Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-03-08
Hoover's Conference on Home
Ownership Taken Off Gov
eminent Pay Roll.
SHIPPING BOARD MAY
BE ORDERED ABSORBED
Home Loan Bank Mentioned Among
Activities Likely to Be
Curtailed.

The first economy move by the Roose-
welt administration took effect today
when the administrative officers and
employees Of former President Hoover's
Conference on Home Building and
Home Ownership was stricken from the
Government pay rolls, and their equip
ment moved out of the Commerce
Building, which houses many of the
retiring administrations commissions.
High Government officials today said
President Roosevelt will ask the new
Congress this week to grant him the
widest authority possible under the
Constitution to effect immediate econo-
mics.
Wants Veteran Control.
The request will be especially direct
ed at the veterans compensation. I'm
der the Presidents plan, it was stated,
he would ask for authority to review all
cases relating to veterans, and power to
merge major departments and cut stat
utory appropriations.
The request Is understood to be along
the line of the proposal Vice President
Garner advocated in the last Congress
as Speaker. 1t is planned that the re-
quest be linked with a plea that to
further restore confidence, Government
costs be sharply reduced and brought
within the income, If possible.
At the same time, 1t was learned from
an authoritative source that President
Roosevelt at an early date will take
steps to abolish the Federal Home Loan
Bank Board, now having headquarters
in the Commerce Building.
The home loan system was fostered
by former President Hoover as one of
his major relief plans. designed to aid
small-home owners in distress. The sys-
tenn Is capitalized at S134 900, 900, Of
which approximately $12000,000 was
subscribed by building and loan asso-
ings banks. The rest came from the
Treasury.
No Direct Loans Made.
Although it has been operating since
last August under supervision of former
Representative Fort of New Jersey, the
system has not yet made loans directly
to home owners. Instead. it has loaned
approximately SIS, 100000 to eligible
building and loan associations and has
established lines of credit with these
associations amounting to approximately
500, 900 900, it was said
The Home Bank system has approx
imately 1000 employees in the IL re-
gional banks scattered throughout the
country. Approximately 400 are en-
ployed in Washington.
The status of the other commissions
housed in this massive building was
reported to be On "shaky foundations"
They are the Inter-American High
Commission, the International Bound
airy Commission, the American Marine
Standard Committee. the United States
Geographic Board, the Wood Utilization
Committee, the Federal Sterilization
Board and the International Screw
Thread Committee.
Shake-up Believed Near.
Meantime, it was authoritatively re-
ported that the expected shake-up in
the Commerce Department would be
forthcoming within fortnight. 1t
was learned the administration plans a
general curtailment Of the activities of
this agency, which now employs 1900
persons in Washington and in the field.
Secretary Of Commerce Roper, however,
refused to confirm this report.
OF the 10 bureaus in the department,
1t was reliably reported that the Blu
reau Of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce would bear the brunt OF the
shakeup. This agency was organized
by President Hoover at the time he was
Secretary of Commerce. and it now has
approximately 1000 employees in Wash
ington and in all corners of the world
It's 1888 fiscal year appropriation
amounted to $685. 900. For the forth
coming year its officials said they could
operate on s3,514,000.
S37,0os, 900 for 1888.
The departments 1888 appropriation
is $37,008,000. At the time Of its or
ganization in 1914 it operated on SILL
$4,000.
Outgoing ranking officials of the de-
partment also said they learned the
administration plans to abolish the
Shipping Board and transfer its duties
to the Commerce Department. 1t Is
understood one bureau will be organized
to take care of the Shipping Board.
the Navigation and Steamboat Service
and the Lighthouse Service. The Coast
and Geodetic Survey also may be merged
with this new agency.
Anxious to Start Work.
At the White House today 1t was
said that President Roosevelt is deter
mined to lose no time in putting into
effect his economy program.
Mr.. Roosevelt has been giving this
one subject as much thought as any
other governmental matter, up until
the past few days, when he was con-
fronted with the banking crisis, and
already he has we'll defined ideas as
to how he will proceed in reorganizing
the executive branch Of the Govern
ment, looping off activities here and
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