Evening star., 1927-04-30

appropriation bills. Under this system
q person can see at a glance the total
estimates and the total appropriations
for each bureau and each department
and establishment of the Government
something that was impossible under
the old system where appropriations
for the same bureau or department
were carried in a number of appropria.
ton bills.
1t is evident that the value of this
information would be enormously in
creased if the several services of the
Government We're grouped depart
mentally so that as far as possible
each department included only serv-
ices whose activities fell within the
same field and all services having ac.
tivities falling within the same field
We're placed in the same department.
Unfortunately no such condition OBJ
tains at present, DIR. Willoughbys re-
search shows.
Services Are Scattered.
The War Department embraces
services having no direct relation to
the function of national defense. The
Treasury Department embraces such
and the office of the supervising ,archi.
tect, which have nothing to do with
the administration of financial affairs.
Although the Government maintains a
large number of services whose prime
function is the promotion and protec-
ton of the public health, these services
are scattered among the several de
partments. A like condition exists in
respect to other departments and func-
tions.
1t results from this that the total of
estimates and appropriations for the
several departments do not furnish a
correct picture of the totals for the
performance of the major functions
of such departments, nor are the to.
tails for a given function, such as the
promotion and protection of the public
health, available.
1t is generally recognized that one
Of the reforms urgently needed in the
National Government is a thorough
rearrangement of its administrative
organization and that this reform
should take the direction of reducing
the number of Independent establish.
mentS and the regrouping of the serv-
ices departmentally SO as to make the
departments, as far as practicable
unlfunctiOnal. If this is done the
War Department will embrace onlv
services having to do with admins.
tration of the national defense. the
treasury Department only with serv.
ices having to do with the admiuistra.
ton OF the national finances and serv.
ices such as those having to do with
the public health will be grouped
under the same department or a sepa.
rate department for them will be
created.
More Informative Statements.
The bearing of this reform upon
tne budget system is evident, DR..
Wllioughby believes. If effected. not
only will the statements contained IN
the budget be far more informa tive
than they are, but Congress in con.
Slderlng the budget will take up at
one time all estimates for activities
In general field and make provision
Iof them in single appropriation
bill = - e-0''
Ihe Improvement of the administra-
i've organization of the Government
Is thus doubly desirable, the Institute
or Government Research contends-as
matter in itself desirable and as con.
tributing to the effectiveness of the
system Tor making known and pro-
Nldlng for the financial needs of the
Government.
DR.. Willoughby also expresses the
opinion that the time has come when
the Bureau of the Budget should
proceed under the provisions of Sec
ton Z09 OF the budget and accounting
act, which prescribes that the bureau
acting under the direction of the Pres
ldent, shall, among other things. make
q detailed study of the organization
oi the departments and establish
ments for the purpose of determining
What improvements can be made
therein. and particularly how the sew
efal services can be grouped depart
mentally In a more efficient and log
lcal measure and specific activities be
better distributed among the services
At the time the budget act went
INTO effect, there was in existence -
Joint committee Of Congress to which
had been assigned this duty of recon-.
mehdlng changes in the organization
or the administrative branch. In view
OF the fact. the Bureau of the Budget.
II IS understood, thought it wise not
to attempt to duplicate these studies.
This committee has, however. now
completed its work, submitted it's !e-
port, and gone out Of existence. The
way is clear for the Bureau of the
Budget vigorously to exercise it's re.
SponSIbility in this field