Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-03

study in which the executive departments will
gladly cooperate with the hope OF discovering such
me thod will more fully secure our national ne
cessities.
/ Veterans.
It has been the policy of our Government almost
from its inception to make provision for the men
who have been disabled in defense of our country
This policy should be maintained. Originally it
took the form of land grants and pensions. This
system continued until entry into the World
War. The Congress at that time inaugurated a
nsw plan of compensation, rehabilitation hoSpita-
cation. medical care and treatment and insurance,
whereby benefits were awarded to those veterans
and their immediate dependents whose disabilities
were attributable TO their war service. The basic
principle in this legislation is sound.
In desire to eliminate all possibilities of in
justice due to difficulties in establishing service
necion of disabilities. these principles have been to
some degree extended. Veterans whose diseases
injuries have become apparent within brief pc
riod after the war are now receiving compensation;
insurance benefits have been lib2ralized. Emer-
gency officers are now receiving additional benefits.
The doors of the Governments hospitals have been
opened to all veterans though their diseases
injuries were not the result of their war service.
In addition adjusted service certificates have been
issued to 3,43S,Soo veterans; This IN itself will
1945, in addition to the 5000 100000 which are
appropriating annually for our veterans relief
The administration of all laws concerning the
veterans and their dependents has b2en upon the
basis of dealing generously humanely, and justly:
While inequalities have arisen substantial and
adequate care has been given and justice admins
tered Further improvement in administration may
require some amendment from time to time to the
law but care should be taken to see that such
changes conform to the basic principles of the leg
slation.
am convinced that we will gain in efficiency,
economy and more uniform administration and bet
ter definition of national policies If the Pension
Bureau, the National Home for Volunteer Soldiers,
and the Veterans Bureau brought together
DER a single agency. The total appropriations to
these agencies now exceed 900 per annum.
CiuH Service.
Approximately four-f ifths of all the employees in
the executive civil service now occupy positions sub
ject to competitive examination under the civil
service law
There are. however, still commanding opportu-
mites for extending the system These opportunities
lie within the province of Congress and not the
President. 1 recommend that further step be
taken by authorization that appointments of third
class postmasters be made under the civil service
law.
Departmental Reorganization.
This subject has been under consideration for
over 20 years. 1t was promised by both political
parties in the recent campaign 1t has been
p atedy examined by committees and commissions
congressional, executive, and voluntary. The
illusions of these Investigations have been unan-
imouS that reorganization is necessity of sound
administration; of economy of more effective gov
ernmenta policies and of relief to the citizen from
unnecessary harassment in his relations with null
titude of scattered governmental agencies. But the
opposition from every official whose authority may
be curtaied who fears his position is imperiled
by such result; of bureaus and departments
which wish to maintain their authority and activi-
ties; of citizens and their organizations who are
SeSnly interested, or VINO are inspired Dy rear IEaI
their favorite bureau may, in setting be less
subject to their influence subject to some
other influence.
1t seems to me that the essential principles of
reorganization are two in number. First, all ad-
ministrative activities of the same major purpose
should be placed in groups under single headed re-
sponsbility second all executive and administrative
functions should be separated from boards and COM
missions and placed under individual responsibility
while quasilegislative and quasijudical and broadly
advisory functions should be removed from individ-
ual authority and assigned to boards and commits
sions. Indeed these the fundamental princi-
Piles upon which Government was founded, and
they are the principles which have been adhered
to in the whole development of our business struc