The Washington herald., 1921-05-12
BEGINS ACTION ]
TO REORCANIZE
BUREAU DUTIES
Big Problems Face Spe-
cial Congressional
Committee.
PROPOSED CHANGES
WILL BE OPPOSED
Plan to Combine Army
And Navy One of
Live Questions.

Actual work is now under way
on the most drastic attempt ever
made to reorganize the administra-
tive branch of the American gov
ernment.
Among the problems in revolu-
tionizing the business of govern
ment is the proposed creation of a
department of national defense to
embrace both the army and navy
departments.
As the special joint Congressional
committee begins its work today,
the idea of combining the army
and navy under one directing head
is shown to still be a live question,
both in Congressional quarters and
at the executive end of the avenue.
Backed by President.
The movement for readjusting
government administration has the
backing of President Harding. who
has appointed a personal represen-
tative, Walter r. Brown, of Toledo.
Ohio. to cooperate with the legis-
lative commission. The commission
is headed by Senator Smoot, of Utah,
and Representative Reavis, of Ne
braska.
The commission today will hold
it's first meeting since the appoint
ment of the Presidents representa-
tive. The wide scope of the under
taking is indicated by the object of
the meeting, which will be devoted
to perfecting an organization for
handling the work of governmental
overhauling. Special personnel will
be employed. offices will be opened
and the commission will dig in"
for a job which probably will re-
quire months to consummate.
VIII Draft LegisIation.
The draft for the proposed re-
organization will cover every de-
partment in the government. EN-
cheney experts will be consulted.
costs of operation will be figured
and in the end legislation will be
prepared for submission to Con-
gress.
Projects to be considered by the
"revamping" committee will in
clude:
The creation of a department OF
national defense to embrace both
the army and navy departments.
Establishment Of a department of
public welfare.
Unification of all the govern
menfs secret service into a bu-
reau of investigation to be placed
under the Department OF Justice.
The placing of Independent agen-
cies such as the Shipping Board
and the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, under one of the govern
ment departments. in this instance
the Department Of Commerce.
Controversy Held Likely.
Other proposed changes intended
to avoid the present duplication of
effort in different departments, are
expected to arouse widespread con-
troversy. Government departments.
it is predicted. will be loath to re-
linquish any of their functions
which have been established by ira
dition of the service" and govern
ment employees are expected to dis
play equal reluctance in surrender
ing their jobs.
The difficulty of the reorsaniza-
tion task is illustrated by the pro-
posal to unity the secret service.
At present there are three separate
branches of Investigation work"
under the Treasury Department,
there are postal inspectors under
the Postoffice Department and there
is full corps of operatives in the
Department of Justice.
Gen. sawyer,s Plan Opposed.
Already difference of opinion has
arisen over the Presidents plan for
a department of public welfare.
Brig. Gen. Sawyer, representing the
President, urged before a Congress
sional committee Wednesday that
this department include the new di-
vision of education. but he met
strong opposition from elements
who are working for a separate
department of education.
1t has been made plain already
that the proposed reorganization
cannot be covered by one measure,
but that a number of bills will
have to be prepared for Congress
in order to effect the complete al
teration.