The Washington times., 1918-02-09

he asks is nothing new. Indeed, the
very same proposal was before the
Senate just thirteen months ago. 1t
was before our entrance into the war
with Germany-January "a. 1917
when the measure was voted on In
the Senate and rejected by a single
vote. A full attendance OF the Sem
ate was not present. yet on a count
ing OF hands the proposal was beaten.
Here is what Mr.. Wilson asked for
them:
what President Asked.
"The President is hereby author
lied during the vacation of Congress
to take action looking to a proper
and scientific coordination OF the
work OF the various executive de-
partments of the Government, and he
is hereby empowered to transfer
and If deemed desirable to consoli-
date bureaus. divisions, offices, and
other governmental activities in or
der that duplication OF service may
be abolished and eXtravagance and
unnecessary expenditure eliminated.
A report shall be made to the Con-
gress on the first day of the next
session thereof on any action taken
under the provisions OF this section"
UnQuestionably the President Is GO
ing to appoint what will be equIva-
lent to q minister OF munitions. II
may not be called that But there is
a vacancy in the chairmanship of the
War Industries Board. When that
post is filled more and more pow er
would be given to the new chairman.
Perhaps one man will be given COM
plete control OF all purchases. Per-
haps another will be a business ad-
for the War Department.
with a civilian personnel
Nobody knows just what changes
the President has in mind, but that
he intends to reorganize the war ma
chine in the direction Of greater ef. |
hciency is the outstanding feature OF |
the situation. On Congress today re- |
poses the responsibility for retard. |
Ing or assisting the Commander-in. |
chief Of the army and navy in max
ing the necessary redistribution Of |
his men and materials.
Congress refused to grant this
power to Mr.. Wilson in time of peace,
and the President is represented as
feeling that had he been given II
many OF the things that have happen
ed since the outbreak of the war
not propose to be responsible for leg
slative restriction any longer. His
proposal as introduced in the Senate
differs very little from that Of a year
ago. 1t reads in part:
The President is hereby author
zed and empowered to make such re-
OF functions among exc
,utiVe agencies as he may deem neces
;ary, including any functions. duties
md powers hitherto by law conferred
lpon amy executive department, COM
bureau, agency, office or Of
icer in such manner as in his judR-
nent shall seem best fitted to carry
'ut the purposes Of this act '''
The President is authorized in such
manner as he may deem most appro-
'riste 60 coordinate or consolidate
my executive commissions. bureauE
agencies. etc, or to transfer any du-
les or powers from one existing de.
'artment, commission, bureau to an
'ther, TO transfer the personnel there
# of any part of it either BY detail
II assignment, etc"
Elastic Government.
What Mr.. Wilson would have II the
-bove provisions were enacted into
he law is an elastic Government one
Which he could change quickly as the
Nigencies Of the day or moment re-
uired. Bureau chiefs would NOT have
o work in constant fear Of oyergten-
ing some ancient statute or provision
I law. Decisions could be made rap
dly.
And If the President wanted to
reate two OF three new Cabinet
fncers or department heads he
you'd not have to wait until a meas.
re is introduced, discussed bv n com {
littee. and debated and voted on after {
bng delays. He could create bu-.nus !
by executive order {
AS II is now, many splendid things |
'hich members of tire advisory com
l'ssion OF ths. Cornell Of National (
Defense should have long ago been )
Empowered TO do, cannot be accom-.
llshed for lack of authority. Mr. v
wilson cannot deIegA,e his own
over. With the new law he would h
e able, II necessary. to take a,yav Z
ertain functions froIn the War ~
Iavy Departments and empower tho I
dvisOry commission OF the CuurCiI
Z National Defense to exercise the I
anne duties.
1t is a huge scheme of rroIsaniza-
lon, and when Congress fully I'M
erstands II, there IL Iiftle doubt that
lembers OF both parties will recog
ize the proposal as aiming at gen.
Inc efficiency and specific loca,
1