New-York tribune., 1921-09-19
Fight Over Plan
For u. S. Public
Works Bureau
American Association of
Engineers Ridicules the
Arn1y's Attempt to Keep
Control of Civil Works
President and Cabinet to
Pass on Reorganization
Bill When Completed
From Tho Tribune's Washington Bnreau


WASHINGTON, Sept. 1s.-With the
committee on reorganization of the
government scheduled to make a re-
port in the near future War Depart
ment engineers and advocates of the
plan to create a national department
of public works are engaged in a gran
pie FOR supremacy. The American As
sociation of Engineers has taken a
hand in the-fray and in the brief re-
ceived to-day by members of the Joint
Committee ridicules the chief argu-
ments of the War Department en-
gineers
he corps of engineers of the army
the statement charges, "is making a
desperate attempt to hold the civil
works which it still has, realizing that
the loss of these works would leave it
with nothing to do other than its regu-
lar army duties, and fears that it's
personnel would ultimately be reduced
both in numbers and rank until it bal
anced properly with the other branches
of the army. This outcome would be
logical and natural"
Attack on Army Engineers
The army engineers realize, it is as
serted, once they lose control of the re-
naming civil work which they still do
it never will be returned because, as in
the case of the coast survey, the ma
tlonal parks, the survey west of the
Tooth meridian and the important part
OF lighthouse construction, Congress
and the people are better satisfied with
the results obtained by the other or
ganizations to which such works have
been transferred"
The chief civil function of the corps
OF engineers now relates to river and
harbor constructions 1t was an army
engineer who, in collaboration with q
Canadian government engineer. reported
favorably on the st. Lawrence ship
canal project and said the work could
be completed for about quarter of
billion dollars, whereas other authori-
ties assert the expense will be at least
billion dollars if Congress authorizes
the government to enter into the plan
with the Dominion authorities.
The JOINT reorganization COMMITTEES
soon will submit its report to President
Harding. but it is not likely that he
will make the details public until all
phases have been agreed upon by the
LS. i
President will undertake with the Cab
met to reach an understanding, 80 that
when the reorganization bill goes to
the Senate and House it will have the
solid backing of the Administration.
Bureau heads already have been
warned that If they attempt to lobby
or use their influence in other WAYS
to overthrow what the Administration
Is aiming for-greater efficiency in
governmert--they will find themselves
members of the army of unemployed.
No information is forthcoming as to
what stand the reorganization commit
tee will take on the question of estab-
fishing the Department of Public
Works, although many prominent Re-
publicans favor it and Secretary Hoo
yer of the Department of Commerce is
said to be one of those for it. The pro-
posed new department would take over
all kinds of engineering work, includ-
ing the civil work now performed by
the army engineers.
In any reorganization of the gov
ernment's activities, the creation of
such a department of public works Of
fers the greatest immediate oppor-
tunity for a reduction in government
expenditure" the American Associa-
tion of Engineers claims.
Plans for Consolidation
The several engineering activities
which it is proposed to incorporate in
the new department are:
All public buildings, structures and
grounds except those required by the
government in the District OF Colum-