The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-08-15
Finish HARDING PLAN
TOSAVE HALFbILLION
Cabinet Members Make
President Arbitrator in
Reorganization.
| OPPOSITION DWINDLING
Measure Covers Ten Govern
ment Departments;
Pruning Next.
BLANKET BILL PROBABLE
Will Be introduced in Both
Houses at Once, With Hope
Of Passage This Session.
BLANKET BILL PROBABLE
Special Despatch to THE NEW Yo.k HERALD.

Special Despatch to THE NEW YosK HEnALp
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. G., Aug. IL.
President Harding and the Cabinet
are in virtual agreement upon the de-
tails of the plan for the reorganiza-
ton of the Government departments
for the sake of efficiency and economy.
Final approval is being held up pend
ing the return to Washington of Sec
rotary of Agriculture Wallace and Sec
rotary Of the Interior Fall, who are
absent on business trips.
That is the word conveyed tonight
to Walter F. Brown, the chairman.
and other mem bers of the Congress
Joint Committee on Government Re-
organization. AS soon as tie approved
plan is submitted to them 1t will be
the basis of a report to be submitted
to Congress for realignment of the
departments under blanket bill as
the first step in the reorganization.
President Harding is to decide certain
troublesome details OF the scheme on
which the different members OF the
Cabinet have been unable to agree. lie
has been selected as arbitrator, the
heads of the departments having ex-
pressed willingness to stand by ms
Judgment on questions that are IN dis
pute.
The understanding Is that in the
main the realignments of the depart
ments agreed upon by the President and
members OF his Cabinet will have the
approval OF the committee on reorgani-
cation. 1t is being worked out through
Mr.. Brown. who has had countless con-
ferences with all concerned, trying to
win the officials over to the committees
general ideas of what the reorganization
programme should provide.
Mr.. Brown expressed the hope to-
night that the committee report would
be completed within a month, or imme-
diately after Congress gets back from
the proposed recess. 1t will be made
the basis of a bill to be introduced
simultaneously In both the Senate and
the House. with the hope that 1t may
be put through at the present session.
This first step. taken at the sugges-
ton of President Harding, merely will
be the broad reorganization of the de-
partments, without curtailments or con-
solicitations. The programme is for the
outlining OF the departments. with the
transfer to them of the different agencies
that have the same major function.
The work of coordination and eiimina-
ton then will be detailed matter to
be worked out.
1t is the hope of Mr.. Brown and his
associates that the same bill will De the
only legislation required.
The understanding is that the plan
agreed upon by Mr.. Harding AMI the
members of the Cabinet follows close
ly that which has been outlined hereto
fore in these columns. There are TO be
ten departments. as at present, the most
striking change in the organization be-
ing the consolidation of the War and
Navy Departments into the Department
of National Defence. Two new depart
ments are to Ne created. the Department
of Public Welfare and the Department
of Public Works, this last to take the
place Of the Department of the Interior,
which long ago ceased to function along
the lines originally intended.
1t is still the hope of Mr., Brown and
those working with him in the reorgani-
zation that the scheme will bring about
a reduction of public expense by about
half billion dollars. The fiscal fed
ture OF the reorganization is being
worked out with the help of General
Dawes, Director of the Budget.
Mr. Brown said that the propaganda
against the changes in the departments
has almost entirely vanished and the
officials are unhampered in working out
details.