PAG IS 0
THK CITIZEN, F1UDAY, JANUAHY 10, 1013,
EON
E
MY AND
EFFICIENCY
President Taft Reviews the Re
port ot Special Commission,
Commends Findings and
Urges Continuance,
Shows a Prospective Saving In Gov
ernment Expenditures of Upward of
$5,000,000, With Investigation Only
Begun Wasto In Single Item of Dis
tributing Public Documents Amounts
to $250,000 Annually Saving In
Order to Spend More Wisely,
Following are tho recommendations
of tho president In relation to tho re
port made to hlui by tho commission
en economy and efllcleuey:
To tho Senate and House of llepre-
seutatives:
I submit for the Information of the
congress this report of progress made
In tho Inquiry Into tho efficiency and
economy of tho methods of transact
ing public business.
Efficiency and economy In the gov
ernment service have been demanded
with increasing Insistence for a gen
eration. Heal economy Is the result of
efficient organization. Hy perfecting
the organization tho same bcnelits may
bo obtained at less expense. A reduc
tion In the total of the annual appro
priations Is not In Itself a proof of
economy, since It Is often accompanied
by a decrease In efficiency. The needs
of tho nation may demand a large In
crease of expenditure, yet to keep the
total appropriations within the ex
pected revenue is necessary to the
maintenance of public credit.
Upon the president must rest a large
share of the responsibility for the de
mands made upon tho treasury for the
current administration of tho execu
tive branch of the government Upon
tbe congress must rest responsibility
for those grants of public funds which
are made for other purposes.
Reason For the Inquiry.
Recognizing my sharo of responsibil
ity for efficient and economical admin
istration, I have endeavored during the
past two years, with the assistance of
beads of departments, to secure the
best results. As one of the means to
this end I requested a grant from con
gress to make my efforts more effec
tive. An appropriation of $100,000 was
made Juno 25, 1010, "to enablo the
president to Inquire Into tho methods
of transacting the public business of
the executive departments and other
government establishments and to rec
ommend to congress such legislation
as may be necessary to carry into ef
fect changes found to bo desirable that
cannot bo accomplished by executive
action nlone." I bavo been given this
fund to enablo mo to take action and
to make specific recommendations with
respect to tho details of transacting
the business of an organization whose
activities are almost as varied as those
of tho entire business world. Tho op
erations of the government affect the
Interest of every person living within
the jurisdiction of the United States.
Its organization embraces stations and
centers of work located in every city
and in many local subdivisions of tin
ouutry. Its gross expenditures amount
to nearly $1,000,000,000 nunually. In
cluding the personnel of the military
and naval establishments, more than
400,000 persons are required to do the
work Imposed by law upon the execu
tive branch of the government.
Magnitude of the Task.
This vast organization has nevt i
been studied In detail as one piece ol
administrative mechanism. Never ha e
the foundations been laid for a
thorough consideration of tho relations
of all of Us parts. No comprehensive
effort has boou made to list its multi
farious activities or to group them in
suih a way ns to present a clear pic
ture of what the government is doi'ig.
Never has n complete description been
Elven of tho agencies through whi'h
these activities are performed. At n
time has the attempt been made to
study all of these activities and agen
cies with a view to the assignment of
each activity to the agency best fitted
for Its performance, to the avoidance
of duplication of plant and work, to
the Integration of nil administrative
agencies of the government, so far as
may bo practicable, into a unified or
ganization for tho most effective and
economical dispatch of public busi
ness. Tirst Complete Investigation.
Notwithstanding that voluminous re
polls are compiled annually and pre
enled lo the congress, no satisfactory
statement has ever been published of
the fiunnclai transactions of the gov
crnraeut as a whole. Provision Is
made for duo accountability for nil
moneys coming Into the hands of of
ficers of the government, whether as
collectors of revenue or disbursing
agents, and for insuring that author!
rations for expenditures as made by
law shall not be exceeded. Hut no
ceueral system has ever been devised
for reporting and presenting Informa
tion regarding tho character of the
expenditures made In such a wny as
to reveal the actual costs entailed in
th5 operation of Individual services and
In tho performance of particular un
dertakings nor in such a way as to
make possible the oxorcUe of intclll
gent judgment regarding the discretion
displayed In making expenditure and
concerning the value of the results oh
talncd when contrasted with the sacri
fices required.
I am convinced that results which
are really worth while cannot be se
cured, or at least can be secured only
In small part, through the prosecution
nt Irregular lutervals of special In
quiries bearing on particular services
or features of administration. The
benefits thus obtained must be but
temporary. The problem of good ad
ministration is not ono that can be
solved nt ouu time. It is a continuous
ly present one.
Plan of tho Work.
In accordance with my instructions
the commission on economy and effi
ciency, which I organized to aid me in
tho Inquiry, has directed ItH efforts
primarily to the formulation of con
crete recommendations looking to the
betterment of the fundamental condi
tions under which governmental opera
tions must bo carried on. With a basis
thus laid it has proceeded to the prose
cution of detailed studies of Individual
services and classes of work nnd of
particular practices and methods, push
ing these studies ns far and covering
as many points and services ns the re
sources and time at Its disposal have
permitted. ,
In npproaching its task it has divid
ed the work Into five fields of inquiry
having to do respectively with organi
zation, personnel, business methods, ac
counting and reporting and the budget.
Organization.
I have stated that the congress, the
president and the administrative of
ficers are attempting to discharge the
duties with which they are Intrusted
without full information ns to the
agencies through which the work of
the government is being performed.
To provide more complete information
on this point tho commission has sub
mitted to me a report on the organi
zation of the government ns it existed
July 1, 1011. This report, which is
transmitted herewith, shows in great
detail, by means of outlines, not only
the departments, commissions, bureaus
and offices through which the govern
ment performs Its varied activities,
but also the sections, shops, field sta
tions, etc., constituting the subordinate
divisions through which the work Is
actually done. It shows for the serv
ices at Washington each such final
unit as a laboratory, library, shop and
administrative subdivision and for the
services outside of Washington each
station and point at which any activ
ity of the government Is carried on.
Specific Economies Demonstrated.
With this outline as a basis the com
mission has entered upon the prepara
tion of three series of reports.
The first series deals with the man
ner in which the services of the gov
ernment should be grouped in depart
ments. Tho second and third series of re
ports deal, respectively, with the or
ganization nnd activities of particular
services and the form of organization
for the performance of particular busi
ness operations.
One of the reports of the second se
ries Is upon the revenue cutter service,
which costs the government over
$2,500,000 each year. In the opinion of
yie commission its varied activities
can be performed with equal or great
er advantage by other services. The
commission therefore recommends that
It be abolished. It Is estimated that
by so doing a saving of not less thau
51,000,000 a year can be made.
Another report Illustrating the sec
ond scries recommends that the light
house and life saving services be ad
ministered by a single bureau instead
of, as ut present, by two bureaus locat
ed In different departments. These
services have much in common. Geo
graphically they are similarly located;
administratively they havo many of
the same problems. It Is estimated
that eonsolldatnlon would result in a
saving of not less than $100,000 an
nually. In n third report the commission has
recommended the abolition of the re
turns office of the department of the
interior. Tills action, in its opinion,
will cause no loss In service to the
public and will result in a direct sav
ing of not less than $2.,000 a year, In
addition to a largo Indirect economy
lu tho reduction of work to be per
formed In the several offices.
In another report the commission has
recommended the consolidation of the
six auditing offices of the treasury and
the Inclusion in the auditing system of
the seven naval officers who now audit
customs accounts nt the principal ports.
The changes recommended will Improve
In many ways the auditing of public
accounts and will result In nn Immedi
ate saving of at least $135,000 annually.
A third scries of reports Is being pre
pared on those brandies of the organ
ization which arc technical In charac
ter and which exist for the service of
tho government ns a whole branches
which have to do with such matters ns
public printing, heating, lighting, the
making of repairs, tho providing of
transportation nnd the compilation of
statistics where mechanical equipment
Is essential.
Abolition of Local Offices.
Ferhaps tho part of tho organization
In which the greatest economy in pub
lic expenditure Is possible is to be
found lu the numerous local offices of
the government. In some Instances the
fcstabllshuicut nnd the discontinuance
of these local offices are matters of ad
ministrative discretion. In other In
stances they are established by perma
nent law lu such u manner that their
discontinuance Is beyond the power of
tho president or that of any executive
officer. In a number of services these
laws were passed nearly a century ago.
Changes lu economic conditions hae
tnken place which have had tho effect
of rendering certain offices not only
useless, but even worne than useless In
that their very existence needlessly
swells expenditures and complicates
the administrative system.
The responsibility for tho mainte
nance if these conditions must nat
urally be divided between tho con
gress ::nd the executive. Hut that the
executive has performed his duty
when lie has called the attention of
congress to the matter must also be
admitted, ltealizlng-my responsibility
in the premises, I have directed the
commission to prepare n report setting
forth the positions in tho local services
of tho government which may be dis
continued with advantage, the saving
which would result from such netlon
and the change In law which are nec
essary to carry Into effect changes In
organisation found to be desirable.
On the coming in of the report such
offices as may be found useless nnd
can be abolished will bo so treated by
executive order.
Personnel.
In my recent mcssago to the con
gress 1 urged consideration of the ne
eessUy of placing In the classified serv
ice all of the local officers under the
departments of the treasury, the In
terior, postofflce nnd commerce nnd la
bor. As yet little if any attempt has been
made by law to secure, either for tho
higher administrative positions in the
service nt Washington or for local of
fices, the qualifications which the In
cumbents of these positions must have
If the business of the government Is
to be conducted In the most efficient
nnd economical manner. Furthermore,
In the case of many of the local of
ficers the law positively provides that
the term of office shall be of four
years' duration.
Extension of Merit System.
The next step which must be taken
is to require of heads of bureaus In
the departments at Washington and
of most of the local officers under the
departments qualifications of capacity
similar to those now required of cer
tain heads of bureaus and of local of
ficers. The extension of the merit sys
tem to these officers nnd a needed re
adjustment of salaries will have im
portant effects In securing greater
economy and efficiency.
In the first place, the possession by
the Incumbents of these positions of
the requisite qualifications must In It
self promote efficiency.
In the second place, the removal of
local officers from tho realm of po
litical patronage In many cases would
reduce the payroll of the field serv
ices. At the present time the incum
bents of many of these positions leave
tho actual performance of many of
their duties to deputies and assistants.
The government often pays two per
sons for doing work that could easily
be done by one1. "What is the loss to
the government cannot be stated, but
that it Is very largo cannot be denied
when it is remembered how numerous
are the local officers In the postal, cus
toms, internal revenue, public lands
and other field services of the govern
ment. In the third place, bo long as local
officers nro within tho sphere of po
litical patronage it Is difficult to con
sider the question of the establish
ment or discontinuance of local offices
apnrt from tho effect upon local po
litical situations.
Finally tho view that these various
offices nre to be filled as n result of
political considerations has for its con
sequence the necessity that the presi
dent nnd members of congress devote
to mntters of patronage time which
they should devote to questions of pol
icy nnd administration.
Dangers of Fixed Term System.
The greatest economy and efficiency
and tho benefits which may accrue
from the president's devoting his tlmo
to the work which is most worth while
may be assured only by treating all
the distinctly administrative officers in
the departments at Washington and In
tho field in the same way as inferior
officers have been treated. The time
has come when nil these officers should
be placed in the classified service. Tho
time has also come when those pro
visions of l.w which give to these offi
cers a fixed term of years should be re
pealed. So lng as a fixed term Is pro
vided by law the question of reappoint
ment of an officer, no matter how effi
ciently he lr.iy have performed his du
ties, will Inevitably be raised period
ically. So long as appointments to
these offices must bo continued by tho
senate and so long as appointments to
them must bo made every four years
just so long will it be Impossible to
provide n force of employees with a
reasonably permanent tenure who are
qualified by reason of education aud
training to do the best work.
Superannuation.
I shall submit lu the near future for
tho consideration or tho congress n
plan for the retirement of nged em
ployees In the civil hervlco which will
safeguard the interests of the govern
ment aud at tho same time make rea
sonable provision for the needs ot
those who havo given the best part of
their lives to tho service of the state.
Iti every case where technical proc
esses have been studied It lias been
demonstrated beyond question that
, largo economies may be effec ted. Tho
1 subjects first approached were those
which He close to each administrator
viz. office practices. An illustration of
the possibilities within this field may
bo found in the results of the inquiry
, into the methods of haudllug and filing
t correspondence. Every office In the
government has reported Its methods
to the commission. Theso reports
brought to light the fact that present
' methods were quite tho reverse of unl
I form. Some offices follow tho practice
I of briefing nil correspondence; somo do
not Some have fiat files; others fold
nil 'pors before filing. So wis use press
coiile: others retain only carbon co
les. Cost of Handling and Filing Ccrrc
cpsi,d:nce, The reports nl.io show not only n
very wide range lu the methods of
doing this eouipiunthely j.lmple part
of the government business, but nn ex
traordinary range In cost. For tin
handling of Incoming mall the aver
ages of cost by departments vary from
5.SI to $31.-I0 per 1,000. For the han
dling of outgoing mall the averages by
departments vary from $5.01 lo $G9.Sli
per 1,000. This does not include the
cost of preparation, but is confined
merely to tho physical side of the
work. Tho variation between Indi
vidual offices is many times greater
than thnt shown for averages by de
partments. It has been found that differences of
average cost by departments closel
follow differences In method and that
the greatest cost is found in the de
partment where tho method Is most
involved. Another fact is of interest
viz, that lu tho two departments nbove
referred to, which show tho lowest
averages, orders havo been Issued
which will lead to large saving with
out Impairing efficiency. It cannot be
said what the saving ultimately will be
when the attention of officers in all of
the departments has been focused on
present methods with a view to chang
ing them In such manner as to reduce
cost to the lowest point compatible
with efficient service. It, however,
must be a considerable percentage of
nearly $5,000,000, the total estimated
cost of handling this part of the gov
ernment business at Washington.
Need For Labor Saving Office Devices.
The use of labor saving office devices
in the service hns been made the sub
ject of special Inquiry. An Impression
prevails thnt the government is not
making use of mechanical devices for
economizing labor to the same extent
as are efficiently managed private en
terprises. A study has been made of
the extent to which devices of this
character are now being employed in
the several branches of tho govern
ment and the opportunities that exist
for their more general use. in order
to secure information ns to the various
kinds of labor saving devices that are
Hi existence and as to their adaptabil
ity to government work, nn exhibition
of labor saving office nppliances was
held In Washington from July C to 15,
1011. One hundred nnd ten manufac
turers and dealers participated, and
more than 10,000 officers nnd employees
visited the exhibition. There is no
doubt that the exhibition served tho
purpose of bringing to the attention of
officers" devices which can be employed
by them with advantage. The holding
of this exhibition was, however, but a
step preparatory to tho contemplated
Investigation.
Unnecessary Cost of Copy Work.
The efforts of the commission result
ed also In the adoption by several bu
reaus or departments of improved
methods of doing copyiug. The amount
of copy work heretfore done by hand
each year lu the many offices Is esti
mated to aggregate several hundred
thousand dollars. The commission ex
hibited at Its offices appliances thnt
were thought to be especially adapted
to this kiud of government work. Fol
lowing these demonstrations methods
of copying were Introduced which have
brought ubout a saving of over 73 per
Cent In offices where used for six
months. This change In one small cross
section of office practice will more than
offset the whole cost of my Inquiry.
Waste In Distribution of Public Docu
ments. Going outside tho office, ono of the
business processes which has been In
vestigated is tlie distribution of depart
mental documents. This Is a subject
with which both the congress aud ad
ministration bends nre familiar. The
prevailing practice in haudllug depart
mental publications is to have them
manufactured at tho government print
ing office. Uach Job when completed
is delivered to tho department. Here
the books or pamphlets are wrapped
and addressed. They nre then sent to
the postolllce. There they are assorted
and prepared for shipment through tho
malls. From the postoffice they are
pent to the railroad station, which is
only a few steps from tho government
printing office, whence they started.
The results of this laborious nnd cir
cuitous method Is to make the use of
tho best mi'chuuical equipment Imprac
ticable and to waste each year not less
than a quarter of a million dollars ol
government funds In useless handling,
to say nothing of tho indirect loss duo
to lack of proper co-ordination.
Wasteful Use of Properties and Equip
ment. Tho use of equipment Is a matter
which also has been Investigated. Up
to tlie present time this Investigation
bus been in tho main con lined to the
subject of t'lectiic lighting. The gov
ernment pays over sfilOO.O'io per year
for electric current. It lias made largo
capital outlays for wiring and fixtures.
With tlie Increasing demands in many
buildings the present equipment is tax
ed to Its limit, nnd if tlie present meth
ods are continued much of this wir
ing must be done over. In many places
employees tire working nt a great
physical disadvantage, duo to Inade
quate nnd Improper lighting and there
by with reduced efficiency. In every
place where the Inquiry has been con
ducted It appears that there is large
waste; that without the cost of re
wiring, simply by giving proper atten
tlin to locnllon of lights nnd the use
of proper Inmps and rellectors, the
light eillclency at points whero needed
may be much Increased and the cost
of currjnt reduced from 30 to CO per
cent. Other Inquiries Into tho uso
which Is being made of properties and
equipment nro contemplated which
promise oien lurger results.
Unnecessary Cost of Insurance.
It is tho policy ot the government
not to Insure public property against
fire nnd other losses. Question has
been raised whether the government
might dot apply the same principle to
other foitns of risk, Including insur
ance of (lie fidelity of officials nnd em
ployees. A report Is now in prepara
tion on the subject which will show
opportunities for large savings. I be
dove that the present expense for In
suring tho fnlthful executjon of con
tracts, which, though paid by tho con
tractor, Is more than covered In the
added price to tho government, can be
largely reduced without tnking away
any clement of security.
The importance ot establishing nnd
maintaining standard specifications Is
found not only in the possibility of
very materially reducing tho direct
cost of government trading, but nlso
lu insuring to the service materials,
supplies and equipment which aro bet
ter adapted to its purposes. One of
the results of indcflnltencss of specifi
cations Is to Impose contract condi
tions which make It extra hazardous
for persons to enter Into contractual
relations. This not only deprives the
government of tno advantage of broad
competition, but causes It to pay an
added margin In price to venders, who
must carry the risk.
Excessive Co3t of Travel,
The annual cost of travel to the gov
ernment was found to be about $12,
000.000. It was also found that the
government employees were traveling
lu practically every way that was
open to the public. It wa further
found thnt, although the government
was the largest user of transportation,
it was buying railroad tickets on a
less favorable basis than would be
possible If the subject of traveling ex
penditures were systematically han
dled from tho point of view of the
government ns a whole. The form of
ticket most often used between such
points ns New York, Philadelphia and
Washington was the single trip first
class ticket. In two departments defi
nite tests havo been made In tho use
of mileage books, and In each prac
tically the same result has been re
portedviz, an average saving of a lit
tle over one-half of 1 cent per mile.
One of the results or byproo lets of
this inquiry into travel expenses was
the recommendation that the Jurat or
affidavit which Is now required by or
der of the comptroller be discontinued.
The jurat does not add to the value of
the return, Involves persons traveling
In much nnnoyance and trouble In go
ing before nn officer competent to ad
minister oaths, while every disciplina
ry result is obtained through certifica
tion under the law prescribing a pen
alty for the falsification of accounts.
A discontinuance of the jurat in all
cases would result In n direct saving
of nbout $00,000 per annum.
Other Expenditures to Be Investigated.
Before economy In government trad
ing can be adequately covered such
subjects ns the following must bo sys
tematically inquired luto viz: Subsist
ence and support of persons; subsist
ence nnd care for animals and the stor
age and care of vehicles; telephone,
telegraph and commercial messenger
service; printing, engraving, litho
graphing nnd binding; advertising and
the publication of notices; heat, light,
power and electricity purchased; re
pairs by contract nnd open market or
der; building nnd other materials;
drafting, scientific and stationery sup
plies; fuel; mechanics', engineering and
electricians' supplies; cleanlug aud
toilet supplies; wearing apparel and
hand sewing supplies; forage and oth
er supplies for animals; provisions; ex
plosives aud pyrotechnic supplies; heat,
light, power and electrical equipment;
live stock; furniture and furnishings;
educational aud scleutltlc equipment.
From what has been already ascertain
ed conceruiug certalu ot these differ
ent objects of government expenditure
it is evident that large savings will re
sult from such nn examination.
Reports at Present Required by Con
gress. The commission has made a study of
the present requirements of law relat
ing to reports which are in whole or
in part financial in character from the
vnrious departments aud establish
ments. There are more than ninety
acts of congress which annually re
quire reports of this character. These
requirements of the law result In near
ly 200 printed reports relating to finan
cial matters, which must be submitted
annually to the congress by the vari
ous departments nnd establishments.
Studies of these reports nnd compari
sons of the classification of expendi
tures as set forth therein have been
made by the commission to the end
that, no far as practicable, uniformity
of clnsshlcntlon of objects of expendi
ture may be recommended nnd Identi
cal terminology adopted.
In duo time I shall transmit to the
cougross such recommendations for
changes in the present laws relating to
these annual reports ns appear to bo
pertinent and necessary.
No National Budget.
Tho United States is the only great
nation whose government Is operated
without ti budget. This fact seems to
bo moro striking when it is consid
ered "that budgets and budget proce
dures nro the outgrowth of democratic
doctrines nnd have had nn Important
part in the development of modern
constitutional rights Tho American
commonwealth has suffered much
from Irresponsibility on the part of its
governing agencies. Tho constitutional
purpose of a budget Is to make gov
ernment responsive to public opinion
nnd responsible for Its acts.
A budget should bo the menus for
getting before the legislative branch,
ItAfnru the uress and bfiforo tho peo
ple a definite nnnual progr..in of bm
uess to be financed, it should bo
tho nature of a prospectus both
revenues nnd expenditures, It shoul
comprehend every relation of the gol
eminent to the people, whether wM
reference to tho raising, of revenues
the rendering ot --erMi e.
In many foreign . utintr). t u,. u
nual budget program is dis if J wl
Hpcclul reference to the revenue to ll
raised, tho thought being tliat the rail
lug of revenue bears more direct rell
Hon to welfaro than does govenuneil
expenditure. Around questions
Rource of revenue political- pnrtll
have been organized, nnd on su
questions voters In the United StatJ
have taken sides sluce the first rcl
enue law was proposed.
Citizens' Interest In Expenditures.
In political controversy it has h"il
assumed generally that the indlvidul
citizen has little interest in what til
government spends. In my opluiol
this has been n serious mistake, oil
which Is becoming more serious cat
year. Now that population has b
come more dense, that large cltlJ
have developed, that people are rl
quired to live In congested centers, th
the national resources frequently a J
the subject of private ownership ail
private control and that transportatltl
and other public sen-Ice facilities a J
held and operated by large corporl
tlons, what the government does will
nearly $1,000,000,000 each year Is of
much concern to the average citizen :l
Is tlie manner of obtaining this anioui
of money for public use. In tlie prej
cut inquiry special attention has beil
given to the expenditure side.
We want economy and efficiency
want saving and saving for a purpos
We want to save money to enable til
government to go into somo of til
beneficial projects which we nre ill
barred from taking up now becau
we cannot Increase our expenditure!
Projects nffectlng the public healtl
now public works and other beneflcil
activities of government can be ful
thered if we are able to get a dollar J
value for every dollar of the goverl
ment's money which we expend.
Continuance of the Commission.
I ask tho continuance of this coH
mission on economy and efficiency 111
cause of the excellent beginning whiil
has been made toward the reorgauizl
Hon of the machinery of this goveril
ment on business principles. I ask
because its work Is entirely uonpal
tisan in character nnd ought to appll
to every citizen who wishes to givl
effectiveness to popular governiuenl
In which we feel a just pride. Thl
work further commends Itself for tl
reason that the cost of orgaulzatlnl
and work has been carefully considel
cd at every point. Three inontll
wore taken in consideration of p'.ail
before the inquiry was begun, sil
months were then spent In prcllmlnar
Investigations before tho cammlssiol
was organized. Before March 3, 101
wueu i asset! ror n continuation 1
the original appropriation for tho eul
rent year, only $12,000 had been spenl
It Is n matter of public record tbn
the three largest lnsurauce compnulil
In New York when under leglslatlvl
investigation spent more than J."O0
000 for expert services to nsslst thl
administration to put the business ol
a modern basis, but the economies thl
first year were more than tenfe'd thl
cost. I am informed that New YorlJ
Chicago, Boston, St. Louis. Cincinnati
Milwaukee and other cities are prosil
cutlng inquiries the cost of whi-Mi ll
largely disproportionate to the cost ill
curreu by tho federal government
Furthermore, these inquiries have thl
vigorous support nnd direct co-opcni
tion of citizen agencies which u'on
are spending not less than $200,0ol
per annum. I
I sincerely hope that congress wlj
not in Its anxiety to reduce expend!
tures economize by cuttlug oft an nil
propriatlon which is likely to offcl
greater opportunity for real ecouomv ij
tho future than ncy olher estimate!
for.
As has been said, the changes wlncl
have already been made are resul'inl
in economies greater ui.in the tost l
the Inquiry. Hepoits in my luu.l:
iiu rocoiiiineniiauons, esrunate uM
proximately $2.000.uud of p issi .it ui
uuul economies. Other sub vts uul
Investigation Indicate nun. a inner ril
suns, uiieso represent ou'y a toiv ol
tho many services which should suiJ
Jected to a like painstaking luqn.ry 1 1
this is done It Is beyond question tlul
many millions of savings mnv be reaU
ized. Over and above the economy tulul
Increased efficiency which may lie salJ
to result from the work of the comailsl
slon as such Is un Indirect result thai
cannot well bo measured. I refer tl
the Influence which a vigorous, thor
oughgolug executive Inquiry has oi
each of the administrative units
In this relation it may be said thai
the expenditure for the Inqulrv durlud
the present fiscal year is at the rate ol
$130,000. The mass of informatloil
which must bo collected, digested am!
summarized pertaining to each snlil
ject of inquiry is enormous. From tlx
results obtained It is evident that ev
ery dollar which is spent In the prosel
cutlon of tho Inquiry in tho future will
result In manifold savings. Kverj
economy which has been or will be efl
fected through changes In organization
or method will Inure to tho benefit oi
the government nnd of the people ill
increasing measure through the year.
which follow. It Is clearly the part ot
wisdom to provide for the coming yeaii
means at least equal to those availablil
during tho current year, and lu mj
opinion the appropriation should bo In
creased to $200,000, and nn addltlonni
amount of $.10,000 should be provided
for tho publication of those results
which will bo of continuing value tc
olllcers of the government nnd to thi
people. WILLIAM II. TAFT.
Tho White nous. Jan 17 mil