Evening star., 1921-03-20

are committed to early and
thorough reorganization Of
the administrative branch of the
government in the interests Of econ
omy. efficiency and all-round busi-
nesslike method. the question has
been raised whether. Congress will
reorganize itself to do the legislative
work most expeditiously and ef-
fectively.
Leaders in Congress. political econ
omists and governmental research
agencies are already giving much
thought to the problem of how to
put PRO" for CON in Congress
how to do away with the lost motion
and waste of time. and to get con-
centrated work on the more vital
proposals
The best thought of the country,
both in Congress and outside of Con-
gress, is pretty well agreed that the
trouble with Congress is not wholly
one of procedure. but equally one OF
attempting to do more work than Is
mentally and physically possible The
remedy suggested and approved by
some of the most prominent men in
both House and Senate is something
as follows:
First, for Congress to cut down on
it's work: (a) BY delegating some
of it to subsidiary agencies: (b) by
getting away from attempts at local
government-for example, in the Dis
trict of Columbia and Alaska, and
(c) by establishing an administrative
code. Second. by facilitating and ex-
pediting procedure.
Delegation OF Detail.
The most fundamental reform being
considered is for Congress to get
from under the load of legisIating In
detail-Congress itself attempting to
handle matters Of myriad details. In
the earlier days, when the govern
ment was simpler in organization
and activities, it was possible for
Congress to do much that Is now
becoming more and more difficult, as
the government grows more complex.
1t is contended that in some way
or another Congress should provide
for the delegation of authority to
handle details which it now seeks
to handle itself through formal legis-
1ation. In England. for example.
large use is made Of what are known
as "orders in council" Under the
British system the order-in-council IN
all cases has to be laid before the
house Of commons. and in CERTAIN
cases they do not continue In ehect
beyond that session unless specially
approved by the house OF commons
We have the beginning of such a
system in the, executive orders ana
proclaim atoms of the President. we.
of course. have made a beginning also
in creating commissions such az the
Interstate Commerce Commission. the
Federal Water Power Board. the Ship
ping Board. etc. Congress sooner or
later, and now is a good time to make
the break, must be willing to delegate
to subordinate agencies authority to
handle specific matters.
England has also developed highly
specialized and excellent method for
handling special or private bills. with
the result that the time of the house
of commons is consumed to but
slight extent in handling such meas
ures.
1t is not contended that the United
States should adopt absolutely the
British system. but that it should
work out some more effective way FOR
handling bills Of this class.
One of the ways that has been pro-
In io IN q
continue the attempt to act as local
legislature for the District of Colum-
bia. II Congress does not want to
give local self-government. some form
of commission government. requiring
all acts to be transmitted to Congress
with full power to alter. amend or re-
peal has been proposed by some who
have given this subject considerable
thought.
In the same way larger self-gov-
erning powers should be given to the
territorial government Of Alaska, SO
that Congress would not have to con-
Germ itself with the details of local
affairs in Alaska. any more than with
the details of local affairs in Porto
Rico.
Joint Committees Suggested.
Then the delay caused in securing
an agreement between the two houses
might be lessened by making larger
use of joint committees. An example
would be with regard to river and
harbors improvements. public works,
public buildings. etc. With the joint
committee at work one hearing would
suffice rather than the duplicated
hearings now so frequently held
The third big relief for Congress
would be through establishment of an
administrative code. Much Of the ad-
.ministrative or adjective" law in dis
tinction from substantive" law is
scattered through Appropriation bills
as riders. and in special clauses.
There is need for an administrative
code for intelligent legislation and es-
pecially with regard to appropria-
tions. and such a code would be Of
the utmost value in connection with
the plans for reorganization of the
federal service. 1t would AFFORD great
relief to Congress because so large a
part of the work Of Congress has to
do with the government departments
With such a code in force this work
could be done with far greater eff