The Washington herald., 1920-03-19
PUBLIC WORKS
MAY BE ISSUE
Plan for New Government
Department Supported
By Candidates.
WOULD EFFECT SAVING
Lowden's S Experience in
Illinois Cited in Favor
OF Reorganization.
WOULD EFFECT SAVING

II the indossemant OF Presidential
candidates carries with 1t any
weight. the movement for the cre-
alton of department of public
works and the reorganization Of the
governmental departments may well
become an issue in the coming cam
paign.
Whether or not it will assume
sufficient importance to find a place
''as a plank in the platform of either
major party is problematical. 1t
Is easily conceivable, however. that
it might, since the plan is closely
associated, by its advocates, with
economy.
Both Republicans and Democrats
in Congress have declared for econ
omy. and estimates of appropria-
tions from the various departments
are being scanned as never be-
fore. the pruning knife being used
freely. Agitation for national
budget system and impending .agi-
tation for the adoption by Con-
gress of the Redistribution Com
missions recommendations are, fac
tors which might we'll reach such
a state of Importance in the pubic
mind as to make an issue of the re-
organization movement.
Lowden Reduced Taxes.
Frank o. Lowden, governor OF
Illinois and avowed candidate for
the Presidency. is a firm believer in
the movement to create depart
ment of public works, basing his
endorsement upon actual experience
in his own State.
IT the face of rising prices in
every line. the tax rate in Illinois
was reduced "a points. and the State
treasury. which had previously ex-
listed on a hand-to mouth basis,
showed a surplus of $7,ooo.ooo fol-
lowing coordination of public
functions by Gov. Lowden.
In a speech at Brooklyn, \. Y,
Gov. Lowden declared that the new
system caused a saving in travelling
expenses alone during the first year
OF $4,000.
Coolidge Indorses Plan.
Gov. Coolidge, of Massachusetts,,
another who has been mentioned as
a candidate for the Presidency, has
recently put over the same principle
in his own State and has indorsed
the movement in its national aspect.
Gen. Leonard Wood. whose Presi-
Dental aspirations are well known,
emphatically indorsed the movement
in a speech before the Western So
ciety OF Engineers at Chicago. The
idea was not new to him. however,
for he had organized a department.
of public works while he was gov
ernor OF Cuba. and he declared its
feasibility was then demonstrated
to his entire satisfaction.
+ Senator Miles Poindexter. another
avowed Presidential candidate. has
written to his continents in Wash
ington indorsing the plan.
Seeks Views Of Business Men.
The United States Chamber of
Commerce has appointed a commit
tee to consider the proposition, and,
upon the favorable report Of the
committee, is preparing a referen-
dunn on the subject to get the views
of business men throughout the
country.
The committee was headed by
Charles Nagel, of st. Louis, who
was Secretary of Commerce and
Labor In President Taft's admin
istration. and included in it's mem
bership William c. Redield, who
recently resigned as Secretary of
Commerce in the>,present admins
tration.
In addition to these supporters
of the movement. league has
- hsar rah n nf
$4,000 with the specific purpose
of advancing the plan The league
is known as the National Public
Works Department Association and
is composed of national. State. and
local societies of engineers. archi-
tects. constructors, manufacturers,
chemists, geologists. economists,
and business men.