Evening star., 1933-04-19
ECONOMISTS FINISH.
REORGAN|z|NGRLAN| |
Regrouping of Commerce De-
partment Submitted to
Controller General.

President Roosevelt's economy ad-
visers today completed their first ex-
ecutive order calling for reorganization
Of Government departments and have
submitted 1t to Controller General NC
Carl for legal examination before send
ing 1t to the White House.
The order deals exclusively with the
new structure OF the Commerce De-
partment. 1t is understood authorita-
lively that unless 1t strikes legal snag
in the controllers Office it will be before
President Roosevelt for his signature
tomorrow.
The reorganization plans for the Com
merce Department were submitted to
the White House for a general study by
President Roosevelt last week.
Predicts Prompt Action.
Secretary of Commerce Roper. rank
ing reorganization adviser to the Presi-
dent, said he expected Mr.. Roosevelt
would take prompt action when the
executive order reached him.
Ranking Democratic sources asserted
that the advisors plans call for max
ing the department 6-bureau agency
instead of 10 as at present. Included
in the new structure Is q transporta-
ton section which will have super
vision over land, air and sea commerce.
Should President Roosevelt approve
the plans as submitted by his advisers.
1t would constitute q major part OF
his reorganization scheme. Four OF the
Departments us-Aeronaut1cs,
Lighthouses, Coast and Geodetlc sur
vey. Navigation n-Steamboat Inspection
would be consolidated into parts OF the
sea and air divisions OF the trans
portation section.
One bureau-Mines- be trans
ferred to the Interior Department. while
the Bureau Of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce will be drastically curtailed.
The other bureaus-Fishers, Patents,
Census and StandardS-would be re-
vamped to permit the doing away with
what Secretary Roper described as non
essential activities.
I. C. C. Transfers Seen.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion Bureaus Of Statistics, Accounts,
Service, Locomotive Inspection. SAFETY
and Finance, would be transferred, &C.
cording to reliable sources, to the lana
division Of the transportation section.
other agencies to be transferred 70
the Department include the Federal
Radio Commission, Naval Observatory,
shipping Board, Agricultural Depart
ment's Weather Bureau, War Depart
ment's Inland Waterway CorporaAon
and the Interior Departments Geo
logical Survey and map reproducing
In the meantime, the advisers are
reported working for the reduction OF
the departments 1894 appropriation.
The last conference gave the depart
ment S36, ,000, 900 for running expenses.
Secretary Roper has stated this sum
would be reduced by $40 ,OOo;O ;OOo. no
the affect the departments reorganiza-
tion would have on the departments
present personnel or those being trans
ferred into the new structure.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
IL to be reduced from IS bureaus TO
seven as q result OF this proposed re-
The new structure of the commission.
however. would be entirely separated
from the activities Of the Commerce
L is reliably understood that the re-
organization plans do not tnclude tne
commissions big bureau OF vaiuatlon,
either In the Commerce DepartmenI
new transportation set.up or IN tne
revamped structure OF the commission.
This bureau has approximately ooo e"-
ployes. .,,.. .,,.
bureau during the last two sessions OF
Congress by eliminating Its appropr1a-
ton. "a. 49,.
bureaus finances intact.
The administration advisers refused
today to comment as to what was the
bureaus fate.
Interior Plans Taking Form.
Il is also understood the Interior
Department's reorganization Is now
shaping into definite form. 1t is known
bitter opposition has arisen over the
proposal to transfer the Agriculture De-
partments Bureau OF Roads ana FOR
ests to this department. All the OIL
fices also are known to be making a
fieht against the proposal to consolidate
their rivers and harbors section from
the Engineering Corps into the proposed
Public Construction Division Of the In
terror Department.
At the same time the War Depart
ment's plans for making the $144, ,0o0,-
600 cut In its 1894 appropriation today
was before President Roosevelt.
Secretary Dern presented the plans
late yesterday. He was accompanied
to the White House by Gen. Douglas
Macarthur, chief Of staff, and Maj. Gen.
Lytie Brown, chief Of Army Engineers.
Apparently determined to block any
backfire against his economy program,
the President offered no comment at
his press conference today on the plan.
The department ofIices were likewise
silent.
It was assumed, however, that the
Army chieftains pointed out just what
have and left alternating proposals with
the President.
4 cut Of ts0,o0o,oo0 IN military
activities and $5l, 900 900 In non-military
work haS been decreed.