The New York herald., 1922-12-11
HOOVER WOULD CUT
BUREAU CONFUSION
Proposes 100000 Saving
by Uniting Seven Groups
Into Three.
ASKS NEW LEGISLATION
Report to Congress Urges
Fourteen Projects for
Trade Reform.
ASKS NEW LEGISLATION

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.-Reorganiza-
tion" of the government agencies dealing
with commerce. mining. manufacturing.
shipping. fisheries and transportation
facilities into three groups. each under
an assistant secretary. was recon-
mended by Secretary Hoover to-day in
his annual report to Congress.
A saving of s1.ooooOo year in ad-
ministration would be possible under
the plan. he estimated.
Administration OF these functions now.
Mr.. Hoover explained. is divided among
seven different departments and there
is Inevitable Overlap. duplication and
lack of purpose"
The Secretary's report contained four
teen recommendations for new legisla-
tion 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 a
substitute for the present system of
bonded warehouses. to be undertaken as
contribution to the American merchant
marine in increasing the volume Of
trade carried in American ships.
Would Cut Passport Fees.
Radical reduction of the fees now
charged for passports and vises and re-
vision of the formalities required of
travellers, because Of retaliatory meas
ures abroad which now handicap Ameri-
can merchants and travelling statesmen
Adequate definition of the liability of
ocean cargo carriers for loss or damage
to goods as a remedy for much needless
and time wasting litigation.
Codification and revision Of the navi-
cation laws. including simplification of
the administration of the supervisory
work of the Government agencies in
charge of shipping.
Enactment Of a lodeline law similar
to the laws of the maritime Powers Of
Europe.
Modification Of the present double in
spection system Of ocean cargo steam
ers.
Exemption from Federal taxes of
Americans resident abroad who are en-
gagged in the expansion of American
commerce. Americans so engaged. he
argued, are placed at a great disad-
vantage in competition with other ma
tionals. as the United States is the only
important nation which so imposes her
domestic taxation.
Enactment of legislation now before
Congress for the regulation of safety
requirements in commercial aviation.
Extension Of the regulatory powers
of the Commerce. Department for con-
troll of radio.
Legislation for the betterment of the
lighthouse service, including the con-
struction of lighthouse and fog sig
nal at Cape Spencer. Alaska. and the
- ft.wt.t
house depots and installation Of radio
fog signals at Newport. r. l., and Bos-
ton. Mass. and OF aids of navigation
at Ludington. Mich; Galveston. Texas;
Sandusky, Ohio. and Fairport. Ohio.
A new code to give the Commerce
Department complete jurisdiction over
the fisheries in Alaska to enable con-
servation 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
ment.s
Mr.. Hoover reported that investiga-
ton had disclosed that the country's
domestic sources of oil could last only
a generation and that foreign nations
were rapidly preempting the available
foreign oil bearing territory. but that
through measures taken by the oil In
dustry to expand its holdings abroad
there Is assurance of future supplies
under American control.
Mr.. Hoover said the business outlook
was $50 improved over a year ago as
to be Incompatible" despite inequali-
ties in price levels between various COM
modities and between wage earners and
farmers: