Evening journal., 1921-08-15
HALF Billion
in i. S. Saving
Cabinet Members Make
President Arbitrator in
Reorganization
OPPOSITION
is DWINDLING

WASHINGTON. Aug. 15.-Presi-
dent Harding and the Cabinet are in
virtual agreement upon the details
Of the plan for the reorganization Of
the Government departments for the
sake Of efficiency and economy. Final
approval is being held up pending
the return to Washington of Sec
retary Of Agriculture Wallace and
Secretary OF the Interior Fall, who
arc absent on business trips.
That is the word conveyed to
Walter +. Brown. the chairman, and
other members of the Congress Joint
Committee on Government Reorgan-
ization As soon as the approval
plan is submitted to them II will be
the basis of a report TO be submit
tod to Congress for a realignment Of
the departments under a blanket bill
as the first step in the reorganiza-
ton.
President Harding is TO decide
certain troublesome details OF the
scheme on which the different mem-
bers OF the Cabinet have been un-
able to agree. He has been select
ed as arbitrator, the heads OF the de-
partments having expressed willing
ness to stand by his Judgment on
questions that are in dispute.
The understanding IS that in the
main the reallgnmeuts OF the de-
partments agreed upon by the Presi-
dent and members OF his Cabinet
will have the approval OF the com
mittee on reorganization. IL is be-
ing worked out through Mr. Brown.
who has had countless conferences
with all concerned, trying to win the
officials over tho coin.n.ttee's gem
eral IDEAS Of what the reorganization
programme should provide.
Mr.. Brown expressed the hope that
the committee report would be COM
pleted within a month or immediate
ly after Congress gets back from the
proposed recess. II will be made
the basis Of a bill to be introduced
simultaneously in both the Senate
and the House, with the hope that il
may be put through at the present
session.
This first step. taken at the sug-
gestion Of President Harding, mere
ly will be the broad reorganization
of the departments. without curtail-
ments or consultations. The pro-
grammc is for the outlining Of the
departments. with tho trars.er 10
them Of tho different agencies that
have the same major function. The
work of coordination and elimina-
ton then will be the detailed matter
TO be worked out.
It is the hope Of Mr.. Brown and
his associates that the same bin will
be the only legislation required.
The understanding is that the plaI
agreed upon by Mr.. Harding and th'
members OF the Cabinet follow
closely that which has been outlines
heretofore In these columns. Their
are to be ten departments. as q
present the most striking change 4
the organization being the coasoilsS
ton of the War and Navy Depart
ments into the Department OF Ma
tional Defense. Two new depart.
ments are 70 be created, the Depart
ment of Public Welfare and the De-
partment of Public Works. this last
20 take the place OF the Dep4ctment
Of the Interior which iong aEO cess-
ed to function along the lines orig
inally Intended.
It Is still tho hope ofsafr. Brown
and those wroking with him in the
reorganization that the scheme will
bring about a reduction OF public
expense by about half a billion dol
lars. The fiscal feature OF the re-
organization IS being worked out
with the help OF General Dawes, Di.
rector of the BusEet.
AR. Brown said that the propa
canada against tho changes in tn
departments has almost entirely van
ished and the officials are unhamp
oied IT. working out details.