The Washington times., 1929-12-03

Of the Federal Government.
1t is urgent that these
conditions be remedied.
disabled in defense of our coun.
try. This policy should be
maintained.
I am convinced that we will
gain efficiency, economy, and
more uniform administration
and better definition of ma
tional policies if the Pension
Bureau, the National Home for
Volunteer Soldiers, and the
Veterans Bureau are brought
together under a single agency.
The total appropriations to
these agencies now exceed $780,.
100000 per annum.
Civil Service Reform
Approximately four-fifths of
all the employees in the execu-
tive civil service now occupy
positions subject to competitive
examination under the civil
service law.
There are, however, still
commanding opportunities for
extending the system. These
opportunities lie within the
province of Congress and not
the President. I recommend
that a further step be taken
by authorization that appoint
mentS of third-claSs postmasters
be made under the civil service
law.
Departmental Reorganization
1t seems to me that the es-
sential principles Of reorganiza-
ton are two in number. First,
all administrative activities Of
the same major purpose should
be placed in groups under sin
gle-headed responsibility: sec
ond, all executive and admin.
istrative functions should be
separated from boards and COM
missions and placed under in
dividual responsibility, while
quasilegislative and quasijudi-
cial and broadly advisory func-
lions should be removed from
individual authority and as.
signed to boards and commits.
Sions.
I can see no hope for the
development of a sound reor.
ganization Of the Government
unless Congress be willing to
delegate its authority over the
problem Subject to defined
principles to the Executive.
who should act upon approval
Of a JOINT committee of Con.
greSs or With the reservation Of
power Of revision by Congress
within some limited period AIDE
quate for its consideration.
Prohibition Problem
The frs duty of the Presi-
dent under his oath of office
is to secure the enforcement OF
the laws. The enforcement OF
the laws enacted to give effect
to the eighteenth amendment
Is far from satisfactory and
this is in part due to the in
adequate organization of the
administrative agencies of the
Federal Government.
With the hope of expediting
such organization, I requested
on June 6 last that Congress
should appoint a joint com
mlttee to collaborate with exec,
utive agencies in prepare ton
OF legislation. 1t would he
helpful if it could be so ap.
pointed, The subject has been
earnestly considered by the
Law enforcement Commission
and the administrative officials
OF the Government.
Law Enforcement
No one will look with salts.
faction upon the volume of
crime OF all kinds and the
growth Of organized crime in
our country. We have pressing
need so to organize our system
OF administering criminal Justice
as to establish full vigor and
effectiveness. We need to re
establish faith that the highest
interests of our country are
served by inSiStence upon the
SWltC and eVen-handed admins.
tratlon of Justice to all Of
lenders. whether they be rich
or poor. That we shall effect
improvement is vital to the
preservation of our institutions.
IL is the most serious issue be
fore our people.
Need for Improvement
The orderly administration
OF the law involves more than
the mere machinery of law en-
1orcement. The efficient use
OF That machinery and a spirit
IN our people in support of law
are alike essential. We have
need for improvement in both
however much we may perfect
the mechanism. still if the citi.
zen who is himself dependent
upon some laws for the protec
tlon. OF all that he has and all
that he holds dear. shall insist
on selecting the particular laws
which he will obey. he under
mines his own safety and that