New-York tribune., 1921-06-14
Harding Urges
Bureau Merger
ToCut Expense
Elimination of Duplication
Asked of Congressional
Reorganization Commit
tee to Aid Economy Drive
Cabinet Upholds Action
Bill for Reallocating of
Governmental Service.
Immediate Relief Plan
From The Tribune's WASHINGTON Bureau

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WASHINGTON, June ia regroup-
ing OF government activities is recon-
mended by the President in letter
to Walter F. Brown, chairman of the
Congressional joint committee on re-
organization, made public to-day.
Elimination of duplication by consoli-
dation and the devisng of efficient
administrative methods for the sew
eral departments are recommended
also. The President makes it clear
that he is expressing the views of the
members of his Cabinet in making his
recommendations. The Executive calls
for the committee to engage in the
preparation of bill reallocating the
governmental service as the first step
in reorganization.
The Presidents letter was read at
q meeting of the members of the com
mittee. After the meeting Mr.. Brown,
who is the executive, addressed a let
ter to the President in which he eX-
pressed the accord of the members of
the committee with the Presidents
suggestions. Chairman Brown said
later on that plan has been worked
out which does not differ greatly from
that of the President. He declared
that the lax enforcement of prohibi-
ton throughout the country to-day was
due in a measure to premature an
nouncements of the transfer of en-
forcement authority from one depart
ment to another.
All "step children" bureaus, or those
activities not strictly under the super
vision of any particular department,
will be allocated to the Interior De-
partment in the proposed reorganiza-
ton, he asserted.
The Presidents letter to MI Brown
said:
"The problem assigned to your com
mittee has been discussed at length in
several recent meetings of the Cabinet
The views of those charged with the
responsibility of administering tie ex-
so far crystallized that l deem it
proper to present for your consider
alton the general conclusions.
"Since it is extremely difficult to
administer efficiently departments
which include wholly dissimflar and
unrelated services, and quite impos-
sible to administer economically
identical or similar services which are
scattered throughout several depart
ments, it would seem necessary at the
outset of the work of reorganization
to provide a statutory regrouping of
governmental activities to the end. as
ment shall be made up of agencies hav~
ing substantially the same major pur-
pose, and further. that identical or
similar services shall be grouped to-
gether. This task accomplished, the
work of eliminating duplication by
consolidation and otherwise, and Of
devising efficient administrative meth
DDS for the several departments could
then be taken up in logical order and
prosecuted effectively.
"The Executive and Cabinet are of
one mind that bill reallocating the
governmental services upon the prin-
ciple above outlined should be pre-
pared and strongly recommended to
Congress for as speedy passage as pos
sible, in order that there may be no
unnecessary delay in bringing about
the governmental economies which our
duty enjoins upon US and which the
country is demanding and expecting.
To this end we pledge your commit
tee our hearty cooperation"
Chairman Browns letter to the
President was drafted upon receipt of
the Presidents letter. 1t said:
II am glad to advise you that the
members of the committee are entire
ly in accord with your suggestion that
g bill reallocating the governmental
services upon the principle of major
purpose be prepared and urged for
passage by Congress as speedily as
possible.
"By resolution unanimously adopted,
am directed to invite the President
and Cabinet to furnish to the COM
mittee for its information and con-
sideration the detailed suggestions of
the executive branch of the govern
ment for such reallocation of govern
mental services as expeditiously as
may be-"