Evening star., 1924-11-28

Concentration Of the activities Of
the Department of Commerce in three
groups, each under an assistant secre-
tary, to include the broad fields OF
industry, trade and navigation, Is
recommended In the annual report OF
Secretary Of Commerce Hoover, made
public today. Legislation for the
control and development Of radio and
aircraft, and for q revision OF the
navigation laws was also recommend
ed by Mr.. Hoover.
Immediate consideration should be
given the need Of the department for
Government-owned building" Mr..
Hoover declared, pointing to the fact
that the department Is now entering
the first year OF final fve-year
lease at an annual rental OF $66,500.
Tho lessons, he said, have declined
to grant a renewal beyond this limit
at the present rate.
Asks Large Building.
'Tn order that the department may
be taken mediately for the erection
Of a building of sufficient size to
house its various bureaus and divi-
sions, with due allowance for future
growth" he added, saying that the
work of the department is now car
ried on in six different buildings,
widely scattered, and some Of them
insanitary and dangerous to public
records. "This scattering OF the serv-
ices can only tend to impair the eff
cheney Of the department and retard
its work, but SO long as the depart
ment Is housed in rented quarters,
inadequate to its needs, still further
overflow from the main building Will
be necessary"
Regarding radio, Mr.. Hoover said
development Of the art Is proceeding
with such rapidity both on the sci
entif1c and industrial sides that each
year sees a profound shift in Its
activities. Any legislation should be
most carefully framed SO as to allow
complete fexibility in development
and full application Of all scientific
and industrial advancement, he de-
clared.
Defines 1924 Progress.
Mr.. Hoover's report defined the
economic progress of the country for
the past year, setting out as out
standing features the advance Of
agriculture prices. which had Jagged
behind industry since the slump Of
1922, the beginning Of sound" poll
cies in German reparations leading to
d
covery in Europe and the complete
recovery" of the nations own indus
try and commerce, aside from agri-
culture.
The past year, the Secretary re-
ported, has seen great stability Of
prices, high production, full employ
ment, expanding foreign trade and
prosperity throughout the business
world. There were some moderate
decreases IN activity of some lines
during the latter part Of the fiscal
year, he added, but since its close
there has again been general re-
covery In these lines.
Concerning the reorganization OF
the department. Mr.. Hoover said:
THE investigations Of the joint con-
gressional committee on reorganization
resulted in the inclusion in that COM
mittees plan of many OF the suggestions
presented by me looking to a reorgani-
cation of the Department of Commerce,
which should enable it to function more
effectively and economically. The de-
partment was created to foster, pro-
mote and develop the domestic and for
eign commerce, mining. manufacture.
shipping and fishing Industries and the
transportation facilities Excluding all
OF the semi-judicial functions in the
Government respecting these matters,
and excluding the Shipping Board, there
are still large number Of functions Of
the kind set forth in the organic act
which are administered outside the de-
partment. They lie in seven different
departments and Independent agencies
of such widely divergent major pur-
poses as the War and Navy. There is
inevitable overlap. duplication and lack
Of concentration Of purpose. In the in
terest Of economy, efficiency Of admin
istration and better service to the pub
lie, all Of the functions of the Govern
ment of the character enumerated in
the organic act should be at once con-
centrated in three different groups: Gay
Industry, (b) trade and (c) navigation.
Each should be under an assistant Sec
retary."
Discusses Aviation.
Discussing aviation and radio, he
said:
I'm recent years the commercial use
Of air travel has increased to a con-
siderable extent, though there is reason
to fear that in this respect the United
States is not keeping pace with some
foreign countries. This method of trans
portation means much to our economic
and social progress. and every encour-
agement, legislative and otherwise,
should be given to its development. At
the same time, there should be created
a proper system for its regulation, hav-
ing in view. primarily, the safety Of life
both Of passengers and operators.
The past fiscal year, the Secretary
stated, marked the first occasion
since long before the war when the
railroad facilities Of the country were
completely equal to the Nations de-