Evening star., 1923-10-30
URGE Department
OF: PUBLIC WORKS
Engineers Advise President
to Consolidate Profession
in U. S. Employ.

President Coolidge was told today
by committee speaking for the
American Society of Civil Engineers
that in organizing the executive de-
partments of the government every
effort should be made, to include the
general plan provision for the creation
of a department of public works.
While favorable to the proposed re-
organization plan the society, Whlch
has a membership throughout the
country of more than 1000, contends
that the government would pront IN
efficiency and economy If both mill
tary and non military engineering
activities should be assembled under
one department.
Praise Reorganization.
The committee left with the Rresi-
dent a statement setting forth the
society's reasons for creating TINS
new department and also containing
resolutions adopted recently COM
mending President Harding and Pres
ident Coolidge and the members of
the cabinet for their efforts to reor-
ganize the executive departments' ~
The delegation was headed by
Charles f. Loweth, chief engineer of
the Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul
railroad. With him We're: wizard
T. Chevalier, business manager OF
Engineering News Record; Arthur H.
Markham, vice president and chief
engineer. Pacific Gas and Electric
Company: Leonard Metcalf, consult
ing engineer. and Charles H. Paul.
chief engineer, Miami conservancy
district.
The President was informed that
for many years the engineers have
been keenly interested in the field
of public works and that as re-
suit of the conditions developed dur
ing the war period an intensive study
of governmental methods OF admin
istering public works was made.
Ask Move at Once.
In event it is not possible to get
a general reorganization bill at the
coming session, the President was
told that an effort should be made
to at least get enacted separate bill
creating department of public
works.
President Coolidge was invited to-
day by DR.. Giles B. Cook, superin-
tendent of the Lawrenceville, Va, In
dustrial School, to attend the COM
mencement exercises to be held at
that institution next spring. The
President said he would take the
matter under advisement. DIR. COOK
during his chat with the Executive
informed him that he is the sole sur
viving member of the staff OF Gen.
r. E. Lee. He is eighty-five years
of age and was a major and lnspec-
tor general on Lees staff.
Senator Borah of Idaho was with
the President for short time and
announced later that he would make
public a statement at the Capitol
later in the day.
Brown to Explain Plan.
President Coolidge had the reor-
ganiZation matter before his cabinet
meeting today, and it was announced
afterward the cabinet has completed
it's preliminary consideration of the
plan of Walter F. Brown, chairman of
the joint congressional committee on
reorganiZat
A number of features of the Brown
plan We're selected at today's session
to be put up to Mr.. Brown for fur
ther explanation. 1t was indicated
at the White House that Mr.. Brown
will appear before the cabinet, prob
ably next Tuesday, when he will en-
deavor to enlighten the President and
the cabinet further regarding these fea-
lures.