in the Returns Office, only for the reason that the basic law establishing the Returns Office does not include the Department of Agriculture. While, theoretically, the various auditors of the Treasury Department should have the contracts which involve Government receipts as well as Government expenditures in order to make a proper audit of such accounts, I am inclined to believe that under the present administration of the laws relating to such Government receipts auditors would not use these contracts in the examination of receiving officers' accounts. They would, therefore, merely be filed with the auditors for the purpose of publicity. Necessarily, if copies of such contracts, if not the originals, are required to be on file in the administrative offices, and the question arises as to whether or not, under the circumstances cited, it would be more practical and economical to provide for the publicity of such contracts in the respective offices where they are required to be filed for administrative purposes. With the idea of centralization in mind, I am inclined to think that the proposed amendment of section 3743, Revised Statutes, should provide for the filing of the contracts with the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Comptroller of the Treasury, or, at least, under the control of some one officer, rather than the various auditors of the Treasury Department, and the provision for the furnishing of certified copies of the contracts changed accordingly. The proposed amendment, as it stands, would require the filing of Government contracts in as many different offices as there are auditors, and such an arrangement would make it rather difficult for the general public to readily find the repository of a particular contract—not taking into consideration the question of economy of time, equipment, etc., that may be obtained by such centralization. Even if it were necessary to have the contracts distributed among the offices of the various auditors by reason of their present organization and location, it is not believed the suggested change in the proposed amendment would prohibit such a course, and if it were desired at some future time to centralize the work of the auditors, further amendment of the law would not then be required. If the commission has not considered these questions, I would suggest that they be submitted for due consideration. Very respectfully, SAMUEL ADAMS, Acting Secretary. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: Pursuant to your letter of the 27th ultimo, I return herewith the report of the Commission on Economy and Efficiency for the "Returns Office of the Department of the Interior." The report is exhaustive and the recommendations are clear and logical. (1) That the Returns Office be abolished. This should be approved. This office is practically useless, and its discontinuance would, therefore, be an economy without any decrease in efficiency. (2) That the originals of all public contracts (except those which should be held as confidential) now filed in the offices of the various auditors of the Treasury be made accessible to public inspection. This should be approved. In this connection, it is recommended, however, that this report be referred to the various auditors, in order to determine whether it will involve increased expenditures in their offices. In case an increase in force or expenditure would be necessary in the auditors' offices, the recommendation of the special committee, of which Capt. Gibbons was chairman, that the contracts in the administrative offices be made accessible to public inspection, might be considered, as this recommendation would be acceptable to the Navy Department. The proceedings and recommendations of this special committee are included in the report of the commission under consideration. (3) That written contracts be not required for agreements amounting to less than $1,000, or in cases of extraordinary emergency. This should be approved. It will result in a saving in so-called red tape, and stationery, affidavits, and delays incident thereto, without being prejudicial to the Government's interests. (4) That certificates to the same effect be substituted for affidavits on written contracts; that a penalty be provided for a false certificate, and that the certificates be uniform for all public contracts. This should be approved. Attention is invited, however, to the fact that clerks of the Government departments, who are employed out of office hours as notaries, receive the same compensation for this service as do other notaries. These fees, though not pay proper, result in an increase in the annual income of nine such clerks in this department of approximately $200 each. The clerks who would be affected by this change are among the most efficient in this department, viz: E. F. Tolson, F. S. Parks, W. D. Johnston, A. M. Peyton, K. Holmes, R. H. Barry, E. M. Barr, S. T. Baldwin, R. T. Bartlett. Faithfully, yours, The PRESIDent. G. VON L. MEYER. 1 E. Compilation of acts of Congress relating to mileage allowances and per diem allowances in lieu of subsistence... 2 E. Decisions of the Comptroller of the Treasury relating to travel expenditures... 3 E. Draft of regulations in relation to travel by Government employees...... 462 480 488 499 TRAVEL EXPENDITURES. DECEMBER 20, 1911. THE PRESIDENT. The Commission on Economy and Efficiency has the honor to submit the following report with recommendations in reference to the travel expenditures of officers and employees of the Government. The commission has made a compilation of the laws relating to mileage allowance, and per diem allowance in lieu of subsistence, which is appended to this report as Exhibit 1 E; also a compilation of the more important decisions of the Comptroller of the Treasury, which is set forth as Exhibit 2 E; and a draft of the proposed uniform regulations on particular subjects having to do with travel expenditures common to all departments, which is Exhibit 3 E. RECOMMENDATIONS. The commission recommends in this report the following changes in the law: 1. The passage of a law similar to the act of June 16, 1874 (18 Stat, 72), to provide that only actual traveling expenses shall be allowed to any person holding employment or appointment in or under any executive department or other Government establishment and repealing all laws allowing mileage and transportation to such persons in excess of the amount actually paid. 2. The passage of a law making it the duty of the President to prescribe a per diem allowance for each officer or employee, or each class of officers or employees, in or under an executive department or other Government establishment (including officers and employees of the courts of the United States, excepting judges), when engaged in travel on official business, and to vary any per diem from time to time; and that the per diem when so prescribed shall be in lieu of all traveling expenses except the cost of transportation and sleepingcar and parlor-car fares. 3. The passage of a law providing that every account for reimbursement of traveling expenses shall be certified as to its correctness by the person by whom the travel is performed, and that no verification by affidavit shall be required and that all laws requiring such verification be repealed. In addition to the foregoing recommendations for legislation the commission submits the following recommendations, which do not require a change of law, and which, in its opinion, should be put into effect until the necessary legislation can be had: 1. The adoption by the executive departments and other Government establishments of regulations which shall be uniform so far as 37542°-H Doc. 670, 62-2----30 463 |