Evening star., 1921-08-17
GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION
URGED FOR NATIONAL ECONOMY
New York Budget Body Presents Plan for
Coordination of Work and Abol-
ishing of Unneeded Bureaus. .~xz..e $

A proposal fer government reorgani-
cation. "in the interest of national
economy" has been drawn up by the
national budget committee Of New
York. and is among those plans now
before the joint congressional COM
mittee on reorganization. John T.
Pratt Is chairman of the committee.
The budget committees proposal de-
clares that the primary defects of the
organization of the executive branch
of the government are: First, the in
clusion Of certain executive depart
ments of agencies and activities
which have little or no relation to
which the departments were estab-'
lished to perform; second, the location
in different departments of agencies
whose work lies in the same field, and
third, the absence Of definite direction
and control OF the executive branch
as a whole.
'"rhe problem of reorganization is
restricted to the elimination of these
defects" declares the study. strictly
speaking. it involves no change in the
fundamentals of the government
structure and contemplates neither a
ernmental functions or activities.
The need for reorganization. 1t is
stated. springs wholly out of the fact
that the executive departments. as
they exist today, 'are not in any sense
the product Of intelligent planning.
but the result of piecemeal building
by. successive Congresses practically
without plan."
Can Accomplish Three Things.
Reorganization legislation. 1t is
pointed out, can accomplish only
three things: First, the grouping to-
gether of services Of like character,
or whose work is analogous; second.
the restriction of the field Of each
department.. so far as practicable. to
a single class of closely related ac-
tivities: and third, the investment of
the chief executive with authority to
make such organization changes
within the respective departmental
Jurisdictions. as may be necessary in
the interest of economical admins
tration and improved service.
Upon the above basis. the follow
ing conclusions were reached. con-
cerning the departmental changes
which should be made to reach the
desired ends:
l. The Department of Interior
should be abolished. and a Depart
ment of Public Works established in
its place.
q "A department OIL ELuuCdtIOH anu
Health should be established.
3. Certain services should be placed
under the jurisdiction of the De-
partment of Commerce.
4. A bureau of insular and terri
torial administration should be Gre
ated in the Department of State. to
have Jurisdiction over the relations
and insular governments. The bu-
reau of insular affairs Of the Depart
ment of War should be abolished.
Should Create supply Bureau.
S. A bureau of supply should be
created as an Independent establish
ment, to have charge of the purchase
Of supplies for all executive depart
ments and Independent establish
ments in the District of Columbia
ury) should be abolished. and the
government fuel yards Unterior)
transferred to the bureau of supply.
6. The office of prohibition COM
missioner of the Department of the
Treasury, and he office of the alien
establishment. should be transferred
to the Department of Justice.
Z. The Office of controller of the
currency should be abolished and its
functions assumed by the Federal
Reserve Board.
o. 1hS DOalu Ol meoIdtioH anu
conciliation should be abolished and
its functions given to the Depart
ment Of Labor.
9. The Council of National De-
fense should be abolished.
10. The Botanic Garden, now under
congressional supervision, should be
placed in the Department of Agri-
culture.
IL. The solicitors Of the several
executive departments should be
transferred from the Department of
Justice to the departments to which
they are respectively attached.
The Department Of Public Works
would have Jurisdiction over the fol-
lowing services: From the Depart
ment of the Interior-General land
Office. geological survey. bureau Of
sion. recamation service. national
park service, division Of Capitol
buildings and grounds. Alaskan en-
cheering commission. From the De-
partment Of Agriculture-Bureau Of
public roads. fores service. From
the Treasury OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ing architects office: from the De-
tary parks. monuments and me-
MORALS. board of engineers for rivers
and harbors, board of engineers Of
New York city. office of supervisor
of the harbor Of New York, United
States engineer offices. Mississippi
river commission. California debris
commission, board Of road commits
buildings and grounds and Washing
on Monument Oher establishments,
now independent-Office of the super
intendent, State. War and Navy build
ing, Rock Creek and Potomac park
way commission. commission of fine