The Washington herald., 1921-03-10
HARDING PICKS
DIR. SAWYER FOR
WELFARE TASK
Ohioan to Lay Ground
work for Creation of
New Department.
RANK AS GENERAL
TO GIVE AUTHORITY
White House Statement
Supplemented by Out
| line of Plans


One of the most Important de-
partmental surveys. possible to be
followed by the creation Of an en-
tirely new department. was entrust-
ed by President Harding to DR..
Charles E. Sawyer, of Marion. Ohio.
his physician and lifelong friend.
yesterday.
Upon the completion Of DR.. Saw
yers important task. President
Harding will ask Congress to en-
act the legislation necessary to Gre
ate . Department of Education and
Public welfare. a new Cabinet port
folio. which probably will be held
by a woman.
In Proposed Department.
To this department will be trans
ferred the following governmental
agencies and all their activities:
The woman's Bureau and the
children's Bureau of the Depart
ment of Labor.
Bureau OF Education Of the De-
partmenr Of the Interior.
War Risk Insurance Bureau and
Public Health Service. now under
the Treasury Department.
Federal Board for Vocational Ed
ucation and all other governmental
agencies dealing with soldier relief.
II 10 contemplated that all activi-
ties which have to do with the war
veterans viii be concentrated In
one bureau under the new depart
ment.
1t also Is planned to transfer to
the new department the admins
tration OF those functions dealing
with naturalization and Amsrfckn-
ixation OF aliens- Under this aplan
the Anericanization Bureaus eof the
Department Of Labor would be
transferred to. the new department.
White House Annolneenent.
Formal announcement Of DR.. Saw
yer's selection to lay the foundation
of the new department was con-
tained in the following statement
made public at the White House.
President Harding has long since
been convinced that the affairs re-
lating to public welfare, such as
public health, education and social
justice. are so intimately related and
vital to the nations persetuity. that
he has decided to begin at once a
careful survey of all matters per-
tanning to these subjects.
That there may be no delay. he
has nominated DR.. Charles E. Saw
yer. Of Marion, q man Of long and
practical experience in such mat
ters, to a brigadier generalcy in the
Medical Corps of the United States
army, thereby not only securing the
services of DR.. Sawyer as a physi-
clan at the White House when pro-
fessional attention Is necessary. but
also giving to him direct authority
to make thorough investigation of
the needs of these subjects and to
present the accumulated facts with
such suggestions as his observa-
tions may warrant in the bringing
about of a concrete plan of co-ordi-
ration and most efficient and eco
nomic operation of these affairs"
Sawyer outlines Plans.
When informed of this announce
-ment. DR.. Sawyer outlined his plans
for laying the groundwork Of the
new department.
TT will be an undertaking which,
when completed. will advance So
cial welfare in America" said Dir.
Sawyer President Harding is for
1t, as he has frequently indicated
in his public utterances.
''The real basis Of the idea Is this:
That there Is very intimate rela-
tion between public health, educa-
tion and so-called social Justice
We are going to investigate these
subjects, find out what they really
represent and mean, and see how
they can be co-ordinated into a gem
eral plan.
The public health is very closely
CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE.