Evening journal., 1921-04-01
FRIDAY, APRIL I, 1921
INEFFICIENT GOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION.


IN the reorganization OF the executive departments FOR
Il the purpose Of establishing a more economical and
efficient administration the Republicans confronted
by rather difficult task.
In years development OF the Federal Government
at Washington one bureau after another been added,
OF them arerward developing into departments with
the result that number OF instances bureaus as
signed to departments to which their work has little
relation.
Each bureau to which responsibility has been delegated
reluctant to give up any OF Its power Each bureau
head opposes any suggestion that his work be diminished
for such dimnution would result in essenlng the i'm
portance OF the work under his charge.
When, Therefore committees OF Congress have under
consideration legislation which has for its object the
consolidation bureaus in the administrative de-
parments who are interested the continuation OF the
work nd plausible in opposition to the pro-
posed economy This largely accounts for the duplica-
ton which exists and the inconsistency OF OF
the assignments OF official duty
In recent address, Secretary OF Commerce Hoover re-
peated statement that has been made a number OF
times by other gentlemen heretofore 10 the effect the
jurisdiction polar bears comes under the Depart
ment Of Commerce. that OF grizzly under the De
parment the Interior and Of brown bears under the
Department OF Agriculture. This practically true
but Is OF course. a humorous Illustration OF
condition all too common in the Federal service.
Al Of the Federal postofice buildings in the country
constructed by and under the control OF ht
Treasury Department
Public lands in general under the control OF tn,
Department OF the Interior but the forest
under the Department OF Agriculture.
Where the line OF forest through
of land half Of the section under the urs
dicton OF the Department OF Agriculture and the ohe
half the jurisdiction OF the Interior Department
but the whole section is owned by the United state
Government
Although the Navy Department is probably in the hes
position 10 judge OF the proper location and character
lighthouses and for their needs. yet all OF IN
lighthouses and the ships which transport and sup
plies to them are under the Department OF Commerce
And while the lighthouses come under the Commerc
Department the lifesaving service all coasts come
under the Treasury Department
The Treasury Department maintains Its internal reve
cutters ships operated not only by the Nav
Department but by the Treasury Department. the Com
merce Department and by the independent shippinl
Board.
Work in the interest OF the preservation Of publ
health is conducted by bureaus in departments
Public works for the improvement OF rivers and har
bors under the War Department but the construc
uon Of the lmpoundng Of the waters OF rive
comes under the Interior Department although the con
struction OF for diversion OF water primarily 70
the production OF crops is subject coming NATURAL
the jurisdiction or the Agricultural Department
These are few instances which illustrate the appar
ent Inconsistencies the organization OF the FEEDER,
public service.