma
nal business is mismanaged and
its too much, and that you are tired