New-York tribune., 1921-03-09
Cooperation Is
Theme of First
Cabinet Session
Harding Forecasts Changes
in Bureaus to Increase
Efficiency and Eliminate
Duplication Of Effort
Coolidge l1th Member
Situation on Rhine Closely
Scrusinixed: Announce
ment Of Policy Expected

WASHINGTON, March s.-Ten men,
some Of them strangers to each otner.
kept q rendezvous at the White Hsrse
10 day. and when they had made their
way through a battalion o. husy
camera mon President Harding's cab
met sat down at their first NEE ing
and plunged into the business of di-
recting the affairs OF the United States.
To be accurate, eleven men KEEP the
appointment, because Vice President
Coolidge was there and he was eny-
thing but the inconspicuous figure that
N'ce-Presidents normally are rated.
From President Harding it was learned
after the sitting that Mr. Coolidge was
+ besought 10 give an opinion on every
problem discussed. quite as thouga he
was the head OF department. Various
aspects Of the nations foreign rela-
tions, as we'll as problems of admins
trative organization. were considered
In the realm of domestic questions
chef attention was directed toward the
perfection Of the Cabinet organization
as q smoothly working machine. MIR.
Harding is understood to have nsaae
cooperation among the departments
The keynote Of his preliminary instrac-
tIons 10 his secretaries telling hem
he wanted no hesitation and no ical-
ousy about whatever changes Of juris-
diction might be decided on in the re-
organization scheme now being fornlu-
lated.
Overlapping To Be Eliminated
The reorganization Is intended 70
eliminate overlapping and waste All
Of The members OF the Cabin are
committed to this reorganization SO
there will be no justice in any com
plaints that may be made later about
loss OF this or that bureau
II has been known Tor some time
that President Harding has long cor
temp ated some radical changes in the
organization Of the departments. Her
bert Hoover, Secretary OF Commerce.
has some ideas on the subject that are
to be put INTO eject. One OF these
Will result in the shifting of some
functions of the State Department TO
control of the Commerce Departments
There are one or two suggestions be-
fore President Harding that provide
for the. creation of entirely new de-
partments.
The other big subject of discussion
a. the Cabinet meeting was in connec-
ton with the problems pc ling in the
relations Of the United States to Cen
tral America, principally the present
conflict between Panama and Costa
Rica
German Situation Considered
Although the question OF recalling
American troops from the Rhine was
not considered. il is known that the
situation now presented along the Ger
man border Is receiving the close scru-
tiny OF Mr.. Harding and his advisers.
1t generally is expected that some con-
crete expression of this governments
attitude may be forthcoming in the
near future.
When the army appropriation bill
Was under consideration just before in
auguration Republican leaders in Con
gress proceeded on the expectation
mat the American troops would be out
Of Europe before the first OF July The
Dill, with its curtaiied budget for the
army OF occupation. failed Of final en-
actHent. and must be taken up again
Al the special session
Also wrapped up in the Rhine situa-
ton IS the question of passing Con-
gresslonal resolution to declare state
OF peace with Germany, and it IS be-
lleved the Adm inistration will deter
fcont!nued or page thres)