Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-06
CONGRESS TO TAKE UP
SURVEY IN DECEMBER
Critical Study Of Federal Establishment
One of First Tasks to Be Under
taken by Short Session.

favorably reported by the judiciary
committee on May II, and it was called
mp for action Wednesday night. but a
vote was postponed until too late for
passage in this session. In the mean
time Representative Ireland Of Ohio,
chairman Of the committee on accounts,
had sent QUESTIONABLE to all the gov
eminent departments and establish
ments and has collected and collated
much information on the subject.
Identical With Smoot Measure.
The Reavis resolution is identical with
the Smoot resolution in the Senate. 1t
provides for survey of the administra-
tive services of the government for the
purpose of securing all pertinent
facts concerning their powers and
duties, their distribution among the
several executive departments and
the overlapping and duplication OF
authority The committee will make
recommendations for the co-ordina-
ton of the government functions and
their most efficient and economical
conduct.
In the report to the House on
this measure, Representative Reavis,
speaking for the judiciary committee,
said: "The committee feels that no
more constructive legislation is pos
sible under existing conditions. With
the nations finances in the condition
that they are, with the people al
ready overwhelmed by excessive tax
alton, any legislative measure looking
to real economy should commend
itself to the sympathetic attention OF
Congress. We feel that the passage
of this resolution will result in saving
millions Of dollars annually"
Chairman Fordney of the ways and
means committee and Chairman Good
Of the appropriations committee both
look upon this as fundamental legis-
lation that will not only effect real
economy. but that 1t will make the
federal service much more efficient.
other members of the ways and
means committee are supporting the
measure vigorously. Representative
Tilson. republican, of Connecticut,
says that the first thing that the next
session of Congress must do is to
sever from the government pay roll
all the thousands of wartime en-
ployes in scores of enlarged depart
ments and bureaus who are er,deavor-
ing ito hold onto these soft Jobs" and
he feels sure that the most practical
way to get the service back to IN ef-
fcient normal is through such sur
vey. Representative Henry T. Rainey.
Democrat OF Illinois. ia also an sarneAt
hacker OF this reform measure.
Feels system Ii s09efSrOwn.
Chairman Tess OF Sthe republican
committee says that the
government establishment u over
grown and that It III not to be ex-
pected that the administrative branch
of the government win or can effect
Reorganization along strict business
lines. He is advising with his col
leagues that there must be the ut
most caution in selecting those VINO
will make the survey. He Will insist
upon having high-grade business men
no matter what it may cost to get
their services and having the reor-
ganization done right. Representative
George Holden Tinkham. republican,
of Massachusetts,, who is a member OF
the appropriations committee and OF
the special budget committee, Is also
insistent that the government estab-
lishment shall be recognized just as
any manufacturer would organize his
own factory, to get the work done in
the best possible shape and at the
least cost consistent with American
standards, and those standards, he
says, include humane treatment of
the employees and afording them an
American chance to improve their
situation by earnest application to
their duties.
These leaders all profess that such a
reorganization as is planned will be
the most beneficial legislation ever
passed for those employed under the
civil srvice.
In the comprehensive program sug-
gested in the Moore resolution 1t is
proposed that the reorganization
might include the creation OF new
departments or bureaus to take over
activities now. scattered through sew
eral existing departm ents or bureaus
las, for example. a department Oh
bureau Of public works, of education
and science, of public health, to in
clude the administration Of the pure
food law and meat inspection, and of
marine affairs, which would take over
certain activities of the Shipping
Board and Emergency Fleet Corpora
ton.