Evening star., 1922-11-14
REORGAN|z|NGPLA
FAC|NGAREv|S|ON
Representative Moore Pre-
diets Extensive Hearings in
1923 on Brown Scheme.
ECONOMY WATCHW0RD
Opposition Expected to Develop Be.
cause of Naming of Outsider
as Committee Head.

Prediction that the tentative re-
grouping of the administrative offices
of the federal government prepared
by Chairman Walter F. Brown of the
joint congressional committee for
President Harding will undergo thor
ough revision and proposal that the
committee hold extensive hearings
during next spring and summer SO as
to have recommendations ready for
the new Congress in December. 1923.
is made by Representative r. Walton
Moore of Virginia. democratic men,
ber of the committee.
"Is 1t for Economy!-
Emphasizing that he speaks only
for himself and not for any other
member of the committee. Represent
ative Moore points out that some OF
the proposed consultations, such as
the joining of the War and Navy de-
partments into one great departme mt
of defense and the establishment of
. new department of education and
welfare. are fundamental. In decid-
ing such proposals Mr.. Moore believes
the committee will always ask, is it
for economy? Does it promise eff
ciency?"
There are indications that the joint
committee has no intention of swal-
lowing Chairman Browns program
as a whole and promptly reporting it
to Congress. In this connection. it
Is pointed out, as several times
stated in the House and Senate. that
Mr.. Brown, the personal representa-
tive of the President. although not a
member of Congress. was made chair
man of the congressional committee
by a divided vote. Senator Harrison
of Mississippi and Representative
Moore opposed it on the ground that
there was no justification for electing
an outsider chairman Of congress
sional committee. Representative
Moore. in explaining this. said: we
thought that. as contemplated by the
resolution under which Mr.. Brown
was designated, he should not be put
at the head of the committee. but
should work actively in cooperation
with the committee.
Says He Worked Alone.
In discussing the reorganization
plan and program Representative
Moore said:
IT have read The Star report of the
plan of departmental reorganization
formulated by Mr.. Brown. and which
it is stated has the Presidents ap-
proval.
THE committee has thus far been
elected in the spring of 1921, has
thought best to do his work inde-
pendently of the committee itself.
which has never been called together
except for two or three very general
conferences with the President, and
on one occasion in June of last year.
1T would not be proper for me TO
express an advance opinion on any
know enough of the views of several
of my colleagues to feel warranted
in saying that the committee will not
pass on any of the recommendations
without such hearings as will develop
all Of the material facts. Some of the
recommendations are of fundamental
Importance, as, for example, the con-
solidation of the War and Navy de-
partments, the creation of a new de-
partment of education and public
health. and aid to dependents and de-
linquents. and the curtaflment OF The
jurisdiction of the Department of
Agriculture by transferring the for
eSIfy ScENlCc " the interior Depart
ment, and otherwise.
VIII Hear Other Views.
with reference to these and other
very important matters. it is certain
that at every step of the committee's e
inquiry the question will be whether
the change suggested will make for
economy and efficiency. and it is to be
assumed that in answering that ques-
ton the committee will expect to have
the benefit of the views Of members
Of the cabinet and Of others who NAV
wish to be heard. 1t is. of course not
conceivable that the committee would
perfunctorily accept any plan and turn
it over to the Congress with the ex.
pectation Of its. being finally adopted
No plan Is going to be even seriously
considered BY Congress unless II rem.
resents the deliberate conclusions Of
the committee. based upon all the sub
stantial data that are available.
May Go Over to New Co.gress.
"It is not probable the subject can
be disposed Of in the short time before
the present Congress expires. The
plan has not yet reached the commit
tee. which does not know when it will
be asked to 60 to work on it. and no
one can forecast what time will be re-
quired for the hearings.
1t is altogether likely, inasmuch as
the Sixty-seventh Congress is to be
in session only a little more than
three months, and very busy with the
appropriation bills and pending legis-
lation, that Mr.. Browns plan and
ffontfnuod an Do~N Nnlunn,. .