The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-02-24
TO SIMPLIFY
MACHINERY IS
HARDING IDEA
President-elect Turns His At
tention to First Big Admin
istration Task Sweeping
Changes in Mind.
MAY ASK LEGISLATION
CBy Associated Press,


ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla, Feb. c4-As
President-elect Harding completes
formation of his cabinet he is giving
increasing attention to the first big
administration task he will undertake
as presdent-the reorganization of the
executive machinery of the govern
ment.
Delayed plans have not yet taken
form, but it is known that Mr.. Hard
ing has in mind sweeping changes in
many of the governments depart
ments and bureaus and that he ex-
poets to enlist in the work of reor-
ganization some of the ablest admin
istrators he can find. He is under
stood to have told some of his advisors
that he regards the Craftsmanship of
the reorganization commission as
post virtually on a par with a cabinet
portfolio.
Committee Created.
Congress already has created a
committee to work out a plan for sim
plification of the executive branch
with a view to preventing duplication
of work and cutting down the govern
ment payroll. 1t is expected that this
committee will work in close co-opera-
tion with the reorganization agency to
be appointed by Mr.. Harding, though
the latter body will be able to give its
undivided attention TO the task and 10
make a more exhaustive study OF con-
ditions than would be undertaken by
members of congress.
Some mention of the reorganization
project is expected in Mr.. Harding's
inaugural address and it is possible
that some enabling legislation may be
requested of the special session OF
congress that is to meet in April. The
first six months of the new admins
tration probably will see the prelimin-
airy study well under way though it
may be much longer before definite
recommendations can be formulated.
Public Welfare.
One of the biggest innovations TO
be proposed will be the establishment
of separate department of public
welfare, for which Mr.. Harding out
lined his plans in general way dur
ing the campaign. He contemplates
| the transfer to this department of sew
eral of the bureaus now working under
other departments and in addition
there are to be a number of entirely
new bureaus to deal with various wei
fare problems.
A division of industrial research is
W Dc DullI up, pOSSlDIy wei
some 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.
May Abolish Some.
II is believed it will be possible on
the other hand to abolish entirely
some of the existing subdivisions of
the executive departments or at least
to combine them with other agencies
now duplicating a large part of their
work.
Involved in the task will be many
broad questions of permanent policy.
such as the proposal to abolish the
shipping board. and put a different
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 to gether in a new executive
| department of transportation.
! Plans Kept in Mind.
| Selecting his cabinet members, Mr.
Harding has kept the reorganization
plans constantly in mind and from the
outset of his administration he will
insist that every secretary give full
est cooperation in securing an eff
cient redistribution of executive func-
/ tions.
3; He is understood to feel that jeal-
ousies among department heads have
prevented some needed reforms in the
past and to be anxious that the mem
/ bers of his official family work rather
! for the good of the whole government
/ than for the prestige of any one
| branch of it,