BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY AND PLANT QUARANTINE 85 
IMPROVEMENTS IN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE 
An overall system was established to integrate budget and account- 
ing work in a manner that records financial information and reports 
the status of funds with a minimum of effort and expense. This in- 
cluded a revised system of providing field station leaders with a day- 
to-day record of amounts available to them for their various activi- 
ties. Training sessions were held to acquaint operating personnel with 
features of the system. The method of recording obligations was also 
changed to eliminate unnecessary work on the part of field stations. 
Classification audits were made of 518 Bureau positions during the 
year and an additional 1,262 position descriptions were reviewed. 
Composite viewpoints of regional directors, and division and proj- 
ect leaders were obtained on the major phases that could be most 
advantageously developed by training and welfare personnel. 
As part of .the Bureau's incentive-awards program, three cash 
awards were granted, 10 one-step increases in salary given, and five 
letters of commendation written, in addition to the distinguished serv- 
ice and superior service awards reported elsewhere. 
Numerical and functional files have been set up to maintain a con- 
trol over issuance and use of Bureau forms. 
Inquiries were made in the field to determine the present status 
of cooperation between Bureau field stations and State, county, and 
other interests. Where feasible, suggestions were made for improv- 
ing these cooperative relations. 
A uniform filing system has been installed in practically all Bureau 
offices. Obsolete records occupying 3,228 cubic feet were disposed of 
during the fiscal year. In the last 5 years, obsolete records occupying 
the equivalent of 7,088 file drawers were destroyed. 
Property valued at more than $500,000 was reassigned between 
Bureau activities to obtain better utilization of equipment. 
Another improvement was a system installed to facilitate reconcilia- 
tion of motor vehicle records and reports. Regional offices report to 
the Washington headquarters changes in the status of each vehicle. 
Reconciliation of reports and records was performed at a saving of 
6 weeks' time for one employee. This system focuses attention on 
vehicles that should be replaced and those that are available for trans- 
fer to activities where they can be better utilized. During the year, 
there was a reduction of 93 in the Bureau's inventory of motor vehicles. 
