Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-13
TO MAP OUT PROGRAM
Members to Gather in Speaker
Clark's Room Saturday.
NINE COMMITTEES ARE TO SIT
Democrats Propose Searching Inquiry
With View to Reforming Ex-
ecutive Departments.

Inc threatened 1UVeStiSdllOH Uy tho
democrats Of the House of Represent
atives Of the nine executive depart
ments of the government in Washing
ton is about to be begun. 1t promises
to be the most searching and compre-
hensive inquiry OF its kind that has
been instituted at the National Capt.
tai by either party in many. many years
1t will last all summer
The length of the present special ses-
sion will have no effect on the continue
ton of the investigation, as the nine
committees on expenditures in the nine
departments have secured the permission
Of the House to sit during the recess.
The object of the investigation will be
retrenchment and reform, and the nrs1
step looking toward its initiation was
taken today when Speaker Clark called
n meeting of the nine chairmen OF these
nine departmental committees for Satur-
day morning at 10 o'clock.
They will gather in the Speakers ONCE
and endeavor to agree upon plan OF
operation.
The Nine Chairmen.
These men are Representatives Hamlin
OF Missouri, chairman OF the committee
OF expenditures Of the State Department;
William 4. Cox OF Indiana, chairman OF
the committee Of expenditures of the
Treasury Department; Harvey Helm OF
Kentucky. chairman Of the commit
tee of expenditures OF the War
Department: Rufus Hardy Of Texas.
chairman Of the committee OF
expenditures Of the Navy Department.
William A. Ashbrook Of Ohio, chairman
of the committee Of expenditures Of the
Post Ohice Department; j. M. Graham,
chairman Of the committee Of expenditures
Of the Interior Department. Jack Beall OF
Texas, chairman Of the committee Of ex-
penditures in the Department Of Justice;
Ralph w. Moss of Indiana, chairman of
the committee Of expenditures OF the De-
partment OF Agriculture, and John IL.
RotheFmel of Pennsylvania, chairman OF
the committee of expenditures OF the De-
partment OF Commerce and Labor.
Harmonious Action Desired.
The idea of having these cllairmen of
the committees which will investigate the
Speaker Clark for a conference is intend
monious action on the part Of the nine
committees which Will separately conduct
the inquiry.
Before any steps are taken to begin the
actual work of investigation by holding
hearings and endeavoring to elicit infor-
nation bearing on alleged departmental
TO plan the scope of the probe with ex-
treme care in order that the chairmen,
having agreed upon a certain course OF
action, may follow 1t throughout.
Leading democrats think 1t about time
that the government departments in
Washington were investigated from top to
bottom. They believe, moreover. that right
now. with a new democratic House just
arrived in power, is the proper moment to
begin. And SO, instead of leaving 1t to
the individual chairman of the nine COM
mittees on expenditures in the executive
departments to start the work of inquiry
now. at some time In the future or not
at all. they might determine, Speaker
Clark and the other leaders have taken
hold of the proposition and will direct
its initiation.
Retrenchment the Purpose.
Nothing has been decided as vet con-
cern!ng the various phases Of the in
vestigation except that the chief aim
will be to abolish useless positions, to
reduce salaries which are found to be
too high, to check waste in the sew
eral departments and subordinate bu-
reaus and branches. and to make the
personnel of the classified service
more competent and efficient.
One Of the things which may be af-
fected by the investigation is the PROPOSE
ton OF government Office hours Some
democrats in the House do not think that
the clerks of the government in Wash
inston work sufficiently long hours. Some
change may be recommended along this
line OF course, there are innumera Bile
matters which will come up during the
course of the inquiry, and from time to
time the nine chairmen of the probing
bodies Will confer among themselves and
with the House leaders as TO the method
of procedure
1t is planned to make this investiga-
ton. with the economies and reforms
that are expected to result from it, an
issue in the presidential campaign of
1912. III they pass reciprocity, reduce
the tarin on the necessaries of life effect
substantial saving in the annual cost
OF running the government correct
abuses III the government departments,
and keep from squabbling among them
selves. the democratic leaders are in
clined 10 think there will be no stop-