The New York herald., 1921-04-17
HOOVER CRITICISES.
HODGE PODGE AIMS
Tells Engineers of Needs of
Reorganization of Fed
eral Departments.
AGAINST PATERNALISM
Coordination Rather Than
Increased Expenditure
Solution, He Says.
COMMON PURPOSE NEEDED
No Budget System Can Sue
ceed Until Reforms Are
Reached.
COMMON PURPOSE NEEDED

eReNs1s 0copGAch 80 tib VIEW iokh AlEhAiDs
PHnApELPHA, Aprn i5-Herbert C.
Hoover addressed the American En-
gtneering Council of the Federated
American Engineering Societies here
to-day on economies that are TO be
established generally by the Harding
Administration.
There is one problem OF the new
Administration" he said, that has re-
ceived the attention and thought of
the organized engineers of America for
many years. This Is the problem of
the reorganization of the Federal Gov
ernment. Many attempts have been
made at reorganization before, but all
of them have gone to the same crema-
tory-the interminable differences in
opinion among the executive and legis-
lative officials over details
ITO any student of Federal crganiza-
t'on one sweeping and fundamental
necessity stands out above all others,
and that is that the administrative units
of the Government must be regrouped
so as to give each of the great depart
nents more nearly a single purpose
The hodge-podge of aims in certain ad-
ministrative branches is scarcely be-
lievable when we consider our national
pride and skill in organization. Such
functions as public domain. public works.
assistance to veterans. public health
functions aids to navigation, to indus
try. to trade. purchasing of major sup
plies are each and every one scattered
over from four to eight departments,
most of which are devoted to some other
major purpose.
Economies can be accomplished from
public point OF view by an elimination
of the overlap in these different units of
administration through unifcation into
groups of similar purpose. The real
economy to the nation, however lies in
their more effective functioning in their
daily relation to the public The extra
cost imposed upon business in general in
the determination of the relation OF any
particular business to the different func-
tions of the Government, with the un-
necessarily duplicating interferences and
demands. Is real charge on national
wealth, probably as great in some direc-
tions as the actual costs of the admin
istrations themselves.
The enlarged activities OF the Gov
crnment as a result of the war greatly
affect certain departments. The Treas
ury to-day as the fiscal Office OF the
Government must handle an annual
budget of $4,000, 900. 900 as compared
with $1,000. 100000 pre-war. Activities
OF the army have increased from a
budget OF $500, 900, 900 to $400, ,000, 900
activities OF the navy have increased
from budget of S125,000, 900 to S425,-
100000. Thus the burden and RESPONSE
bilities for the major purposes of these
departments have been enormously in
creased. / believe 1t is the consensus
Of the gentlemen conducting these de-
partments that In the interests of effi-
cheney they should not be called TO re-
sponsibility for the administration OF at
least some or the matters not pertinent
to their major functions which clutter
their departments.
zone OF the great steps In Federal
reorganization Is the erection OF
budget system. with its necessary re-
organization OF the Congressional COM
mittees. There can be no doubt as to
the early accomplishment of this great
reform, but II win not serve its real
purpose until the departments have been
reorganized SO that they represent q
common purpose. Without this. Con-
gross will never have before IL budgets
showing the expenditure OF the Govern
ment In Its relation to any particular
function.
I'VE want no paternalism in govern
ment We do need in government aids
TO business in a collective sense. In a
department we do not want to either
engage in business or 10 regulate bust
ness. We need a department that can
give prompt and accurate diagnosis from
both a foreign and domestic point Of
view Of economic events. OF economic
tendencies. of economic Ills; that can
promptly and accurately survey economic
opportunity, economic discrimination and
opposition that can give scientific ad-
vice and assistance and stability 10 In
dustry in furnishing IL with prompt and
accurate data upon production. supplies
and consumption; that can cooperate
with II In finding standards and simplih-
cations; that can by broad study pro-
mote national conservation In industry
and the elimination OF waste; that can
study and ven ntllate the commercial side
OF our power possibilities than can
study and advise national policies In de-
velopment OF rail- water and overseas
transportation that. In fact covers, 80
far as Government functions can cover.
the broad commercial problems Of trade,
industry and transportation. That can
be accomplished more By coordination OF
existing governmental facilities than by
fp~raagad ewnoulituragn