Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-04-20
BY W. :. MANN.

NNfNEA&II4 AdANs NN llt haoAAAiAR ~
Star.)
WASHINGTON, April 20. The
biggest industry in the world, Uncle
Sans workshop, Is going to be re-
Organized, systematiZed, coordinateC
vieh inefficient duplication and over
ioping of work chopped out. and re
lated lines OF Federal activity grouped
together. This viii all take a Ions
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 am
bitiously expanded into territory az
least partially occupied by other
bureaus. - number OF cohmission
and other independent organlzatlohs
have from time to time been created
ps the occasion arose.
Then came the var and again
tlere was a multiplication or govern
montal activities aud new boards ana
bureaus. Now that congress is plan
hing the curtailment of war activities
and has legislation in the works for
npollshing the wartime boards II
commissions, and when world condi-
Hons have changed as by an earth
auake, the time seems appropriate for
acompIete overhauling Of Uncle -
great plant. so that all departments
End branches and bureaus may wor.
In helpful harmony Hnd not waste
Ehcir efforts and funds on duplic
work, or in jealous squabbllng over
Jurisdiction.
Secretary Lane when quitting office
as executive OF n department or the
Interior. which did most OF the be-
hind-the-scenes work of supplying ma
keriaIs to meet war demands. surprised
official life and congress by plain
- -, Al nAgA fnE uANaTn m RLl
reorganization 10 meet the new con-
6jtions. Congress had been thinking
Along the Same line and has pretty
well made up It's mind hat the gov
ernment's industrial organization has
been growing too large. h~aphazard,
and that II is nighttime to get this
great workshop systematized.
Last June Senator Wesley l.. Jones,
of Washington, chairman OF the c.
meroe committee, and Representative
& Frank Reavis, OF Nebraska, who
is a member Of the select committee
Tor investigation of war expenditures,
Introduced Identical bills for the
creation Of a department OF public
works by taking the present interior
department and transferring some OF
1t activities to other Departments
where they are more closely related
and taking over from other depart
xnents some activities that more prop
erly come under engineering works
which come within the scope OF pub
&c works"
Then, on February Is of this year.
Representative X. Walton Moore, OF
Virginia, introduced a joint resolution
70 constitute a select joint committee
on the organization, activities and
methods of business Of the administra-
live branch Of the government.
The bill of Senator Jones went 10
She committee on public lands OF the
senate, where hearings ave been held
upon 1t. Senator Jones has been re-
ceiving strong Endorsements from the
people upon this measure n seYeral
Important business organizations have
declared their strong support Of 1t.
lie intends to push 1t for passage, but
does not expect to get II through in
fhe present session.
The bill of Representative Reavis In
the House has been sent TO the com
mittee on expenditures in the interior
department, which has not sufficient
jurisdiction to handle a proposition OF
this magnitude. MI. Reavis now has
the matter UP with the Republican
legislative steering committee urging
,spon It the d~esirability of appoint
Ing a special committee to handle an
legislation designed to reorganlze the
federal service. lie expects later 10
appear before the House rules COM
mittee on this question.
Meanwhile the resolution Of Repre-
tentative Moore has been sent to the
rules committee, and 1t may prove a
working basis for general reorganlza-
Hon Of the federal service. One para
graph of Representative Moores reso-
luton provides for a department OF
public works ito take over all services
having for their primary purpose the
construction and operation or WORKS
of an engineering and constructor
character and to act as a contracting
agency for the performance or sucn
works for other services where calleo
upon by such services to do SO.
The proposed department OF puph'
works was first suggested by the en-
pineering council, which has member
chin In the Chamber of m OF
the United States. Now the Chamber
Of Commerce of the United states Il
sending out q QUESTIONABLE TO IL
1905 member organizations to get thu
sentiment of the real business men o
the country upon this matter which
Is so vital 10 the business of the gov
ernment.
In the Jones-Reavis bill for reorgani
EAtion OF the Interior Department
IS proposed to unite the FOLLOWING
instrumenta1ities: The supervising ar
chitect's office, now in the treasur!
department; the construction division
of the u. 8. army. river and harboi
improvements. he Mississippi Rive
commission. the California debris com
mission. now subordinate to the wal
Department.; the coast and geodeti'
furvey and the bureau of standards
how subordinate to the department
pf commerce; the bureau or publf