The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-09
USELESS BUREAUS
. TO GO WITH ARMY
| OF OFFICEHOLDERS
Work of Reor9Anizing U. s.
Departments Taken Up
by Congress.
MOVE FOR ECONOMY
MOVE FOR ECONOMY
McCOrmick's Bill in Senate
Provides for Sweeping
Change Of Policy.
HOUSE INQUIRY PLANNED
Duplication Of Work to Be
Stopped and Federal Pay
rolls Cut to Normal.

This is the nth of a series Of articles
published by THE New YORK HERALD
detailing governmental conditions n,
Washington and outlining prospective
legislation to remedy affairs. These
articles iciH be publ he'd from, day to
day until the series Is finished.
Special Despatch TO THE NEW YoRx HEsNr.
WASHINGTON. Dec. S.-The introduce
ton yesterday Of Senator Medill Nc
Cormick's bill for the creation OF a
department of public works and de-
partment of public welfare. and the
abolition Of the existing Department of
the Interior. is a preliminary step In
the Republican programme for con-
solidation of departments and elimina-
ton OF duplication in Government
functions Although the Mccormick
measure would create two new depart
inents while abolishing only one. 1t
would at the same time. consolidate
the work of a score or more bureas
now functioning in different depart
ments, and IN many cases uselessly
performing the same work over and
over again.
The work of reorganizing the Govern
ment departments Is one of the first and
most important to be undertaken by the
new Congress in carrying out its pledges
for efficiency and economy In Govern
rnent operation. While no definite pro-
gramme has been mapped out or viii be
until a comprehensive survey OF the vari-
Gus departments IS undertaken, probably
by Joint committee OF the House and
Senate, the contemplated changes are Of
a sweeping character. They involve not
only the elimination OF scores of thou
sands OF officehalders. whose salaries
in the last eight years have gone to
swell the Governments bill for personal
service. bu. the abolition OF many high
sounding commissions and bureaus.
100000 Hold Federal Jobs.
The official register of the United
States for 1919. the last Issued. shows
upward of III 900 Federal employees, as
>rgainst $4,000 in 1914. The present
number is estimated at about 100000,
and II will be the duty OF the leaders In
the reorganization movement TO reduce
this huge number TO something like
normal
The most casual observer walking
through any one of the Government de-
partments here is impressed with the
number of employees whose sole duty
appears TO be TO watch the others. Every
minor official whose duties are of the
most trivial character seems TO have an
assistant or n secretary or clerk. The
departments are top heavy with person.
mel. but to get any information OF an
even inconsequentiai nature frequently
involves reference to half a dozen
bureaus or divisions located perhaps in
as many different departments.
Leaders of the Senate and House are
agreed that the time has come for a
complete reorganization along business
lines. Such recommendations as have
been made from time to time by the
bureau of efficiency OF the Treasury De-
partment appear only to have added 20
the number of clerks and other en-
ployees whose names decorate the Fed
eral payrolls.
Representatives Tess of Ohio and
Heavis OF Nebraska have been busy for
weeks gathering data concerning various
departments and Independent Govern
ment agencies ard examining into their
functions They plan to call for early
action on the resolution that IL now on
the House calendar providing for the
creation OF a joint commission to In
vesfigate the departments and report
recommendations for consultations and
the elimination of dead wood" to Con-
gress.
Too Many Com missions.
The attitude OF Congress toward the
appropriation bills Is expected to give
some idea OF how sweeping the re-
organization plans are likely to be.
Many members OF Congress view with
dissatisfaction the tendency that has de-
veloped In the last few years toward
government by commission. II is esti-
mated that the cost of tho various COM
missions that have been appointed In
the last eight years is more than $780,
100000. And there are now pending
proposals for scores of other commits
sions. That the great majority of these
win never come into official life In as
sured.
A partial list OF these so-called indie
pendent Government Offices includes the
Smithsonian Institution and National
Museum, Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, Federal Trade Commission, Ship
ping Board. Housing Corporation, Inter
departmental Social Hygiene Board.
Council OF National Defence Federal
Board for Vocational Education, Ma
tlondl A0NlSOTy committee Tor Aero
nautics. Board OF Mediation and Con-
ciliation, Railway Labor Board. Federal
Power Commission. Pilgrim Tercenten-
airy Commission. Employees Compensa-
tion Commission and the Rock Creek
and Potomac Parkway Commission.
An example OF two separate Govern
ment agencies that perform closely re-
lated functions. the consolidation Of
which into one bureau has been wild ely
recommended. is seen In the Bureau OF
War Risk Insurance and the Pension
Bureau. In addition the former over
laps 20 an unnecessary degree. many be-
licve. the functions Of the Public HEATH
Service and the Federal Board for vo-
cationai Education.
The Governments pension system
alone provides a splendid example %
existing anomalira IN governmental ac-
tivity. Pensions for veterans OF the
civil and Spanish wars are handled by
the Pension Bureau. which IL a part OF
the Interior Department. but pensions
for the world war arc handled by the
Bureau OF War Risk Insurance, part
OF the Treasury Department.
Overflow OF Educational work.
Practically every executive depart
ncnt Of the Government Is engaged In
some Definite educational work which. II
Al vale ho