Evening star., 1924-01-22
HOOvERgNGESIS>
RE0RGAMzE
Mould Have Commission
Mith Power ito Druer
Transfers of Bureaus.

Settins UP a commission with eN-
ecutive authority tp make changes
would be the most effective means
Of ,reursauizing the, government de-
iuartmeuts, Secretary Hoover of 'tlre
Department of ,Commorce suggested
today to the congressional teommfttee
holding hearings on the subject.
A thoroughgoiug reorgan .zation of
the department is hnpeless by agree
merit, Secretary Hoover told the re-
organization committee. declaring
that one can hardly expect bureau
heads to deliberately wish themselves
or their bureaus reduced in ilnpor~
tance
At present there is lack of co-or-
dination, overlapping uf work und
unnecessary expenses. he said.
In answer to n direct question.
Seoretary Hoover said that in his
opinion the greatest relief could be
brought to tho president of the
UrrtGd States. in the matter Of light
entng l.is uftiuial burdens 'by the
enactment of some. such plan as this"
pointing to the chart of the preposed
rcorga MIA ton on which the hearings
are being held
Proposes astrcc Groups.
Tho Secretary proposed three
groupings for the Department uf
Commerce. one division containing
aids to industry. the second aids
TO trade. and the third aids to the
merchant marine He pointed out
that ships coming into ports in this
country at present must have rcla-
tions with fifteen different officials,
belonging to ten different depart
mentS.
photographic office of the Navy De
pHrtmelu and ui the Naval onServa
tory to the Department of Commerce.
putin .cf which changes were Nigur-
retary Of tile Navy and other naval
officials
i. Nj all times III his testimony today
Secretary Hoover said he tried to leo(;
at the proposed reorganization from
the large standpoinL of getting major
functions in one place. He took pains
10 point out. however. that ne did not
aEs-ce at all with theoretical group
inss OF services. such as all science
bureaus under one department.
NorlS of Coast Ganrd.
Secretary Hoover spoke against the
suggestion at the bearings last week
Ing service must be kept under the
Treasury department to help in pro-
hihitlon enforcement work. 'Tt would
be great misfortune If the life
saving service and the lighthouses
are plunged into, police du.ies," said
the Secre tary of Commerce
lie favored the grouping OF the bu-
reau Ut standards and the bureau pf
mines together in his departmen t, and
n In ~ NFng 4k,.- ~.
tivitieS under the interior Depart
fnent. saying that the construction
artiTftieS should be grouped together
AZ present there is much compe tition
ne explained. amenS the various con
Structlondl divisions. He RECON-
mended that government CONSTRUCTION
De held To minimum when there is
much private construction and push
ed TO the fore when there is uuem-
ployment, thus bcuefiting the public
and Ia Dor
Mr.. Hoover declared that. in his
opinion, tho War and Navy depart
ments should he yconfiued to their pri-
mary functions OF defense, and that
All functions that l,elate. to civilian
life should he taken out and put in
cIVilian departments.
scorer Torn aetfure.-
He scored the use of the term vel
fare and suggested the term de
partTnent of RduCation and health
hS Favored ine ptaCfnR of the bureau
or the budget directly under the
President.
Col. 4. Lester Jones. director of the
coast and geodetic survey. followed
SECRETARY Hoover upon the stand. and
occupied the closing balf hour OF The
session by dTa wing attention to some
mistakes made as he expressed il.
by Navy witnesses in regard to the
photographic office.
Col. Jones offered evidence to show
that the charge that mariners did
not like the coast and geodetic sur
Tey maps was erroneous. that charges
made that his survey did not have
close contact with mariners was not
true. and that charges of too s.uch
topography on the survey maps vas
based on map made fifty Years ago,
when topography was d function OF
The survey. He read letters of praise
5rum naval officers for the coast and
Esooetic survey maps. and explained
that the reason few notices to
1,lariners" had been printed On both
sides was because of a request from
the government printing office. in Or
der 70 help conserve paper.