Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-26
SHAKE-UP
IN FEDERAL BUREAUS
IS HARDING PLAN
Transportation Department
Seen as SuCCesSor-Mem-
bers of New Cabinet to Be
Own "BosseS" I

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla, Feb. "a
(By the Associated Press. AS
President-elect Harding completes
formation of his cabinet he is giving
increasing attention to the first big
administrativ task he will under
take as president-the reorganiza-
ton of the executive machinery of
the government.
1t is known that Mr.. Harding has
in mind sweeping changes in many
Of the governments departments and
bureaus, and that he expects to en-
list in the work of reorganization
some of the abIest administrators he
can find. He is understood to have
told some of his advisers that he re-
CARDS the craftsmanship of the reor-
ganization commission as post vir-
tually on a par with a cabinet port
folio.
Congress already has created a
committee to work out a plan for
simplificatlon of the executive branch
with a view to preventing duplica-
ton of work and cutting down the
government payroll. 1t is expected
that this committee will work in
close cooperation with the reorgani-
cation agency to be appointed by Mr..
Harding, though the latter body will
be able to give it's undivided atten-
ton to the task and to make more
exhaustive study of conditions than
~ Nf
congress.
Public welfare Department
Some mention Of the reorganiza-
ton project is expected in Mr.. Har-
ding's inaugural address and it is
possible that some enabling legisla-
ton may be requested of the special
session of congress that is to meet
in April. The first six months of
the new administration probably will
see the preliminary study well un-
der way, though it may be much
longer before definite recommends
lions can be formulated.
One of the biggest innovations to
be proposed will be the establish
ment of A separate department of
public welfare. for which Mr.. Har-
ding outlined his plans in a general
way during the campaign. He con-
templates the transfer to this de-
partment of several of the bureaus
now working under other depart
ments and in addition there are to
be number of entirely new bureaus
to deal with various welfare prob
lens.
A division Of industrial research is
to be builded up, possibly taking over
same of the present functions of the
bureau of foreign and domestic COM
.merce, to make a comparative study
of prices and industrial conditions
throughout the world. 1t is believed
to abolish entirely some of the ex-
listing subdivisions of the executive
departments or at least to combine
them with other agencies now dupli-
eating large part of their work.
To Abolish Shipping Board
Involved in the task will be many
broad questions of permanent pol
icy, such as the proposal to abolish
the shipping board and put a differ
ent sort of executive body in its
place. One suggestion that has been
made to the president-elect is that
the various government agencies now
dealing with shipping and railway
problems be brought together in a
new executive department Of trans
portation. ,-
Selecting his cabinet members, Mr.
Harding has kept the reorganization
plans constantly in nina and from
the outset of his administration he
will insist that every secretary give
fullest cooperation IN securing an
efficient redistribution of executive
functions. He is understood to feel
that jealousies among department
heads have prevented some needed
reforms in the past and to be anx-
ious that the members of his official
family work rather for the good OF
the whole government than for the
prestige of any one branch of 1t.