The Washington herald., 1921-05-28
PUBLIC WORKS
BILL OFFERED
BY MCCORMICK
Measure Would Abolish
Department Of In
terror. b
AIMS TO DEVELOP
U. s. RESOURCES
Budget Bill Sent to Presi-
dent; Tariff Act
Signed.

ochator hCSOFmlCk thlrd gov
ernment reorganization bill, pro-
viding for the establishment of a
department of public works and
public lands. was introduced yes
terday. 1t is the same bill Of
fered last year in his behalf by
Senator Knox, of Pennsylvania, ex-
cept that the words "and public
lands" were added to the title.
1t aboiishes the department Of the
interior and provides for a secre-
tary to be appointed by the Presi-
dent at $4,000 a year and three
assistant secretaries at $1,000. Its
aim is to foster. develop and con-
troll mineral, forest, land and water
resources of the country and ad-
minister public lands. parks and
forests.
Control Of Public Buildings.
1t will have control and allot-
'ment of public buildings owned or
leased by the government in the
District Of Columbia, excepting the
White house, Capitol, senate and
house office buildings, Congress
sionaI library and buildings under
the direction of the Smithsonian
regents. 1t takes the fine arts COM
mission and bureaus of the depart
ment of agriculture and abollshes
the Offices of superintendent OF
state, war and navy building and
Rock Creek and Potomac parkway
commissioners.
Senator McCormick's first bill
was that providing for the estab-
lishment of a budget system and
independent audit of government ac-
counts which went to the Presi-
dent yesterday for his signature.
For Public welfare Bureau.
The second was that providing
for the establishment of departA
ment of public welfare consolidat-
ing all the governments health. So
cial service and educational activi-
ties. This bill was referred to the
education and labor committee,
which Is considering a similar bill
by Senator Kenyon, of Iowa.
A report is expected within an
other week on the welfare bill. by
which time the bill for the estab-
lishment of a department OF pubic
works and public lands will be re-
ceiving its hearing. Joint commit
tees on reorganization and reclassi-
fication have been active and with
in two weeks the reorganization
bill will be taking shape. Re-
classification hearings will be con-
tinued next Tuesday,
Cabinet Discusses Policy.
Progress in the task of reorganiz-
ing the departmental business of the
government has revealed that the
President, with the aid of his cab
met, will furnish the general policy
that will guide the work of the con-
gressional commission intrdsted
with the reorganization.
The cabinet meeting yesterday
was devoted largely toward laying
the ground work for the new order
Where there are instances of over
tapping or duplication in depart
will be reduced.
Expected to sign budget Bill.
President Harding is expected to
sign without delay the budget bill.
just sent to him by Congress.
When IT becomes law the second
big step in the administrations fis-
cal program will have been accom-
pIished. The first was the emer-
gency tariff bill. which the Presi-
dent signed yesterday. A perma-
nent tariff law and revision of tax
laws remain.
The budget bill provides for a
budget bureau in the treasury de-
partment, to which all estimates
would be referred before their sub
mission to Congress for examina-
ton. revision and combinations The
President would name the director
of the budget and his assistants
without congressional sanction
Gives Power Of Removal.
The independent audit of govern
ment accounts provided in the bill
would be under direction of an Of
hcer named for Is years by the
President, but removable by joint
resolution of Congress. not requir-
ing the Presidents signature. Pres
ident Wilson vetoed the budget bill
last session because 1t provided for
this removal.
The emergency tariff bill imposes
heavy duties on all agricultural
products for the protection OF
American farmers, and will remain
in effect for six months. or until the
permanent tariff is adopted. 1t con-
tains also clauses to protect manu-
facturers against wholesale foreign
importstions of cheap goods.