Evening star., 1923-08-21
MOD|F|EDBROWN
i PLAN IS PROPOSED
Hill Tells Coolidge Congress
II Opposes New Welfare
II Department.


practical lines than is proposed in the
plan of Walter F. Brown, chairman Of
the joint congressional committee on
reorganization, was suggested to
President Coolidge today by Repre-
sentative John Philip Hill of Balti-
more. Representative Hill informed
the President that the sentiment
among members of Congress convlnc-
es him that the Brown plan, although
III had the approval Of the late Presi-
dent Harding, has very little chance
of being enacted into law in its pres
ent shape. He said that he doubted
very much if the plan in bill form
will even get out on the floor of Con-
gress
Tells Views I'm Congress.
While most members of Congress
agree that there is ample need for
reorganiZing the departments. so as
TO reduce or entirely eliminate the
overlapping of authority and the du-
plication of effort, and to increase ef-
ftciency, they do not think the Brown
plan will satisfactorily answer this
purpose, according to Mr.. Hills opin-
ion.
He admitted that there are some eS
cellent ideas advanced in this plan
and that these should be embodied in
ii new plan that should be drawn up
for early consideration by the next
Congress.
The creation of another department.
the Department of Welfare. Repre-
sentative Hill contends. will meet
with the general disapproval of many
members of Congress. There are too
many departments and independent
agencies of the federal government
in existence now Mr.. Hill explained.
Finds Too Many Agencies.
"The tendency of Congress in recent
years has been to create too many in
dependent bureaus which operate in a
most impractical and irresponsible
manner and should be made a part of
some department of the government
and should be under the direct con-
troll of some cabinet officer" Mr.. Hill
said.
Mr.. Hill enumerated a number of
other features of the Brown plan
which should be either eliminated or
included. according to their individual
merit, in the new plans he would
have drawn up to meet the approval
of President Coolidge.
Representative Hill is especially
anxious to have this new reorganiza-
tion plan provide an assistant to the
president. The death of President
i1dFuiHSp he SdlO, mas revived the
consideration of relieving the Presi-
dent from some of the enormously in
creased executive duties which have
been thrust upon the Office with the
gradual growth of the power of the
Executive. There have been a num-
Der of suggestions for new legisla-
tion on this subject.
Slemp to Ease Burden.
It is characteristic of President
Coolidge that without the addition
of a new law he has quietly and eff
fectively solved this question for the
time being by the appointment as his
secretary of Bascom Slemp, former
member of Congress, whose accept
ance of thfs position. raises 1t to
cabinet dignity and Importance, in
the opinion of many.
THE cabinet as collective ad-
Visory body is not provided for by
the Constitution, nor is such a thing
as a cabinet recognized by any law of
the United States. Under existing law
the President may, therefore, ask his
TO sit with the cabinet, just as he
himself was invited by President
Harding to sit with the cabinet.
The secretary to the President may
thus become equal In rank with
member of the cabinet. 1t Is no new
thing in American government to
have a member of the cabinet who
is not the head of one of the con-
stitutional executive departments.
From the days of President Washing
ton the Attorney General was always
considered a member of the cabinet,
sitting as an advisory council and
always attended cabinet meetings.
although the Attorney General did
not become the head of an executive
department until 1870. when, under
President Grant, the Department of
Justice was for the first time created
as an equal to the original executive
departments.
Gives Railroad Views.
The selection of former Repre-
President is looked upon by Repre-
sentative Hill as a splendid one. He
considers Mr.. Slemp a man of great
ability and will be extremely helpful
because of his long and extraordinary
experience in Congress and in politics.
Among other matters brought to
the attention of the President by Mr..
Hill during his conference today was
that of the proposal to consolidate
railroads, which the latter said is
opposed by the citizens Of Baltimore
and Maryland unless this consolida-
tion is made permissive rather than
compulsory. He told the President
that the matter is of great impor-
tance to the state. He declared also
is among the most important ones in
the country today and that, in his
opinion, 1t will be one of the most
important matters to confront Con-
gress at its next session.
President Coolidge did not hold his
usual Tuesday cabinet meeting today.
He explained several days ago that
there were no great matters of mo-
ment to necessitate such gathering
and that he would postpone again
Ill next Friday. In the Interim he
wished to devote his attention to
routine matters and to the study Of
innuumerable departmental prob
lens and programs in order to more
thoroughly familiarize himself with
the details before discussing them
with his cabinet.
Invited by Veterans.
The Executive today was invited to
attend the annual convention of the
Veterans Of Foreign Wars, to open in
Norfolk, Va, next Monday. The for
NAL invitation was extended through
George B. Christian, secretary, by a
delegation from Norfolk. which call
ed at the White House today.
Those in the delegation were Col.
C. D. Davidson. H. K. walcott, Frank
Charles McDermott. The visitors
were informed by Mr.. Christian that
he doubted very much If the Presi-
dent will be able to accept. The Dis
trict of Columbia department of the
organization will be heavily repre-
sented at the Norfolk gathering.
Col R B. Creager of Brownsville,
Tex. who was an intimate friend Of
1nN oyIt <ov,