Evening star., 1923-08-05
BY WILL II. KENNEDY.
\ RESIDENT HARDING's break


tributed to the severe physical
strain of his 15,000-mile trip
with more than score of set
speeches, again brings up the pro-
posal which is recurrently heard that
some agency should be set up either
in the form of an assistant president
or bureau of general administra-
ton which would relieve the chief
executive from all routine business
of course, there are those who con-
tend that it is long tours. during
which the President must always be
on exhibition, showing himself day
or night to the curious throngs at
practically every railroad station.
that wears down his physical vitality
Let him stay in the White House
where he belong, instead of travelling
all over the country" these captious
critics say.
But President Harding. as did
President Wilson before him, and
President Taft and President Roose-
Welt, realized that it is quite natural
for the people everywhere throughout
the country to want to see and hear
their President. and they have each
in turn made long trips through the
country because they felt that by
personally addressing the people they
could carry their messages more con-
rlncingly and win stauncher support
for the administration policies
Need lis Assistants.
1t is quite evident to those who
have an opportunity to observe the
quadrenniai change of administration
that the wheels of government ma
chinory must keep moving just the
same while executives come and go.
With provision made for some sort
of general business manager. or
office of management. the business OF
government could continue just as
efficiently, leaving the President free
to deal with matters of major policy
and to meet people of the country
when they visit the White House or
when he thinks it eXpedient to go
before them in their home communi-
ties. With the President thus freed
from all routine work he could make
more frequent. shorter and less
physically hazardous trips to keep
in touch with the sovereign people.
This proposal for executive man
agement that will relieve the Presi-
dent from the growing volume of
work in the White House which al
ready would tax the strongest ply
sique. is before the joint congress
Sional committee on reorganization.
The Institute for Government Re
search. organized in 1915. which is an
association of citizens for co-operat-
ing with public officials in the sci
entiflc study of government with
view to promoting efficiency and
economy in it's operations and ad-
vancing the science of administration,
supports this recommendation. This
institute aims to bring into existence
such information and materials as
will aid in the formation of public
opinion and will assist officials. par
ticularly those of the national gov
ernment in their efforts to put the
public administration upon more
efficient basis.
Bureau of Administration.
In its recomme ndations on the re-
organization of the national govern
ment first made in March. 1921, when
the present budget system was still
in the Legislative mill, a bureau of
general administration in the execu-
tive office was urged. This report
advised that provision be made for
such subordinate service which
would absorb the existing iRdepend-
ent establishment, the bureau of eff
cheney.
1T is difficult to exaggerate the
Importance of having this action
taken if the administrative branch of
upon a really efficient basis" the re-
port of the institute says. In a way
the funda mental end sought by both
the movement for putting the admin
istration of the financial affairs of
the government upon a scientific bud
getary basis. and for reorganizing
the administrative services of the
government so as to make the system
Of organization one conforming to the
correct principles of an integrated
system, is that of making it possible
for the President efficiently to per-
form his duties as head of. the ad-
ministration.
The theory underlying both of
these reforms is, in a word, that the
President shall become. in effect, the
general manager of the government
corpora tion. AS such his relations
and responsibilities to the several de-
partments will be analogous to those
of the heads of departments to the
subordinate services comprehended
by such departments. The obligation
will thus rest upon him of keeping
himself informed in respect to organi-
zatioa, activities and needs of these
several departments of taking tne
action necessary to insure that all