South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-26
PLANS
FOR REORGANIZING
U.S.. GOVERNMENT
WE. Brown, Toledo, Begins
Task Of Remodeling Depart
ments of Administration.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW.

applied 20 a task that IS mOnumen-
tai in size and almost limi:less IN its
possibilities. Il virtually amounts 20
n reorEa nization OF the government
from turret 90 foundation stone.
Mr. Brown has been "on the Job
only about a month. but his grasp
|. or the problem already IS evidenced
IN a ground work OF stupenduous
| scope which warrants the prophecy
1 that with the necessary coopera-
4 ton OF congress. there may be build
- upon the fundamental lines he
has staked ont the most marvellous
ebusiness organization OF modern
times 70 take the place OF the hap
hazard. overlapping, heterogeneous,
lily functioning collection OF bureaus
and apartments known as "the gov
eminent"
Three other Efforts have been
made 20 reorganize the executive de-
partments. and all OF them have
been fat failures due 10 a lack OF CO.
operation between the executive de-
rartments and congress. Depart
chiefs have used the power
y full weapon Of patronage 70 prevent
Tealignments that would affect their
authority.
The new plan goes about the task
IN a different way that IS more
promising Of successful issue. BY
a happy conception. the executive
Z and legislative authorities are fused
in working out the new arrange
ment The president ls allowed
Tepresentatfve on the congressional
49, rura.rF to- To- - -Hr
nininizes the danger OF conflict be-
ween the executive and legislative
sbranChes and facilitates a harmOni-
Gus working agreement Mr.. Brown.
the presidents representative, IS
executive head Of the COMMITTEES.
with almost carte blanche author
ity.
After spending some time at To-
ledO In the disposal OF his private
affairs Mr.. Brown has returned to
D Washington and has established his
Nices in the Winder building,
rlain. old structure on Seventeenth
St. just west OF the war department
and a stones throw from the white
house. He also viii have Offices in
the capitol and will alternate be-
tween the two places. Thus. every
facility is provided for team work
between congress and executive in
carrying out the details. The plan.
IN other words IS based on "the
gospel OF understanding. so often
referred 10 by the president an the
most practical basis for getting re-
suits. Usually congress passes a bill
and puts il up 20 the president. If he
don't like II he can veto it. In this
instance it Is a case Of congress and
the executive working hand in hand
In the development of a mutually
satisfactory product
Grown Up
. There are 10 executive depart
.nents Of the government and. like
PIsy. they have just "growed up"
from time 10 time. in the most i'll
= considered and illogical way. addi-
tions have been made to the juris-
diction OF each until every depart
ent now has functions that have
nothing. whatever. to do with its
major purpose. one Of Mr.. Browns
fundamental aims IS TO reEroup the
various activities OF the government
on the principle OF major pur-
pose" The treasury department may
be cited as fair example OF the way
In which the principle OF major
purpose has been violated. The ma
Jor purpose Of this department is
70 serve rs the fiscal agency Of the
government. yet the department in
the present grouping includes the
public health service. the prohibit
ton enforcement service. the CON
struction and maintenance OF public
buildings. the coast guard the Sc
cret service and other functions that
bear no more relation TO the depart
ments major purpose than Hmbur-
ger does 20 the green cheese I'm the
moon-pcrhaps not as much Sec'y
OF the Treasury MaIlon is a fiscal
specialist Of the highest type but not
even his most ardent friend would
accuse him Of having any special
knowledge on the treatment -
typhoid or the fine points OF archi-
lecture.
Aside from the 10 departments Of
\ government there are some % in
dependent governmental establish
mc1-q. commissions, and tho like.
that have been created from time 10
time These may appropriately 10
called governmental comets, as thcv
belong 20 no fixed constellation. AL
or them. however. come around reg
ul2rly nc appropriation time. BY re-
grouping these on the principle OF
major purpose IL II hoped 10 secure
| consistency and concentration.
The opportunities for saving that
are afforded by a logical reOrCaniza-
1 ton Of the government. such as Is
i contemplated, arc almost beyond
.elief. The number OF govern
Mental agencies that arc overlapping
each other. all sappinE the federal
treasury. can best be realized bv
studying a chart that hangs on the
wall in Mr.. Browns office. The chart
has been worked out with great care
and shows the Implications ruuuinr
through the departments and bu-
reaus. For example. there are 10
separate offices for the promotion Of
trade, each operating on its own
hook and with its own overhead.
There are Il different offices that
have charge OF criminal investiEa-
ton each with It's own force and ex-
pense account. II postoffce in
spector should arrest a man for pass
ing a counterfeit bill he would be
told by the treasury officials 90 mind
his own business. as Il Is the prerog-
alive OF the treasury department 10
apprehend counterfeiters. The men
attached 20 the II bureaus OF Grim
inal Investigations spend a great deal
OF their time Ike undertakers-that