Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-24
BY BEN NcKELWAY.

One Of the interesting developments
of the last year has been the increas-
ing Importance of the Bureau of Eff
ficiency in the general role of investi-
gator and fact finder in matters affect
ing the municipal government of the
District of Columbia. The Bureau Of
Efficiency formerly occupied itself in
investigating and suggesting remedies
for conditions found in the executive
departments. 1t still continues in this
field of activity, but interest among
Washingtonians arises from its par
ticipation in strictly local matters
Right now the Bureau of Efficiency
might be compared to a firm of audi
tors and efficiency experts which has
been given blanket authority to go
over factory from top to bottom and
report on the condition of it's books,
its equipment, it's personnel and to sug-
gest remedies. The factory, in the
present case, is the District of Column
bia. The bureau has just completed
an investigation and made It's report
on crowded conditions at the District
Jail. At the suggestion, and under
the direction of the Bureau of Eff
tlciency, tags for automobiles are
being manufactured by prisoners at
the city workhouSe. The citys school
SyotcuI 10 UcIliS SuDJeCLSu W d liIOI
ough looking over by the Bureau of
Efficiency. 1t was the Bureau of Eff
ficiency which investigated the irregu-
larities in the Traffic Bureau. And
after receiving it's report it was to
the Bureau of Efficiency that the Dis
trict Commissioners looked for sug-
geStionS of what to do. And 1t is the
natural assumption to suppose that
the bureau approved the disciplinary
action of the Commissioners which
followed.
The Bureau of Efficiency has as
stunned none of it's authority. Both
Chairman Madden of the House ap-
preparations committee and Repre-
sentative Gibson of the District of Co.
lumbia investigating subcommittee
have made express requests to Her.
bert d. Brown, chief of the bureau, to
make the Investigations and surveys
which now are being made. He has
been given carte blanche authority to
undertake an investigation wherever
he sees an opportunity. And for the
bureau. and Mr.. Brown, 1t must be
said that every investigation has been
undertaken with the knowledge of the
District authorities and has been as
has been no gum-shoe work, and none
Is intended. Nor has there been any
indication Of resentment on the part
Of the District authorities over the
more or less omnipotent role of the
bureau in District affairs. But once
begun, where will it end?
Already it is natural to suppose
that If the District Commissioners go
to the Capitol and outline their posi-
ton, the Capitol will Immediately
ask the Bureau of Efficiency il it Is
sound one. Already it has been
apparent that the Commissioners, in
formed of bad situation existent in
an Office under their jurisdiction
after investigation by the bureau, are
inclined to cast aimlessly about I'M
til they are sure that the Bureau
of Efficiency and Congress will ap-
prove of what they do about it..
Placed under the mandates of Con-
gress, open to captious criticism of
its members on the one hand; held
under the thumb of the Bureau Of
the Budget and subject to it's micro
scopic examination on the other, the
District Commissioners now find a