Evening star., 1925-02-01

injected by the proposal TO Federal
re public education-and party
leaders are not anxious that il
should break loose on the floor of
Congress
Chairman Mapes Of the House
membership on the joint committee
Is pinnlng his strongest hopes OF
some partial adoption of the joint
committee recommendations upon the
very last section of the bill which
allows the executive officers to re-
organize their respective departments
from within so as to reduce over
tapping and duplicating activities to
q minimum
This section reads:
The head of each executive de-
partment is hereby given power and
authority to make. subject to the ap-
proval of the President, such changes
IN the organization of the bureaus,
"f1ces and other branches of the
public service included In his depart
ment as lie may deem essential to
economical and effective administra-
tion; and he is hereby authorized and
empowered to reorganize or con-
solidate, with the approval Of the
President, any Of the bureaus. Offices
or other branches of the public
service under his jurisdiction, and to
set up such division. Offices and dis
trtcts as may he best adapted to ac-
compliSh the purposes for which the
department was established: Provided.
That the head OF each department
shall specially report 10 Congress at
The beginning of each regular session
any action taken under the provisions
~ this section, with the reasons
therefor"
Wood Bill Seen Hope.
The real hope for constructive leg
islation that will effect a great
economy, which members of Congress
Tor years have been planning to put
through some time because they
realize its merit, is passage of the
wood bill to authorize the Consolida-
lion and coordination of Govern
fnent purchases and to enlarge the
functions Of the general supply com
mittee.
This measure has been under con-
sfderation for at least four years. and
40 serious opposition has ever been
heard, because throughout the entire
service II is well known that such a
reform Is needed. It would have
been passed before now if action had
not been delayed by the joint com
Initteo on reorganization adopting II
rs one Of their major recommenda-
lions.
Special Rule Promised.
The House judiciary favorably re-
ported this measure to the House
April %, 1924, and. what is most i'm
Dortant just now, Representative
VIII L. Wood Of Indiana, author OF
his measure, who is q member OF
he House appropriations committee
and thoroughly familiar with pur-
special rule to call up his bill at this
session following the big appropria-
ttou bill
This measure, therefore, IS one in
the interest of efficient and economi-
cal administration of the Govern
fneRt's activities.
The joint committee on reorganiza-
1ion recommended the creation OF
- centralized purchasing agency for
the Government. to be known as the
bureau of purchase and supply" II
explaining the need for such a change
the joint committee called attention
that the executive departments and
District of Columbia annually pur-
chase materials and supplies to the
value of many millions of dollars
The general supply committee, an in.
erdepartmental committee function
ing under the supervision of the Sec
retaTN OF the treasury. acts as a
central contracting agency for the
Government in the case of supplies
n common use by two or more
branches Of the service. 1t contracts
are usually made for a year for in.
definite quantities, and for deliveries
Is may he called for by the various
department. The prices fixed are pub
Iishtd in general schedule, and the
departments do the rest; that is, they
order the supplies as needed, take
delivery. make necessary inspections
and pay the bills.
Departments Get LeeIyay.
In 8 sense. this is centralized pur-
chasing, so far as common supplies
IRE concerned. But each department
makes its own purchases in lots large
or small as may suit its needs and a<
frequently as il chooses.
In the judgment of the committee
better prices would be bound to OBJ,
tain under an arrangement whereby
he supply requirements of all do
partmcntS and establishments in the
District of Columbia were actually
consolidated and handled by a single
purchasing organization. 1t accord
ingly proposes the creation of &
bureau Of purchase and supply. with
ulies commonly needed by the de-
partments. Since such a bureau would
serve all the departments alike, II l:
recommended that it be made an inde
nendsns establishment directly undel