The Washington herald., 1921-04-17

/NONGRESSlONAL action looms on the problem
Of reorganization of the government depart
ments 1t is indicated that despite the great
press of business confronting the special session. re-
organization measures will not only be introduced and
debated but perhaps nodded into form which will
become act recasting the scores of Federal
agencies, by regroupng modification, elimination and
creation of new branches.
: Last Sunday The Herald in its Weekly Review
presented for consideration of its readers chart
showing proposed changes in the existing depart
ments and requested that suggestions along lines Of
reorganization be forwarded to it by the Best Minds"
among its friends ~
Majority opinions will be given publicity in next
Sundays Weekly Review symposium based upon
suggestions received will be printed and this will un-
mstakaby indicate the preponderant thought of care
full students Of the problem
IT oDAYTHE HERALD reproduees a chart drawn
in line With the recommendations contained in
the reorganization bill OF Senator Mccormick Of Iii
nois and pending budget legislation. This bill is slated
for early introduction and the conclusions graphical
y set forth are based upon long consideration and
careful study. The departures from departmental
fangement OF the present tme' may startling in
some instances but careful analysis of the func-
tons of the branches indicated for transfer creation
or division into several parts clearly demonstrate in
nearly every case that they misplaced necessi-
tated by postwar demands. -ordinated as
CARDS their interior makeup, as the case maybe.
In the chart, it will be noted that many of the
agencies pre6xed by one. two, three four as
terisks. Ky ~. .. s' -
n, HE outstanding feature of the Mccormick plan
is the creation of two departments. those of
Public Works and Public Welfare, and the abolition
Of the Department of the Interior Thus, as result
of passage of such BILL there would be included in
the Federal executive machinery eleven departments
instead of the ten which have comprised the group
since the creation of the Department of Labor
Afa.k Af a.. -
marked transformation; the functions of being
curtailed or at least compacted into fewer bureaus,
and those of others being increased the result of the
healthy growing demands of a great nation. A few
would be left almost intact either as regards separa-
tions or additions. These the departments which
possess single purpose and whose activities have
never become difuse. -
The rationale of the Mccormick plan is more
easily grasped by brief study of proposed transfor
nations, department by department than by comment
of general nature For that purpose the executive
branches herewith given separate consideration.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Closer to the President perhaps than any other
Federal branch and dgni6ed by precedent and dplo-
matte history this department would suffer no ex-
cisions and but addition The solicitor would be
transferred from the Department of Justice and made
officer directly responsible to the Cabinet premier
1t may be noted in passing that the Department of
Justice by the Mccormick scheme would lose all the
departmental solicitors, each going to his respective
branch Another modification which appertains with
Mccormick to all the departments is the adjustment
of ranking assistant secretaries, Tirst" Second"
third" etc. Priorites to be established by i'm
portance of departmental division placed under each.
DEPARTMENT. OF WAR.
This branch would be stripped of its Bureau Of
1nsular Affairs, commented upon in last Sundays
Review as not germane TO- military sovernahce.
The various engineer groups having control Of fes
harbors, Alaskan roads, the Panama Canal etc. all
responsible the departmental engineer board are
transferred Thus the land lighting branch would be
leIescopedt into highly co-ordinated organization