Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-11
Consolidation Planned to Aid
Efficiency as President
Studies Departments.
WORK ON WATERWAYS
WILL BE UNlMPAIRED
Interior Administration Cost Cut
Next for Hoover to Consider
in Reducing Deficit.

Abolition Of some Army posts and
consultations Of others was indicated
by Secretary of War Hurley today Is
one of the methods whereby the Army
hopes TO effect economies without detri-
ment TO efficiency.
Remarking that the general star
already had made q study of isolated
Army posts and their effect upon ex-
penditures and military efficiency. the
Secretary said 81 such posts had been
abandoned since the World War.
The study, he said, was not connected
directly with President Hoover's Rspi-
dan conference over the week end with
Army ofncers and War Department.
heads.
Secretary Hurley declined to discuss
In detail the results Of the conference.
but asserted ne could see no prospect
OF any cut IN rivers and harbcrs
appropriations budget" as g part Of
Army economies. He indicated the
economies would have to be made IN
another direction.
Wood FavOrs Post.
Chairman Wood Of the House Appro-
priations Committee, who also took part
in the conferences, said the administra-
tons plan to curtail the next budget
might well begin with abandonment OF
old Army forts.
Wood said drastic economies must be
effected If increased taxes were to be
avoided. He said about 20 forts now
maintained, principally on the coast
lines, were absolutely useless, and the
only excuse for them is the fear of war.
abandonment of the historic forts"
he added, would not only effect a saw
ing In maintenance charges, but the
land could be sold when prices are
better.
Sees Building Cost Savings.
81 am satisfied we will have the CO.
operation Of the head of every depart
ment in reducing expenditures. The
building program cost can be reducsd
substantially by reason CT the reduced
costs OF materials, which range from IS
to 20 per cent.
IF individual congressman don't
come in with q lot Of authorizations
that are going to cost the Government
money we can save considerably here.
1.-The whole country ought to be Inn
pressed Of the need Of this retrench-
ment 50 congressman win not be asked
for passage OF costly legislation. The
people ought 10 urge their congressman
to show the same care in Government
expenditures as in their personal az
fairs"
Interior Department Next.
'T1ne expenditures of moneys to place
routes for water-born commerce into
the great grain regions has become a
national problem" the Secretary said.
In response TO questions, he said "
Has DOW the purpose 10 nur5ue 9, policy
OF removing military budgets nom sng
con necEion with political 3aDel sssnts-
SOD. The Amy vss eX1 emely sngiou",
os a6ds6, 10 Co-ooerste win the prest-
cent sno secure value Tor every dollar
expended"
Meanwhile, President Hoover was
making plans today to call Interior De-
partment officials into conference at his
Rapidan camp over the next week end
to study possible means OF effecting
economies in that branch during the
next fiscal year.
After comforting with War Depart
ment ofdcialS at his camp, ths Prest-
dent returned to the White House con-
WINGED substantial savings could be
made in that department.
He expects during the Summer to
have oh1cials Of all executive branches
at the camp to study ways OF cutting
down expenses.
Seeks 10 Per Cent Cut.
It is the Presidents hope to pare
down the Governments expenses to q
point where q substantial saving may
be effected without impairing eficiencY
These savings are imperative, the Presi-
dent believes, if the Government Is go
ing to weather the more than $780,
600, 900 deficit it is now facing.
Although Mr.. Hoover has not said
just how much he aims to save by eff
fecting reductions in the various de-
partments, 1t is understood that one
plan he has in mind is to bring about
a 10 per cent reduction in govern
mental cost, which in the end would
means a cut of about $400,000,0 900. It
has been explained, however, that 1t Is
extremely doubtful If 8 general saving
of 10 per cent could be made effective
In each department. without eliminat-
ing certain necessary and important
activities.
At the War Department conference
there were present the Secretary and
Assistant Secretary Of War, Maj. Gen.
MarArthur, chief of staff; Mai Gen.
Mosely, assistant chief Of staff; Maj.
Gen. Brown, chief of engineers; Maj.
Gen. De Witt, quartermaSter general,
and Col Campbell B. Hodges. chief mil