Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1921-09-30
DRASTIC CHANGES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO BE
WIPED OFF THE MAP
Harding Advocates Reorganization of
Government Departments in "the
Interests of Economy"
(By Federated Press)

Washington = Renewed efforts to
abolish the Department of Labor and
to distribute it's present functions to
the Department of Comerce and a
proposed new Department of Public
Welfare are expected to precipitatc
a bitter political battle when Congress
reassembles.
1t is learned from authentic s)urces
that the joint commission on the re-
organization of government depart
ments has recommended these changes
in it's report to the President and it is
stated on good authority the admins
tration will urge adoption of the re-
port "in the interest of economy"
President Gompers Of the American
Federation of Labor has declared that
organized labor would meet this issue
squarely and throw all its strength
against the proposal. He said the
departments of Agric, ,'ture eni "a
Dor were the two which could and
should most serve the people ana thai
their destruction was sought by the
selfish financial interests trying to
rear IAN industrial oligarchy in
America.
The Federation Of Labor went on
record against the abolition Of the
Labor Department when it was fist
proposed some three months ago.
There was so much opposition that
the plan apparently was abandoned.
1t now seems, however, that the forces
behind the move have been quietly At
work and the report oc the reore ami
zation commission definitely recon-
mends the scheme.
The plan Of reorganization involves
an estimated saving Of about $780,
100000 annually in the operation Of
the government. 1t is believed that
the persistence of the Senate Finance
Committee in pairing dom the
amounts to be raised by the revenue
act is based upon advance informa-
tion regarding this saving.
The most spectacular change re-
commended is the combination of the
War and Navy Departments. This
plan is said to have been suggested
by the President 1t is rumored that
if this is permitted by Congress, Sec.
retary of the Navy DENLY will be-
come head of the combined military
department.
The Department of Labor will be
abolished entirely and new depart
ment of welfare created. 1t is ru-
mored that General Sawyer of Marion,
the presidents personal physician,
will become head of this department.
The department of public welfare will
take over the War Risk Insurance,
the pension office, the public health
service, the veterans bureau and
probably the board of vocational edu-
cation.
The Department of Commerce will
have greatly enlarged powers. A
bureau Of transportation will be ad-
ded and certain functions of an ex-
ecutive nature now vested in the In
terstate Commerce Commission will
90 to this bureau. The Buerau of
Markets, now lodged in the Depart
ment of Agriculture, also will be
transferred to the Department of
Commerce
The new proposals in many in
stances emanated directly from the
President. Walter F. Brown, chair
man of the joint reorganization COM
mittee, is Harding's personal ap-
pointee and has incorporated the
Presidents ideas in the report. Her
bert Hoover and Senator Smoot have
acted as consulting engineers.
The administration is thoroughly
committed to the change, but there is
certain to be strong opposition in
Congress from representatives from
rural communities as we'll as from la
Dor districts. The proposed changes
probably will not be put forward until
the rest of the administration pro-
gram is out of the way.