Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-08
AGENCIES
ARE CONSOLIDATED
Hoover Effects Change by
Executive Order Based
on New Act.

BY executive order, President Hoover
today effected consolidation of all war
veterans agencies provided for by an
act OF Congress he signed yesterday, and
at the same time named Brig. Gen.
Frank T. HLles, now director of the
Veterans Bureau to be administrator of
the co-ordinated group
The changes in the personnel of the
Pension Bureau and the Soldiers Home
which will come under this combined
veterans agency, will be brought about
slowly. In the meantime, the present
heads of the two latter activities will re-
main in charge of them.
In making this announcement today,
the President stated he regarded this
consultations one of the most i'm
portant steps IN improving the ma
chinery of the Federal Government
that has been taken since he became
President BY co-ordinating the agen-
cies considerable economy will be
effected, he feels, and in the Presidents
opinion, there will be greater efficiency
In the handling of veterans affairs.
In the future the veterans will have a
consolidated budget, which for the first
year will be approximately 100000, 900.
President Discusses Action.
Discussing the consolidation today,
the President said:
One of the most important steps in
the reorganization of the Federal Gov
eminent was the legislation carrying
out my recommendations for CONSOLE
dation of all veterans agencieS-that is,
the Veterans Bureau, an independent
establishment, the Pensions Bureau OF
the Department of the Interior, and the
the Soldiers Home of the War. Depart
ment
The bill places large authority" in
tn hands of the President for the con-
solidation and reorganization of these
bureaus under the title of the 'Veter-
ans Administration, with the appoint
ment Of a new head to be called "ad-
miniStrator of veterans affairs
Il have prepared the necessary exec
utive order in compliance with the au-
thority under the act. 1t is proposed to
continue the Veterans Bureau for the
present, also the Soldiers Home and the
Pension Bureau, as separate divisions
under the veterans administration, but
to transfer certain functions from one
to the other so as to bring about econo-
mics and avoid overlaps. The transfer
of functions will take place gradually
and without disturbance to the admin
istration.
Gen. Wood to Be Continued.
Gen. Wood will be continued as
head of the Soldiers Home. The board
of managers will probably be constituted
an advisory board The Pension Bureau
will be administered by an acting COM
missioner of pensions for the present;
the Veterans Bureau, by an acting
director.
II propose to appoint Gen. Hines as
administrator of veterans affairs. Gen.
Hines has been offered a very impor-
tant commercial position, but has agreed
to remain on temporarily to give me
the advantage of his wide experience in
reorganization of the new set-up.
las have said, we will be able to
make important economies in admins
tration of disqualification and domi-
ciliary questions and in better handling
of fiscal relations with veterans
throughout the entire organization. The
consolidated budget of these services for
the present fiscal year amounts to APP
proximately 100000 so that the new
establishment becomes one of the most
important functions in the Govern
ment."