Evening star., 1925-09-28
M'K|NLEY JOINS
SHIP BOARD FOES
Illinois Senator Tells Presi-
dent He Will Back
Abolition Plans.

White House to announce his inten-
ton to support any practical move
ment to abolish the United States
Shipping Board and the transfer of its
present functions to the Department
of Commerce is Senator William Il.
Mckinley of Illinois.
While expressing himself today to
this extent Senator Mckinley init
mated also that he is inclined to favor
proposals by Senators Curtis of
Kansas and Edge of New Jersey to
settle the problem of reorganiZing the
Federal departments by giving the
President sufficient blanket authority
to act as he deems best. He thinks
the President is the one to do the
reorganiZing and that he should be
given a free hand.
When Senator Mckinley made
known his views regarding the future
OF the Shipping Board and govern
mental reorganization he was in the
company of Senator Curtis. They ex-
planned. however, that they called
upon the President at this time to dis
cuss details OF the coming sessions of
the Interparliamentary Union to con
Vene here October /. They said they
did not talk abolishment of the Ship
ping Board or reorganization with the
Executive. but indicated they will do
so at near future date.
Curtis Favors Action.
Senator Curtis especially is keenly
interested in these subjects. He de-
clared with much emphasis that there
is no question about the time having
arrived when the Shipping Board
should be done away with and when
the Governments departments and bu-
reaus should undergo a complete over
hauling.
Senator Curtis stated that he is GO
ing to introduce a resolution during
the discussion of appropriation bills in
the Senate to effect these changes.
In this connection. Senator Curtis
pointed out that there have been very
recently in the past several sugges-
tfons as to the best way TO bring about
reorganization, one of which was pre-
sented by Senator Smoot at the last
session OF Congress. He reported out
bill which had been prepared by the
joint congressional committee of
which he was chairman. and which
represented the results OF almost two
years of careful study and survey of
the reorganizat ton subject, but despite
this fact. and the fact that il had
the stamp of approval of President
Coolidge, it failed to receive any favor
able consideration.
The Kansas Senator thinks his own
plan, which would be in the form of
short amendment to some one of
the appropriation bills. giving blanket
authority to the President, would call
for very little debate and would
therefore necessarily stand a much
easier chance of being passed In
his opinion any attempt to specify all
OF the various details OF consolidation
and governmental elimination would
require an act SO long that no one
could digest ii as a whole. Besides
this il would offer grounds for endless
details and discussion without
promising definite results
Senator Curtis. aside from his own
feeling, is absolutely satisfied that the
American people favor reorganization
lie contends further that the time has
come for Congress to make reorgan-
ization possible.
While discussing this subject today
Senator Curtis said that Of the more
than 40 Independent bureaus and
agencies now operating in the name
of the Federal Government at least
80 could be dispensed with easily
What little work they are now doing
could be readily turned over to one
of the departments. While not caring
to go into any great details concerning
what he described as these useless
bureaus" Senator Curtis stated that
he favored also the abolishing of the
Federal Trades Commission, saying
that the functions of this body could
be transferred to some division of the
Department of Justice. He does not
however, favor abolishing the Tariff
Commission. In his opinion there is
need for this commission, but he
thinks its membership could be reduc-
ed from six down to three
Aside from the question Of efficiency
being involved in this question Of re-
organization, Senator Curtis believes
that a much greater tax reduction
than the suggested $500, 900 900 can be
effective If Congress will give the
President blanket authority to use
free hand in the matter. Senator Cur
tbs still believes proper reorganization
will mean saving of more than $780,
600 600 annually.
Senator Smoot called upon the Pres
ident following the visit of Senators
Curtis and Mckinley, and when asked
for an expression of views upon the
proposals Of Senators Curtis and Edge
to give the President blanket author
ity to effect reorganization, said that
previous experience with the Overman
act, which was enacted as a war
measure, convinced him that it would
be difficult to persuade Congress to
place such a large authority in the
hands of the President over the Gov
ernment departments.
He said, however, that he intended
to make a close study of the proposals
of Senators Edge and Curtis, but
that he had no present plan of aban-
doning the Smoot-Brown reorganiZa-
tion plan. Senator Smoot said he did
not discuss this matter with the Pres
ident today, explaining that his call
had to do with a personal matter and
that he incidentally mentioned the
progress Of the French debt negotia-
tions.