The New York herald., 1921-07-24

velopment of the natural resources, the
administration OF the public domain, re-
clamation and other construction pro-
jects
Agr!cultu-e-Charged with the devel-
opment OF agriculture in different sec
tions of the country. the regulation or
such grain and other standards as are
fixed by Congress and the fostering OF
stock raising
Commerce-Charged with all matters
relating to the commercial activities OF
the United States. particularly in regard
to shipping and the development of for
eign markets for American products.
Labor-Charged with encouraging the
friendly relations betwsen labor and
capital. the proper distribution os labor.
particularly immigrant labor, 10 sec
tions where II can best be utilized, to-
gether with the administration of such
Federal laws as are on this statute
books for the interest OF woman and
child labor.
Public Welfare--Charged with the adj
ministration of the public health. edu-
cational and other laws, the relief of
veterans. the payment for war risk In
surance and pensions and the like.
Removing Duplication.
Into these ten departments Mr.. Brown
hopes to place every one OF the present
Governmental activities, as preim-
mary step to the curtailment programme
which Is to be continued over a long
period. The thing to do is to get the
different conflicting bureaus together.
he believes. and then to put into effect
the efficiency methods which, it is hoped.
will bring about reduction in taxation.
When the committee first set out on
the work 1t was the hope that not less
than $500, 10000 year might be saved
by the proper consolidation of the va
rious bureaus. but as the inquiries have
continued and the possibilities have
been revealed 1t Is evident now that a
much greater sum can be eliminated,
probably not less than S50O.O0O,000.
The reorganization OF the Government
along lines OF increased efficiency Is
not to be accomplished without the
greatest strue gle. 1t is all right to talk
about what can and what ought to be
done. but 1t is quite another thing to
put it into operation.
Every man and his brother who In
any way might be affected by the cur
tailment programme is going to use all
his power to prevent such thing. 1t
all has to be done with the approval Of
Congress, and ii means fight.
President Harding's recent ultimatum
that any Government bureau chief-any
Government employee, in fact-who at
tempted to prevent a free and unham-
pered reorganization would be dis
missed from the service has had its
effect That is, OF course, to the extent
that the propaganda which had been
rampant UP to that time, now has
ceased.
But there is propaganda, Of course,
and lots of 1t. For instance, one of the
most active groups just now is that
composed of teachers arguing for the
creation of a Department OF Educa-
ton, instead OF Department OF Pub
lie Welfare. with a BureauA OF Educa-
ton as one of the primary units For
years the educational forces of the ma
ton have demanded Federal recogni-
tion.
In furtherance Of their ideas the edu-
cational forces. having brought certain
religious forces into the discussion. have
begun a definite propaganda among
members OF Congress to obtain the
adoption of the Smith-Towner bill,
which provides for an independent De-
partment of Education. Those who are
in charge of the reorganization work
are taking the stand that the Bureau
of Education should be a part Of the
Department of Public Welfare, which
President Harding pledged to the coun-
try during the campaign.
At present the Government rolls con-
tain approximately 100000 names-of
whom half, or $4,000. are employees of
the Post Office Department, that is, mail
carriers, railroad mail clerks and other
employees, who cannot be spared from
the service. The hope is that not less
than $4,000 Federal employees may be
dropped from the service. although that
is a high estimate, and 1t may be that
the number will not exceed 10000. The
estimate is that it costs not less than
So, 900 q year to maintain a clerk in the
Federal service That figure is COM
puted by the fact that the average pay
Is in the neighborhood of $1,000 a year.
the balance being the overhead expenses
involved in providing place for the
clerk to work. paper and other supplies.
II II were possible to eliminate so,
clerks the Government therefore. on this
item alone would save $100,000.000.