REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 43 



made by Government and other people with the object of interest- 

 ing the boys in self-improvement. 



ECONOMIES EEFECTEH) IN THE DEPARTMENT. 



In the administration of the work during the fiscal year the 

 urgent necessity for economy in governmental expenditures has at 

 all times been kept in mind by the officers and employees of the 

 department. In conformity with the plan established by the Bureau 

 of the Budget, reserves amounting to $1,406,984 were set up against 

 the various annual appropriations of the department. By the exer- 

 cise of strict economy at the close of the year the department was 

 able to add further unused balances in the amount of $678,749, and 

 this, together with the $1,406,984 reserved, made total savings of 

 $2,085,733 turned back to the Treasury in the form of unexpended 

 balances from the annual appropriations. 



In addition to the foregoing, a reserve of $559,569 was set up from 

 the so-called continuing appropriations of the department, which 

 are available until expended. While this money will eventually be 

 expended, it was found possible, imder the necessities of the times, 

 to defer the expenditures beyond the present fiscal year, and thus, 

 for the present, to save the withdrawal of the cash from the Treasury. 



The efforts toward reduction in expenditures were not confined 

 merely to keeping intact the reserves reported in the foregoing. The 

 business administration of the department generally has been sub- 

 jected to close scrutiny and specific economies inaugurated all along 

 the line. The department has been actively represented on the vari- 

 ous coordinating agencies created under the authority of the Bureau 

 of the Budget. A traffic manager has been appointed to coordinate 

 and handle the large volume of shipments and extensive passenger 

 movements in connection with the work of the department. Careful 

 attention has been given to economies which might be effected by 

 changes in organization, and worth-while results have been achieved 

 in this direction also, some of which will be mentioned later. 



Particular attention has been given to the purchasing work of the 

 department. After a survey of this work was made by an expert 

 detailed from the Bureau of the Budget, a director of purchases and 

 sales was designated to coordinate the purchasing work and the 

 disposition of surplus property. Changes haA^e been made in former 

 procedure. The work has been placed upon a more businesslike 

 basis by a closer scrutiny of purchase requirements. By reorganiza- 



