Evening star., 1933-06-12

manufacture and sale of alcohol It
duplicates work now done by the Bu-
reau Of Internal Revenue The latter
bureau, being revenue collecting
agency, Is the proper agency to ad-
minister the issuance and cancellation
of permits which are closely tied up
with the collection of revenue, and
therefore this function is centralized in
Internal Revenue
With a few minor exceptions the re-
naming functions of the Bureau of Pro-
hibition involve the investigation of in
fractions of the prohibition law. No
organizational reason is perceived for
special bureau for the investigation
Of a particular kind of crime. The
Bureau of Investigation of the Depart
ment of Justice is charged with the gen.
eral investigation of crimes against Fed
eral laws, and the apprehension OF
criminals, and it is believed that the
Federal laws may be better enforced If
the investigatory personnel IS consoh-
dated in single organization.
Section 4. Disbursement.
There are about 1900 disbursing off,
GERS in the United States This is rather
an absurd situation. No business or
ganization would think of scattering q
function among so many different per-
sons and offices. Disbursement is
technical function which should be per-
formed by a specialized personnel and
could be so performed with an increased
efficiency and greater economy.
The order also provides for transfer
ence to spending agencies of RESPONSE
bility for improper expenditures for
which disbursing officers now are solely
held
Section 5. Claims by or Against the
United States.
Responsibility for prosecuting and de-
Tending suits to which the United States
is party is governed by a multiplicity
Of laws which are maze of conflicting
and anomalous provisions. District at
torneys and marshals are responsible to
the Attorney General. Nevertheless,
certain agencies of the Government
have the right to issue binding instruc-
tions to attorneys and marshals regard
ing the prosecution of suits. The solici-
tor OF the Treasury, who is in point of
law subordinate of the Attorney Gen.
eral, has the anomalous authority OF
out respect to the Judgment of the At
torney General. 1t was clearly the in
tent OF the law creating the Department
of Justice that the Attorney General
should have responsibility for prosecut-
ing and defending suits to which the
united States IS a party, and the whole
conflict comes from failure to properly
amend antecedent laws
The order piVaS affact IN kI,a 1a~;s1z
tive intent respecting the Department
OF Justice and centers in the ATTORNEY
General the sole responsibility for the
conduct OF suits. The order in no wise
dlminishes the present authority of the
various departments in respect of con-
troversies before they get into the
courts, but 1t provides that, once the
Attorney General Is called upon to act
in the matter, thereafter his Judgment
Is to be conclusive. This is highly de-
strable from the standpoint Of sound
organization and it will be productive,
perhaps not of savings in actual ex-
pense, but of savings due to better ad-
of court matters.
Under this provision, the defense of
suits regarding war risk insurance will
be transferred from the Veterans Ad-
miniStration to the Department of Jus
saving TO be expected from this
This provision does not relieve the
solicitor of the Treasury of his duties
as legal advisor of the Secretary of the
Treasury, but for the better perform
ance of such duties he Is placed in the
Treasury Department.
Section 6. Insular Courts.
All other courts being either under
the Department of Justice in the case
of legislative courts, or in the case of
constitutional courts provided for by
appropriations through the Department
of Justice, it appears in the interest of
sound organization to transfer to that
department Jurisdiction of the courts
in China, Panama Canal Zone and the
Virgin Islands.
Section I. Solicitors.
BY an archaic bit of organization, the
solicitors for the Departments of Com
merce and Labor are nominally under
the Attorney General, but actually
under the respective secretaries. The
order recognizes the facts and trans
fers the solicitors from the rolls of the
Department Of Justice.
Section 8. Internal Revenue.
The Bureau of Industrial Alcohol is
an offshoot Of the Bureau of Internal
Revenue If reason ever existed for
the segregation Of this particular phase
of revenue collecting no reason Is per-
ceived for its continuance. The con-
solidation brings all phases of internal
revenue collection under one head.
Section 8. Assistant Secretary Of
Commerce.
1t is desired to broaden the respon-
sibilities which may be assigned to the
junior Assistant Secretary of Commerce
in order that he may be of greater use
fulness in the department.
Section 10. Official Register.
Preparation of the official register is
largely from the records of the Civil
Caruica Commission and may Y1nIIch