During the progressive era, political reformers were looking for more government

EFFICIENT is the word you're looking for.

During the Progressive Era political reformers were looking for more EFFICIENT government.

Within the time we know as Progressive Era in the United States, from the 1890s to 1920s, there was also a movement known as the "Efficiency Movement."  Those who promoted the Efficiency Movement believed that government and society and the economy were being hurt by waste and badly-designed or badly-run programs.  Better solutions were possible if experts were consulted to study the problems and put forth better ideas on how to manage government and society.   Progressivism was all about making progress -- and by that they meant social progress.  Progressives were aiming at making society better, fixing things that were wrong, reforming programs or patterns so that people's lives would be improved.