The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1920-04-21
I; X 4; x X X Il \: 4; j. \: X Il i
X WASHINGTON
< NEWS LETTER
< BY The Washington Star i
x Copyright 1920. i
4 i: i 4 < x 4 X X 4 \ 4 X \; !
UNCLE SANS WORKSHOP
Biggest Industry In The World, Is
To Be Reorganized, Systemat-
lied And COOrdinated,

WASHINGTON, April 2O-The big
gest industry in the world, Uncle
Sans workshop, is going to be reor-
ganized, systematized and coordinated
with inefficient duplication and over
tapping of work chopped out and re-
lated lines of federal activity group
ed together, This will all take long
time to readjust. The preliminary
steps, however, are now being taken
by Congress.
For years the original federal de-
partments have been branching out
with new bureaus which have ambit-
iously expanded into territory at least
partially occupied by other bureaus
A number of commissions and other
independent organizations have from
time to time been created as the oc-
casion arose.
Then came the war and again there
was multiplication of governmental
activities and new boards and bureaus,
Now that Congress is planning the
curtailment Of war activities and has
legislation in the works for abolish
ing the war time boards and commits
sions, and when world conditions have
changed as by an earthquake, the time
seems appropriate for complete
overhauling Of Uncle Sans great
plant, so that all departments and
branches and bureaus may work in
helpful harmony and not waste their
efforts and funds on duplicated work,
or in jealous squabbling over juris-
diction.
Secretary Lane when quitting office
as executive Of the Department Of the
Interior, which did most Of the be-
hind -the-scenes work of supplying
materials to meet war demands, sur
prised official life and Congress by
plain speech on the need for govern
mental reorganization to meet the new
conditions. Congress had been think
ing along the same line and has pref
ty we'll made up its mind that the
Governments industrial organization
has been growing too large, haphaz'
ard, and that it is nighttime to get
this great workshop systematized.
Last June Senator Wesley L. Jones
Of Washington, chairman of the com.
merce committee, and Representative
C. Frank Reavis Of Nebraska, who Is
member of the select committee fol
investigation of war expenditures, in
troducsd identical bills for the crea'
ton of Department of Public Works
by taking the present Interior Depart
ment and transferring some Of iti
activities to other departments where
they are more closely related and tax
ing over from other departments som'
of the activities that more properl!
come under engineering works CONT
within the scope of Public works"
i Then, on February l8 of this year
Representative r. Walton Moore o
Virginia, introduced joint resolution
to constitute select joint conmitte
on the organization activities an
methods Of business Of the admins
trative branch of the government.
The bill of Senator Jones went t
the committee on public lands Of tn
Senate, where hearings have been hel
upon it. Senator Jones has been re
ceiving strong Endorsements from tn
f. people upon this measure and sewers
important business organizations nav
declared their strong support Of !