624 ANNUAL. REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



RECOMMENDATIONS OP THE COMMITTEE ON EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY. 



Under data of June 14, 1911, the Committee on Efficiency and 

 Economy appointed September 29, 1910, submitted its report, the 

 recommendations in which were approved June 21, 1911, and the 

 chiefs of bureaus, offices, and independent divisions, and the chief 

 clerk of the department were directed to put it into effect at once. 



The recommendations of that committee changing or affecting the 

 conduct of work in this division are as follows: 



Drafliyig. — (1) That the drafting work in the several different bureaus be not 

 removed to a central division, because of the fact that, in the opinion of the com- 

 mittee, such work serves an administrative aa well as an illustrative purpose, and 

 that any such removal would result in numerous embarrassmente and would make 

 the work ineffective. 



(2) That there be assumed to exist a better spirit of cooperation between the 

 bureaus and the Division of Publications than now appears to exist. 



(3) That, generally speaking, the Division of Publications be called upon to make 

 all ordinary drawings for publications. 



(4) That the term "ordinary drawings" be understood to exclude entomological 

 and j)athological drawings and others of a like technical nature requiring specialized 

 knowledge on the part of the employees executing them, also such as require to be 

 done upon a moment's notice, and such as require the continuous expert supervision 

 of scientists. 



Editorial. — (1) That the reading and revising of manuscripts by the bureaus be 

 continued; that the bureaus be held responsible for the accuracy of statements and 

 the form of presentation; that the Division of Publications conduct such review of 

 manuscripts and reference to the various bureaus of the department as may be neces- 

 sary from the standpoint of the Secretary's office, and mark them for the Government 

 Printing OfBce; it being understood that the DiArision of Publications makes no 

 change in statement without the approval or knowledge of the bureau from which 

 the proposed publication emanates. It is further recommended that the Division of 

 Publications establish a uniformity of style in the publications of the various bureaus, 

 and determine the form, size, type, number, and character of illustrations, the edi- 

 tion to be printed of each publication, having the same authority with regard to 

 job work of all kinds, with the object of securing economy and efficiency in the 

 department printing. 



(2) That all proof reading, except such as is done by the author, be done in the 

 Division of Publications. It should be understood, however, that any changes made 

 by the author in the proof shall be made with the approval of his chief of bureau. 



(3) That all indexing be turned over to the Division of Publications. 

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(6) That it is not advisable that the employees of the so-called editorial forces of 

 the bureaus should be transferred to the Division of Publications. 



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rhotogra-phy . — (3) That some form of notes of exposure be used for the record and 

 identification of photographs as an aid to the photographer in developing and printing. 



(4) That copying of maps by photography should be utilized to the fullest extent 

 practicable, inasmuch as a great deal of work now done by draftsmen might well be 

 done by photography. 



^5) That the making of bromide enlargements be continued. 



(6) That where the making of transparencies is continued this should be limited 

 to offices where their exhibition will have an educational value to visitors, and not be 

 merely for purposes of office decoration. 



(7) That the making of blueprints as an aid to construction work wherever they 

 will serve, instead of bromide enlargements or lantern slides, should be encouraged 

 to the fullest extent. 



(8) That extreme care should be taken through constant supervision and careful 

 indexing to provide against unnecessary duplication in lantern-slide subjects or in 

 making slides bearing only remotely upon the work of the bureau, also that safeguards 

 and limitations be observed in the loan and sale of slides for the purpose of illustrating 

 lectii'-es; that loans should be made only where it is clear that they are to be used 

 for educational purposes along lines followed by the bureaus themselves. 



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(11) That the manner of filing negatives should be made uniform throughout the 

 department; that the negatives of all photographs produced for the publications of 

 the department be turned over to the Division of Publications with all manuscripts 

 submitted, and that all files of negatives be kept in fireproof vaults or caaea. 



