The Washington herald., 1922-04-06
Reorga ganiza ton Work
Goes on Over Head of
Secretary.
CHANGES ALREADY
TOTAL NEARLY 400
Presidents Friend Works
Scheme Independent
Of Mr.. Mellon.
By ROBERT ]. BENDER.

By ROBERT ]. BENDER.
The Treasury Department Is now
giving all the advance indications
of a grand old-fashioned political
blow-off.
Assistant Secretary Of the Treas
ury Elmer Dover. personal friend
of President Harding. is going
ahead with reorganization plans af-
fecting approximately 10000 em-
ployes in the income tax inter-
nal revenue and customs divisions.
over which he has charge. He has
indicated that his reorganization
would involve something like 1900
changes in personnel.
Dover. according to reports, is
being opposed In some of his plans,
by Internal Revenue Commissioner
Blair. with The result that BIair's
resignation has been rumored as
being imminent for some days.
Works With President.
Dover has been working directly
with President Harding and has
been quite frank In his discussion
Of the forthcoming changes.
Now Secretary of the Treasury
Mellon, who is at the head of the
whole business. but who thus far
has kept his hands, and his voice
out of the hubbub. has spoken.
Discussing Mr.. Dover's reorgani-
zation plans.r without mentioning
any names, of course, Secretary
Mellon IN an official statement
said:
These reports do not emanate
from any official source and are
absolutely without foundation. No
SNtrh
been at any time contemplated"
Expects Loyal support.
And then. as IL to strengthen the
position of Commissioner Blair in
the matter. Mr.. Mellon added:
1T is my desire, however. that
the efficiency of the bureau should
be maintained at the highest pos
sible standard. and with that end
in view I shall expect every en-
ploye of the bureau to give the
commissioner Blair) Sand his de-
puttes their foyal support and
complete cooperation"
Mellon has never been much of
a politician. Both he and Blair
have won considerable caustic
comment from Republican leaders
in Congress who bemoan the fact
that the Treasury Department has
not developed to the fullest possi-
bilities the well known political
pie counter"
Elmer Dover. however, knows all
about politics, and his entrance
into the Treasury Department as
Assistant Secretary over the heavy
personnel of the Internal Revenue,
Customs and Prohibition bureaus
was hailed with delight on the
Hill.
400 Changes Already.
He already has made nearly 400
changes in the customs division,
and 800 in the Internal Revenue,
and has indicated more coming.
Much of his reorganization work.
it develops. he has not talked over
with Secretary Mellon because it
was matter of routine about
which it was not necessary to
worry the Secretary. He has talked
1t over with President Harding
and the President has already made
ii clear that matters which have
been in conflict between Blair and
Dover would come to him for final
Judgment. Now Secretary Mellon
seems to be in it, too
Dover or Mellon.
Political quarters arc buzzing
more and more. Some leaders be-
lieve that eventually President
Harding would have to make a
choice between Dover and Mellon.
Meantime. the Senate Civil Sery-
ice Committee will decide whether
to recommend the investigation of
Harding's summary dismissal of
twenty-eight Engraving Bureau
employees. and the administration
of the Civil Service. Two resolu-
tions of Senator Caraway, Demo-
crat of Arkansas. providing for
these probes have been referred to
the committee where administra-
tion leaders probably will smother
them. The Senate declined to act
on the resolutions yesterday as
well as on a resolution of Senator
Harrison, Democrat. of Mississippi.
asking for a list of Harding's dis
missals of Civil Service employees,
with the reasons assigned.