Evening star., 1920-02-22
JOINT RESOLUTION
WOULD ELIMINATE
DUPLICATED WORK
Bill Aimed at Overlapping
and Clash of Authority
in Federal Force.


Consideration in the House Of the
annual supply bills for the variou:
| phasized duplication, overlapping ant
clash of authority in the government
service with resultant excessive ex.
penditure of many millions of dollars
and loss of efficiency.
There seems to be determined ef'
fort on the part of House leaders to
service to determine definitely where
economies can be effected without i'm
pairing efficiency of service, and 1t Is
hoped to promote efficiency.
Stress was laid on the need for CO.
ordination of the federal service dur
ing consideration of the agricultural
aDprop ration bill Now that the leg
islative, executive and judicial appro-
pration bin is being debated in the
Hous" members on both sides are in
sistcntly demanding that duplication
and overlapping must be weeded out
The republican leaders have been
secretly planning such comprehen-
size survey as working basis for
cutting the appropriations to the low
est possible figure IN carrying out
their campaign slogan of economy
They appreciate that they must make
their slashing of appropriations in a
careful, judicious way. So their pro-
posed survey is intended to be pre-
liminary to the congressional cam
paign.
Democratic Leaders support.
While the republicans have been
considering the matter, Representa- :
tive r. Walton Moore. democrat. of
Virginia, who, before entering Con-
gress was Washington attorney, has
introduced a joint resolution calling
for such an investigation. He is push
ing this resolution and has the sup
port of the democratic leaders in the
publican leaders on record as pledg-
ing that they will support it.
Representative Moore's resolution
calls for Speaker Gillett to appoint
five members of the House and Vice
President Marshall to appoint five
constitute a select joint committee on
the organization. activities and busi-
ness methods of the administrative
branch of the government.
He proposes that it shall be the
duty of this committee:
l. To make study of the general
purpose of function of each distinct
administrative service of the govern
ment: its specific activities: the
character and amount Of its revenues
which appropriations are now made
for it's support. and the limitations
of law upon the expenditure of such
appropriations.
g To determine what changes, II
any. should be made in respect to the
ating for, activities, organization and
methods of business.
g. To determine what redistribu-
ton of activities should be made with
&hs al fwyskf
formed by those services to which
they more properly and logically be-
long and to the elimination of over
tapping of jurisdictions and duplica-
tions of organizations. plant and
work.
of services departmentally land what
new executive departments or bu-
reaus Of existing departments should
be provided for.
Especially the advisability Of: (a)
removing from the War and Navy de-
tivities which are not OF direct mill
tary or naval character: (b) the re-
moval from the Treasury Departme ent
of all services and activities not per-
tanning directly to the administration
Of the financial affairs of the country;
bureau of public works. to take over
all services having for their primary
purpose the construction and opera
ton of works of an engineering and
construction character; (d) the crea-
tion of a department or bureau OF edu-
cation and science, to take over the
services now scattered among the
executive departments or Independent
establishments: (e) the creation Of q
department or bureau OF public
health. including such services as
those for the enforcement of the pure
food laws and meat inspection. and U)
the creation of a department or bu-
reau of maritime affairs. that shall
take over such services as the coast
and geodetic survey, the photographic
office of the Navy Department., the
lakes survey of the War Department
the coast guard. the bureau Of light
houses, the bureau of navigation, the
certain of the activities Of the Ship
ping Board and Emergency Fleet Cor
poration.
Regulate Several Departments.
5. To make study OF existing laws
providing for the organization. defln-
ing the powers and duties and
regulating the methods Of business Of
the several departments. Independent
establishments, bureaus and other
services with view to their revision,
coordination and assembly into a
consistent aad logically arranged ad-
ministrative code.
s. To make study of existing
provisions Of law relative to the char
acter and form of estimates of ap-
propriations for submission to Con-
gress
Z. To make a study Of the existing
system of appropriation heads under
which grants of funds are now made
for the support of the several de-
partments, establishments and serv-
ices with view to making such
system more consistent as between
the several services.
s. To consider the extent to which
the financial system and operations
of revenue-producing enterprises
other services Of the government.
8. To make study Of existing
provisions of law regarding the COW
'ering into the treasury Of all receipts
of the government, the credit of all
such receipts to the general fund. the
setting aside of certain receipts as
special funds applicable only to par
ticular classes of expenditures.
10. To make a study of existing
manent appropriations with a view
to the establishment Of a system that
will be consistent and more satisfac-
tory in respect to the determination
of appropriations that should be pro-
vided for by permanent law and those
that should be made by annual grant.
Sloan, Hirst f. Sloat, Mrs l.. Sloat,
Carl Smith, David P. Smith. James F.
Mr.. Soper, w. w. Spaid, Mrs. w. w.
Spaid. F. A. Spellissey. Frederick w.
Steckman. Charles w. Stevens, c. B.
Stewart, Mrs. c. b. Stewart, Miss Ruth