The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-12-09
PRESIDENT ORDERS
Wide ALTERATIONS
FOR DEP ARTMENTS
interior and Commerce Branch
es Embrace Bulk of
Consultations


vers special message in transmitting
recommendations for government re-
organization to congress:
To the senate and house of repre-.
sentatives:
The congress, on June 30. 1882. en-.
acted provisions for the reorganiza.
ton of the executive departments
which subject I have from time tt
time laid before the congress.
The declared policy of the congress
as set out in Section 401 of Title 4
part 2, of this act follows:
"Sec. 40l. In order to further re.
duce expenditures and increase in ef-
ficiency in government it is declared
to be the policy of congress
"(A) To group, coordinate, ano
consolidate executive and administra-
tive agencies Of the government, as
nearly as may be, according to ma
jor purpose
OBJ To reduce the number of such
agencies by consolidating those hav-
ing similar functions under a single
head:
"(C) To Segregate regulatory agen-
cies and functions from those of an
administrative and executive charac-
ter"
Gave President Power
To accomplish these purposes, the
president was authorized by executive
order to transfer executive agencies
to and from the departments and
independent executive agencies and to
designate titles and duties Of Off
Gals connected Herewith.
The act provides that such execu-
tive orders must be transmitted to the
congress while in session and that
they shall not become effective until
/ the expiration of 80 calendar days,
unless the congress shall in the mean
b time approve them. In accordance
with this authorization, I am trans
uniting herewith to the congress ex-
ecutive orders which have been issued
s today, transferring and grouping a
large number of executive agencies.
A further limitation was placed up
on executive action in the provision
that statutory functions may not be
abolished by executive orders, the eff
feet of which renders it necessary to
retain many commissioners, but, un-
der the orders issued, their admins
trative functions are placed under va
rious departments, the commissions
retaining their advisory functions
only. A total Of SO executive agencies
and parts of agencies have been
grouped or consolidated One effect
is to reduce by about Is the number
of independent agencies and COM
missions.
have made no estimate on the ex-
tent OF the economies which will
eventually result from this reorgan-
ization program. The total appropri-
ations for the present fiscal year to
these agencies Is approximately $780,
100000.
Constitute Initial Action
These orders constitute the neces-
sary initial action required in carry
ing out the policy which the congress
has proclaimed in connection with re-
organization Of the executive branch
OF the federal government. They un-
dertake to group certain executive
agencies and activities in logical and
orderly relation to each other as de-
termined by their major functions
and purposes, and to vest in the head
OF each department. subject to execu-
tive approval, the authority and re-
sponsibility to develop and put into
effect the ultimate details of better
organiza ton. elimination of overlap,
duplication, and unnecessary expendi-
ture. These results can only be work.
ed out progressively by the executive
officers placed in charge of the diff
ferent divisions.
An example OF the value Of such
grouping is administrative economies
brought about through the consolida-
ton of agencies relating to veterans
service and likewise to enforcement
activities which were authorized some
time ago.
I have under consideration further
consultations and grouping in the
different departments, including GER
tain functions of the army and navy,
which hope to be able to transmit.
PUBLIC WORKS
have established division of pub
lie works in the department of the in
terror and designated that the title of
one Of the present assistant secre-
taries shall be changed to assistant
secretary Of interior for public works"
under whose direction I have grouped
the following organizations and func-
tons:
l. The bureau Of reclamation, now
in the department of the interior.
2. The geological survey, now in
the department OF the interior.
3. The office of the supervising
architect, which is transferred from
the treasury department to the de-
partmen1 Of the interior.
4. The non-military activities lex
cept the survey OF northern and
northwestern lakes and the supervisor
of New York harbor) administered
under the direction Of or supervision
OF the chief Of engineers, U. s. army,
including rivers and harbors and
flood control work, and the duties,
powers. and functions Of the Missis-
sippi river commission, the California
debris commission, the joint board OF
engineers for the st. Lawrence river
waterway, the board Of engineers for
rivers and habors. and the inter-
oceanic canal board, which are trans
ferred from the war department to
the department Of the interior, and
the said commissions and boards shall!
serve In an advisory capacity to the
secretary Of the interior.
5. The activities and duties relat-
ing to the construction, repair and
maintenance Of roads, tramways, fer
ries, bridges. and trails in the Terri
tory Of Alaska, now in the department
OF the interior.
Roads Bureau Transferred
8. The bureau Of public roads,
which y transferred from the depart
ment Of agriculture to the department.
Of the interior.
Z. The office of public buildings
and tnllalic marks. which Il Transferred,