Evening star., 1925-09-29
COOLIDGE FAV0RS
BUREAU MERGERS
Will Back Any Feasible Plan
for Reorganization, Those
Close to Him Believe.

President Coolidge is in favor of do
Ing away with certain independent
bureaus and other independent agen-
cies of the Federal Government. in the
belief of some of those with whom the
President discussed the subject today.
The President, t.ey feel, will be solid
ly behind the movement which has
already been started by some members
of the Senate and House TO abolish
entirely some of these agencies and to
consolidate others with regular con-
stituted Federal departments.
President Coolidge was represented
as expressing the opinion that in the
interest of greater efficiency and econ
onIy practically all of these bureaus
End different agencies should come
under the supervision of a member of
the Presidents cabinet He is mindful
Of the fact that there is considerable
overlapping of authority and dupli-
Gated efforts because of the independ-
ent manner in which these agencies
function. This, he believes, could be
eliminated if the work outlined by
Congress for these agencies was alb
sorbed or taken over by those depart
monts of the Government closest re-
lated to agencies in question.
Money Saving Small.
While the President is convinced
that the abOlishment of some of these
agencies and the absorption of others
will promote governmental efficiency,
he does not at this time see any great
saving. Ina asmuch as these agencies
ere engaged in a certain work that
either in whole or in part must he
continued. there will be very little op-
pnrtunity to reduce greatly their oper-
alive costs. even If they were absorbed
t,r some department
It is known that President Coolidge
had been giving this matter consider
Hble Thought and that he considered
II a governmental problem deserving
tive closest ConSidera ton. The PreSi-
cent has let it be known that while
be is favorably inclined to support
the proposals being advanced. he has
no definite plans himself, and is not
likely to consider one until the gem
e!al reorsa niZation bill prepared by
these joint congressional committees
on reorGa MIA ton, to which he is COM
niitted. has finally been disposed of al
the coming session of Congress.
Those close to the President know
that he has been given some very
positive assurances by influential
members of his party in both the Sen
ate and the House that there is very
little chance of the reorganization bill
being favorably received when 1t is re-
introduced.
Early Switch Expected.
It Is thought that when the Presi-
dent is himself convinced of this fact
he will lose little time in switching
over to some one of the proposals
which will be intended to make it pos
sible for the Executive to have suffi-
cient authority to bring about reor-
canization by effecting transfers and
consolidation as he deems to the best
interest of the Government. One of
the latter proposals will be introduced
by Senator Curtis of Kansas, who is
most ardent in his advocacy of the
abolishment of what he terms ''the
many useless bureaus" Senator Edge
of New Jersey is another who will in
troduce a resolution proposing to give
the President blanket authority. Ac-
cording to some of the expressions the
President has already received from
congressional quarters, the plan to set
tie the reorga niZation question by
turning 1t over to the Executive will
receive considerable support when the
time comes.