The Washington herald., 1921-04-28
=. - 4.
Work of Reorganization
Expected to Begin
Next Week.
APPROVAL OF HOUSE
DUE IN DAY OR TWO
sse~t
Joint Committee to Re-
vamp Executive De-
%. g. partments.

ganization, looking toward q COM
plete overhauling and realignment
of the administrative branches of
thezgovernment, will get under way
next week. according to Represen-
tive Reavis. of Nebraska.
Reavis Is a member of the Smoot-
Reavis Joint Congressional Com
mittee, named to study govern
mental organization and recommend
changes
The committee has been wait
ing for inclusion in its member
ship; of a representative of Presi-
dent Harding. The Senate. by reso-
luton, has authorized this. and the
House Judiciary Committee is ex-
pected to report on the Senates
resolution favorably tomorrow. The
House should give its approval
within a day or so. according 10
Reavis, following which the COM
mittee will buckle down to work.
Harding Has Representative.
Harding has signified his inten-
ton of naming Walter B. Brown
Of Toledo, to cooperate with the
committee. Some spokesman for
the. Executive establishment was
found desirable by the committee
members in order to obtain coop
Grafton from the departments them
selves Opposition to changes woulo
be less, 1t was felt II they were
made with the advice OF q spokes-
man for the Executive.
The committee proposes to make
n thorough study Of the duties OF
every bureau. board, DIVISION ana
office. and regroup them logically.
pupfioation would be eliminated lor
where two organizations were
found to be doing the same tnins,
they would be Joined lndepenoent
otfices, some forty in number Wouio
be nut under direction of q Caoi-
net onicer where this is possioie.
o,...S.,. Mo-. .DspA<fae,sss -
The committee also will be called
unon to consider projects for the
formation of new departments, 70 pc
direeted by cabinet officers. Among
.ugSested departments are puohc
welfare, education, public WORKS
ana TRANSPORTATION. The department
OF public welfare has been urged oy
President Harding, and for that rea-
sen its establishment seems more
likely than that of the others
senator Smoot. leader in reor-
SANITATION work in the Upper Cham
b4r. is understood to have agreed to
sup,ort the Presidents idea Rea-
Wis opposes it. but predicts It Will
carry.
THE project for a department OF
Education has strong backing from
Congress itself, and from orsaniza-
lions of various sorts throughout
the country. But creation Of two
departments-educ and public
weIfare-is not considered likely.
ThezPresident would include as one
four divisions in the public welfare
department,N branch having to do
with education. presided over by an
arsistant Cabinet oficer. This is ex-
pected to satisfy many of those who
beffeye the Federal government
should interest itself to a greater
extent in schools. Creation of de-
partmepts of public works and
transportation. while urged in in
neeutial quarters, is not expected.
No Rhyme OF Reason.
the Federal government is a
hodxe-podge of unrelated activities,
many OF them having no connection
with the department by which they
are administered" said Reavis
sThe executive departments have
grown and expanded. without rhyme
or, reason, since the days of Alex
ander Hamilton. and there has been
no attempt to reorganize them.
We propose to start at the bot
tom. and to change the entire sys-
tenn Then we will have depart
ments working for the government
and not for departments"
Reavis said one needed change is
to put all agencies of government
public works construction under a
single head.
Tso Much Duplication.
Every department in the gov
eminent has work of this kind"
Reavia said. There are thirty
seven different commissions building
public roads, and twenty-nine sur
veyinz and mapping. We should
have one organization for every
thing of this sort, and then forbid
any other department. by law, from
invading its province"
<Reayis cited the Interior Depart
nrent an example OF illogical organi-
ration.
The Department of the interior
runs an insane asylum, a school for
the deaf and blind. and take care OF
patents and pensions. when otheI
departments have personnels fully
equipped to do these things"
- Meet OmeiaI Opposition. %.
The COMMITTEES has encountered
opposition from the various execu.
tive branches at the very outset oi
itsswork. According to Reavis.- nc
oficial in an executive position 1,
willing to confess that his depart.
ment is dispensable, or that II
sshould be united with another. oil
thai, it's. activities should be cur.
tailed. - -
EVERY government executive 1,
obsessed with the idea Of the g-eai
Importance of the work he has In
charge Resvis said. I'VE have
had already. more than 500 letter.
inraoppoSition to one proposed
change. although 1t would save ths
government s14.eoe,o 900 q year and
make far greater efictency. Ssms
! departments, which when creatad
received appropriations Of $3.50 ol
$4,000 annually, now get $4,000.
eee,or s3o.00o,o0o. They grew like
snoNballs rolling down hill. We
purpose to change this