The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-11
The Size of the Cabinet.

correspondent of THE New YORK
HERALD, Mr.. HoTCHKIss, asks why
The Government designates the Ex-
ecutlve Department charged with
rmy affairs as the War Department.
He is correct ia saying that the Navy
Department is just as pertinent to
war and that war is only one of the
many functions of either.
1t happens that the War Depart
ment was created by statute on Au-
gust 6. 1879, second in order to the
Department of State and only ten
lays later in date of legislative birth.
For almost nine years the Govern
ment got along without Il Depart
nent Of the Navy. This was estab-
lished by the act of April 80, IDS,
with a Secretary Of it's own.
The nomenclature Of the Depart
ments Is entirely arbitrary and
within the control of the Congress.
The same thing is true concerning
the nomenclature Of the personnel.
No constitutional amendment is re
quired to effect any conceivable
change that modern conditions may
make advisable A single enactment
could wipe out the present depart
ment organizations and by radical
process of regrouping, combination
and simplifica ton reduce to a reason
able number the heads Of Depart
ments entitled by custom to sit AT
the Cabinet table as the intimate adj
vlsers of the President.
Merely for illustration and not by
way of recommendation (for any
scheme Of Encouragement is a subject
for intensive study and deliberate
consideration by both the Executive
and the Congress)
A Department Of State, however
styled with one Secretary in the Cabi-
net, might include not only the adj
of foreign affairs through
the diplomatic and consular estab-
lishments but also such cognate func-
tions as those assigned to the Bureau
of Insular Affairs. now anonymously
attached to the War Department and
including the Philippines. the Porto
Rico Government and the Dominican
Receivership; perhaps Indian Affairs,
Immigration ana Naturalization.
A Department of Finance. however
styled, with one Secretary in the Cabi-
net, might add to the present func-
tions of the Treasury those of the
Bureau Of Pensions. now with the De
partment of the Interior; also the
Census, the Bureau of Standards and
the various statistical establishments
now scattered through the other de-
partments.
A Department Of National Defence,
however styled might combine mill
tary and naval administrations. so far
as representation in the Cabinet was
concerned.
a Department Of Justice, however
styled. might include the various com
missions and boards which would nat
nrally group themselves in association
with the law business Of the Govern
ment; it's Secretary or Attorney Gen
eral sitting In the Cabinet and afford
ing to the President the legal counsel
which should always he directly and
Immediately available to him.
A Department Of Domestic Affairs,
however styled, might gather under
one Secretary the multifarious agen-
cies Of home service, transportation.
the post Office. commerce. labor,
agriculture, aeronautlcs, education,
science, aesthetics and so on.
The main thing to be kept in mind
IN any such Encouragement is its nu-
Dierical impact on the Presidents
Cabinet The limitation of the mum.
her Of Secretaries need not impair In
my degree the Importance or the eff
cheney Of the bureau, the board or the