Evening star., 1921-05-22
BY WILL p. KENNEDY,

BY WILL p. KENNEDY.
After five years of intensive study
on the problem of reorganizing the
federal government for maximum
efficiency and economy. the institute
extremely helpful to Congress in
framing the federal budget system.
has now submitted to the joint con-
gressional committee on reorganiza-
tion of the administrative branch ot
the government a comprehensive plan
for scientifically regrouping the
countless government agencies
This plan calls for eleven government
departments, four of which are new.
and the abolition of two existing de-
partments. 1t takes as a framework
consolidation these departments: State.
Treasury. War and Navy tconsoli-
dated as urged by President Hard
ing) Maritimes Affairs or Transporta-
ton, Public Works and Public Domain,
education and Science. Public Health,
! Justice. Post Office, Agriculture and
Labor. II proposes to abolish the
existing departments of Interior and
Commerce.
The Institute for Government Re-
search. making these recommended
| tions. explains that it has for its sole
object the study. in a scientific spirit,
of the problems Of public admins
! tration, and particularly those of the
i national government. for the purpose
! of making known those facts and the
formulation of those principles that
| lie at the basis Of all sound admins
tration which it believes will aid in
| the securing of progressive i'm
provement in the conduct of public
affairs
Next I'm Importance to Budget.
1t has been generally recognized at
the Capitol that this institute would
perform a great service in co-opera-
ton on reorganization. AS a corner
stone of its proposals. the institute.
in it's report submitted by William F.
Willoushby. says that of the several
steps required to put the administra-
tion Of the affairs of the national gov
ernment upon an efficient and eco
nomicaN basis, none. with the possible
exception of the adoption of scien-
tihc budget system. exceeds in i'm
reorganization of the whole system
now obtaining. of the grouping Of ad-
ministrative services departmentally
and of the distribution Of specific
activities among the several services.
The institute tells the joint reorgan-
ization committee, headed by per-
sonal representative of President
Harding, that it believes the follow
ing principles should find expression
in a reorganized administrative sys-
tenn:
1. That the type Of organization to
be adopted should be that known as
the integrated or departmental
9. That a clear distinction should
be made between those services which
are of a purely administrative charac-
ter and those which are OF a quasi
legislative, quasi-judiSial or other
special character. and that the at
tempt to apply the principle OF de-
characterization should only be
made in reference to the first.
8. That the principle of depart
naturalization should be that of group
ing services, according to their pur-
pose or function. rather than the char
acter of activities engaged in.
4. That each department should, as
far as practicable. be made unifunc-
tional in the sense that it will en-
brace only those services whose spe-
cial functions pertain to the general
function for the performance of which
the department is established.
Various Other Proposals.
That the whole problem of the pro-
posed reorganization should be con-
sNered at one time and a systematic
and scientific job done, is emphasized
by the institutes report. At present
various proposals are pending to pro-
vide for the creation of new depart
ments or the regrouping of service
within existing departments:
The National Education Association,
in conjunction with other educational
is strongly urging the
creation of a department of education.
The engineering societies OF me
country have united insS.saanding the
creation of a depart nent of paU4io
works.
The public health interests are max
ing a similar request for the creation
Of a department of public health.
There is also a strong movement
for the establishment OF q department
Of social welfare. president Harding
has personally pledged himself to
this.)
In the meantime specific proposals
are being advocated for the consolida.
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