Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-07-16

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partments of the federal government.
This change is one Of those recon-
mended in the program Of the joint congressional
committee 1t was made with the approval and
cooperation of Secretaries Work and Hoover of
The Interior and Commerce departments. And this
change was possible only because Of the fact that
the President had power to made it under author
ity lodged in him by the organic act creating
the Department of Commerce. This is the only
department to which such transfer can be made
by the President without action by congress. Sec
rotary Hoover would like to reciprocate by turning
over some functions to Secretary Work. but he
will have to wait until congress authorizes the
reorganization of the executive departments.
Secretary Hoover purposes to build up in his
department comprehensive division embracing
activities Of the federal governments scientific
and economic research IN aid of industry. Ex-
animation shows that the research work of the
Commerce department and the bureau of mines
overaps in gasoline and lubricating oils In porce-
lain manufacture; In fuel; in domestic distribu-
ton and foreign trade in mineral products; In
statistics of the production of minerals and ex-
plosives; In safety appliances, and on Secre-
tary Hoover who is a world-famous mining engi-
neer among other things purposes to overhaul
the bureau Of mines and Increase it's usefulness
to the mining industry.
So the transfer of the bureau Of mines may be
regarded an object lesson in what ought to be
done in tie reorganization of the executive depart
ments-and isn't. Secretary Work has just run
up against another Illuminating situation, this
time In Alaska.
compilation just completed by him shows that
a total OF $1O,467064 spent last year in the
federal administration of the territory Control of
this expenditure was apportioned among nine of
u ten executive departments, the Department of
State being the lonesome one Approximately 25
different bureaus expended the appropriations
made by congress for the 125 activities
NH
Aaska-more than one-tenth Of the white popula-
ton-are in the government employ
When Alexander Hamilton mapped out the
executive departments he grouped the different
functions devoted to the same general major pur-
pose under single responsibility. Ever since his
day. as the nation grew and the governments.
activities increased we have been busy undoing
his work by dividing responsibility through the
scattering of service with substantially the same
major purpose among the different executive de-
partments. New bureaus have been thrown wher-
ever it was most convenient where they would
be most kindly received
In this way bureaucracy has become entrenched
in the executive branch of the government. There
more than 200 different bureaus, boards
and commissions with a total of $4,000 employees.
In addition there than 40 independent
establishments directly under either the President
congress. A good deal Of this bureaucracy is
necessary The unnecessary personnel is being
cut down of late years. But nothing will cure the
waste in government that is the result of bad
organization except reorganization.
Now the reorganization of the executive depart
nents of the federal government has been urged
upon congress by every President from Roosevelt
40 Coolidge Congressional committees and COM
missions have investigated and reported. Complete
programs of reorganization have been formu-
ated-one is before congress now Efficiency
Experts in the cabinet like Hoover and Work advo-
cate this reorganization day in and day out. But
congress has never given authority to anyone to
put this reorganization into effect. 1t has removed
fivi service from politics. 1t has created the