Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-11
HOOVER WANTS
REORGANIZATION OF
HIS Department

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Washington. Dec. 10-Reorganiza-
ton of the government agencies deal
ing with commerce, mining. manufac-
turing. shipping, fisheries md trans
poration facilities into three groups,
each under an assistant secretary,
was recommended by Secretary
Hoover today in his annual report
to Congress.
Whether these groups, which would
concern themselves respectively with
industry, trade and navigation. should
be brought into the Commerce De-
partment, he declared was secondary
to the necessity for the grouping it.
self in order to obtain concentration
of purpose to eliminate overlapping.
A direct saving of upwards Of $1,000
900 a year in administration would be
possible under the plan, he estimated,
while many times that amount given
TO the public in increased values and
services.
Administration Of these functions
at present, Mr.. Hoover explained,
now is divided among seven different
departments of widely different major
purposes. with the result that there
is inevitable overlap, duplication
and lack of purpose
The Secretary's report, except for
an appendix containing recital Of
the work of the various departmental
bureaus during the past fiscal year,
consisted of discussion of important
domestic problems facing the country,
with suggestions for solutions and
fourteen specific recommendations
for new legislation directly affecting
his department. Besides the plan of
regrouping of government activities
his recommendations were:
Establishment of foreign trade
zones in the ports of the United
States as substitute for the pres
ent system of bonded warehouses, to
be undertaken as a contribution to
the American merchant marine in
increasing the volume of trade car
ried in American ships.
Radical reduction of the fees now
charged for passports and vises and
revision Of the formalities required
of travellers, because Of retaliatory
measures abroad which now handicap
American merchants and travelling
statesmen.
Adequate definition of the liability
of ocean cargo carriers for loss or
damage to goods as q remedy for
much needless and time wasting liti-
cation.
Codification and revision Of the
navigation laws. including. simplifica-
ton Of the administration of the
supervisory work Of the government
agencies in charge of shipping.
Enactment of q lode-lne law sim
liar to the laws of the maritime
powers OF Europe.
Modification Of the present double
inspection system Of ocean cargo
steamers.
Exemption from federal taxes OF
America resident abroad who arc
engaged in the expansion Of Amer
lean commerce. Americans SO en-
gagged, he argued, are placed at a
great disadvantage in competition
with other nationals, as the United
States is the only important nation
which so imposes her, domestic tax
alton.
Enactment of legislation now be
fore Congress for the regulation of
safety requirements in commercial
aviation.
Extension Of the regulatory powers
of the Commerce Department for
control of radio
Legislation for the betternaent of
the lighthouse service, including the
construction Of a lighthouse and fog
signal at Cape Spencer, Alaska, and
the construction or Improvement of
lighthouse dcpots and installation OF
radio fog signals at Newport, r. T.,
and Boston. Mass, and Of aids of
navigation at Huntington, Mich, Gal
weston. Tex, Sandusky, Ohio, and
Iairport, Ohio.
a new code to give the Commerce
Department complete jurisdiction
over the fisheries in Alaska to enable
conservation of the salmon industry.
Laws to prevent the pollution of
coastal waters by fuel Oil from ships
and the many petroleum derivatives
used in industry.
Increased salaries for experts and
specialists in the Commerce Depart
ment.
Mr.. Hoover reported among other
things that investigation by his
department had disclosed that the
country's domestic sources Of oil
could last only q generation, and
that foreign nations were rapidly
prompting the available foreign oil
bearing territory. He added, how
ever, that through the voluntary
measures taken by the oil industry
10 expand its holdings abroad. there
is measurable assurance of future
supplies under American control.
As TO the general business situa-
ton, the Commerce Secretary de-
clared the outlook was $50 improved
over year ago as to be incom
parable despite the inequalities still
existing in the price levels between
various commodities and between
wage earners and farmers.
"Some relief" he said. "could be
given to the farmer by readjustment
Of railway rates in such a fashion
as to impose larger burdens upon
high priced commodities and lower
rates on primary produce. A greater
relief would be given if he were pro
vided with adequate transportation.
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