The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-05-24
New Department Proposed
to Take Place of That
of the Interior.
ECONOMY TIE CAUSE
FOR MAKING CHANGE
Assertion Is Made That Present
Secretary Would Not Be
Affected.
By JAMES Hay, IR.

~ l@@~@~fD go y ~
One OF the most important Govern
mental projects the President will be
asked 10 consider during his summer
vacation al Beverly VIII be the creation
Of a new executive branch Of the Gov
ernment 20 be known as the Department
of Public Works.
The proposed plan contemplates the
abolition OF the Interior Department,
or the substitution OF a bureau TO do the
work il now performs.
Support for the proposition IS found
among the Presidents political ad-
visers and the lea ling business men OF
the country.
IN the preliminary discussions which
have been had regarding the movement.
it has been pointed out that the sug-
gestion has IN no way for its object
the discrediting O. Secretary Of the In
terror Baninger. Il IS pointed out that
such a sweeping change in the admin
istration Of governmental affairs would
require much time to put into execution.
and 1t would net interfere wfth the
present head - the Interior Department
at this time
Features to Be Embraced
The main features Of The new deY art
ment, as they have already been ex-
planned TO Mr.. Taft, are. in brief. as
follows:
II shall have charge Of the Panama
canal and all ,Sle work incidental %
that projects uSkeep and support
Il shall look after the irrigation prof.
ects throughout the country.
u shall take over all the conservation
ton and forestry work now being
done by different departments of the
government
1t shall have the control OF such
minor work as is contemplated in the
proposed Bureau o. -2utdc Health and
such activities as a-r now found in
the various movements for the pro-
lection OF water supplies and water
power sites.
It shall have under t. as a subordi-
nate bureau. brancl. 10 look after
the small area or pUflic.lands which
now remain IN possession Of the Gov
ernment-
Plan Finds Favor.
| Strong hope OF the plan being adopted
is found among Mr.. Tafr's advisers be-
| cause It fits in with his ambition %
make the administrative machinery OF
the Government more precise and eco
Eomical than II has ever been. The
| supporters Of the movement, some OF
whom are 70 be found III the membership
| Of the Cabinet itself, argue that such
4 a new executive department would do
away with the overlapping OF worh
which now arises from the fact that
various departments are operating work
| on projects Of similar scope and aim
| For several years there has been talE
| fn POLITICAL circles tha- the Interior De-
nMHnm
| Created in the beginning for the prt-
mary object OF looking after the puoiic
domain, IL has lasted longer than the
public lands, and IL now is doing, as
/ its main work, the things which could
be better looked atter by a new De
! partment whose luties shall be so
! mapped out as K give Il specific con
troll of the public projects which are
closely related 20 each other.
! At pI Iesent, for instance, the forestry
/ work is being carried out by the De
J partment OF Agriculture. while the Lant
IOfnCe Is under the Interior Department
The Panama canal is under the Juris
diction Of the War Department. and al
| those phases Of the work for the pro
| lection of the public health are scatter
ed through several departments.
Would Replace Interior Department.
The head Of the new department
would. of course, be A member OF tn
] Presidents Cabinet, taking the place o
! the Secretary Of the Interior
I'd to this time the President ha
! made no pronouncement as 70 wheJhe
or not he viii favor the proposition in I
| nessage 10 Congress. He has not ha'
opportunity 10 study the problems
K which surround the plan
! That such a ch~nge viii nave 10 b.
] made sooner or later is the conviction
/ of all the statesmen and politicians VIII
/ have looked into the situation. Tn
/ only question at this time is whethe
! Mr. Taft vii take 1t up in the mex
| session OF Congress.
! But, i, is argued. the outlook for hi
/ favoring II is bright because of its econ
onny. its sound business sense. and tn
/ patent fact that the Department Of tn
! Interior is no longer a necessity.
| III Mr.. Taft, after his study Of the sit
uation this summer. decides TO put III
/ start 10 the movement in an Official wa,
/ the first step toward its accomplish
nent will. in all probability, be a rec
4 ommendation to- Congress that a com
I mission be created. % map out in de
a.