The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-29
SLASH BUREAUS
To CUT EXPENSE.
HOOVER ADVISES
President Indicates Desire
That Congress Take
Some Action.
BIZ United Press

~ DHtfed Pfe8s
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-Co-
ordination of government activities
and reduction of the number of
bureaus and commissions in Wash
ington was advocated by President
Hoover today as one of the most
effective methods of governmental
economy. He indicated desire for
congressional action on this matter.
The Presidents program of re-
organization was a direct attack on
any tendency toward further devel-
opment of bureaucracy in the fed
eral administration. He said that
consolidation Of bureaus which now
overlap would effect saving to
taxpayers of millions of dollars an
nually.
Now that economy absolutely
must be the first order in govern
ment," the President said at his
press conference, 1T is an appro-
pirate time for congress to take up
the question and bring it to a con-
clusion. Such action would COM
prise a major accomplishment of
the present session of congress-"
Sought Cut 10 Years
The President said:
THE most constructive direction
for economy in federal expenditure
beyond rigid reduction of appro-
priations and the resolute opposition
to new appropriations lies in the
consolidation of government bureaus
and general reorganization of the
federal government.
Il have recommended this reor-
ganization in public addresses, re-
ports and messages to congress
throughout the past ten years.
Il particularly emphasized this
necessity as the basis of conStruc-
tive economy in my message to the
second session of the Seventy-first
congress. 1 again referred to it in
the message to the third session of
that congress and in my message to
the present congress 1 again ira
versed the subject
Some of the recommendations
have been carried out, the most |
notable one being the consolidation |
of all veterans activities into the |
veterans administration. AS a re-
suit, General Hines reports that we
are saving somewhere from ten to
fifteen millions a year in this service
alone.
Cites Bureaus
Outstanding amongst these re-
organizations would be consolidation
of all construction activities of the !
government under an administrator
of public works to serve all the de-
partmentS.
Other cases are the consolidation |
Of all merchant marine activities
into the department of commerce;
the consolidation of the conSerVa- |
ton activities of the government; of |
the public health services, of edu-
cational activities and numerous
other groups on the same major !
purpose under single headed re-
sponsibility.
Such action would result in the
elimination of many expensive agen-
cieS and overlap resulting in very
great economies. These economies
would run into many millions.
In addition to the actual econo-
my by concentrated administration
and elimination of overlap, further
great economies would be brought
about through the curtailment of
the safeguarding capacity of scat
tered bureaus which could be much
better controlled if they were
grouped together. 1t would enable
policies in connection with different
government activities to be better
developed and better directed.
"The subject is an old one, and
now that economy absolutely must
be the first order in government, it
is an appropriate time for congress
to take up the question and bring it
to conclusion. Such action would
comprise major accomplishment
of the present session of congress"