Evening star., 1925-05-22
Member of the Associated Press.
Our Extravagant Administration.

Uur 64traVaGant ADMINISTRATION.
Addressing representatives OF Ameri-
can business. Secretary Hoover Of the
administrative system Of the United
States, sometimes referred to as the
greatest business in the world. as a
swamp OF bad organization" Be-
cause Of bad organization" he says,
the Government is costing the people
millions OF dollars in waste and ex-
travagance.
Mr.. Hoover's criticism Of the admin.
istrative system Of the Federal Gov.
ernment is sound. The overlapping
increased overhead expenditures are
enormous. But the Federal admins
trative system is a development Of
many years. New departments, new
bureaus, new commissions have been
set up to meet the needs Of govern
ment rs they arose. The Federal Gov.
ernment Is today dipping into affairs
in a manner never dreamed Of in the
early days Of the republic. Partly
these activities of the Government are
due to abuses by private business.
They have been established by the
legislative branch Of the Government
in order to get fair play. Others have
been set up through the efforts Of so
called "reformers." However they
came about, these agencies Of govern
rnent are here. They are the peoples
business. since the people have to pay
for them. They should be made as ef-
fcient and as economical as possible.
One Of the easiest and most often
repeated assertions is that the Govern
ment can do nothing efficiently. Eff.
ficiency exists only in relative degree,
and the critics Of Government ef-
flctency have in the back Of their
heads greater efficiency by private
business. The management of private
business has the advantage arising
from the need and desire to save and
spend It's own money economically and
to the best advantage. The same in
centive for economy and efficiency
does not exist IN a Government
agency.
There is much to be said, however,
for an administrative service that acts
honestly and builds solidly. The GOV
ernment Of the United States has TO
its credit great achievements; 1t has
in its service many honest and efficient
officers and employees. The criticism
should lodge against the structure Of
the system rather than against the
Government, and It Is to the structure
that Mr.. Hoover has directed atten.
ton.
Congress Is responsible for the struc-
ture Of the governmental system, and
1t is the part Of Congress to correct
mistakes in structure. For months a
commission composed Of members of
. both houses Of Congress, and headed
by a represen tative Of the Chief Execu.
tive, struggled over a plan Of re-
organization Of the executive depart.
ments and Independent bureaus. A
bill was prepared and was introduced
in the last Congress. 1t will be intro
duced again, and Republican and
Democratic leaders have given asyur.
ance that 1t will be considered.
The great difficulty is to get Con.
gress to cut deep enough to perform
a comparatively perfect operation.
Jobs and politics ara the stumbling
blocks. Departmental jealousies and
strife help to make the task of Con.
gress harder. No Government agency
likes to have its wings clipped, to be
made subordinate to another, to have
its personnel curtailed or its funds
reduced.
The period Of heavy taxation
through which the country is now
passing. however. puts a strong lever
in the hands Of those who are urging
reform Of the administrative system
OF government. A reorganization of
the Government departments and bu.
reaus and commissions, with an ap-
preciable saving of money and increas sc
in efficiency, would be immensely
popular.
The voice Of Secretary Hoover,
raised In demand for more economical
and efficient structure Of the admins.
trative system, is the voice of the ad.
ministration. He has made again, and
in different form, the demand Of the
President for greater economy in gov
ernment.