The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-12-09
Order
REGROUPS So
U. S. AGENCIES
Thorough Reorganization Is
Outlined in Presidents
Message to Congress.
BUREAUS ARE DISCARDED
Drastic Changes Mapped in
interior Department
and Others.
BY HENRY F. MISSELWITZ
United Press STAFF Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-Presi-
dent Hoover today ordered a thor
ough reorganization of the federal
government, in a series of executive
orders embodied in a special mes
sage to congress.
A division Of public works was
ordered set up in the department
OF interior which would take over
much OF the river and harbor and
hood control work now in the hands
OF the war departments board of
army engineers.
Several minor boards and COM
missions either were abolished or
relegated to advisory capacities.
pending action of congress.
The President ordered the group
ing or consolidation of a total of
flfty-eight agencies and bureaus in
the national government. He sent
TO congress eleven executive orders
to effect these changes.
Effective Feb. 8.
The orders become effective in
sixty calendar days, or on Feb. 3
unless rejected within that time by
congress.
The Presidents reorganization.
striking at ou5worn bureaus. would
create four new assistant secretaries
IN three departments to handle work
now done by overlapping bureaus
and agencies. These are:
l Assistant secretary of interior
for public works.
2 Assistant secretary of interior
Tor education, health and creation.
8 Assistant secretary of agricul-
ture for land utilization.
4 Assistant secretary of commerce
for merchant marine.
The merchant marine division
would be established in the depart
ment of commerce. The United
States shipping board merchant
feet corporation would be trans
ferred to this division.
The federal oil conservation board
would be abolished. The bureau of
mines IN the commerce department
would take over its functions.
Would Affect Economies
The program, the President <
planned in a covering message sent
UP with the executive orders and
comment, was designed to elm
mate overlapping and effect fur
Their economies in the cost of gov
eminent.
Mr.. Hoover said: "I have made no
estimate of the extent of the econ
omles which eventually will result
from this reorganization program.
Total appropriations for the pres
ent fiscal year to these agencies is
approximately $500, 900. 600"
He announced that he had oun-
der consideration further consoIi-
cations and groupings in the diff
ferent departments In this he
mentioned merging certain func-.
lions" of the army and navy.
There was no indication. how
ever, that the chief executive had
any intention of combining the
army and navy into a department of
national defense"
One Of the most important
changes vas creation of a division
Of public works in the department
of interior.
Mr.. Hoover transferred most of
the rivers and harbors and flood
control work of the army engineers.
and the Mississippi river commits
sion tn this division
Would Replace Secretary
An assistant secretary of interior
for public works would replace n
of the present assistant secretaries
Of interior. The public works sec
ton Of Mr.. Hoover's message was
as follows:
Il have established a division of
public works in the department of
the interior and designated that the
title of one of the present assistant
secretaries shall be changed to as
sistant secretary Of interior for pub
lie works. under whose direction I
have grouped the following organi-
zations and functions:
q. The bureau of reclamation,
now in the department of the in
terror.
%. The geological survey, now in
the department Of the interior.
%. The Office of the supervising
architect, transferred from the
treasury department to the depart
ment of the interior.
Il. The non-military activities
Except the survey of northern and
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