Evening star., 1933-03-15
ROPER COMPLETES
PLAN FOR ECONOMY
Commerce Secretary Says
Unnecessary Expenditures
Must Be Stopped.

With his plans for reorganizing the
Commerce Department virtually COM
pieted and awaiting President Roose-
velt's regrouping announcement, Secre-
tary Of Commerce Roper was on record
today as saying the business community
OF this country could rest assured this
vast Government agency would con-
tinue to strive for increased efficiency
OF service, as we'll as for economy"
In his first public statement, issued
last night, Secretary Roper said ways
would be found to economic in the
department, which employs 1900 per-
sons.
We have got to, whether we like
1t or not" he asserted.
While he did not outline to what
extent the department would be shaken
up, 1t has been reported in reliable
quarters that its activities would be
curtailed 25 per cent, with the Bureau
OF Foreign and Domestic Commerce
bearing the brunt
Must Save Public Funds.
As to the policy Of his department,
he said it would heartily support the
measures for recovery instituted by
President Roosevelt and close and sym
pathetic cooperation with American
business. He added:
We are passing through a period
when economy in the expenditure Of the
taxpayers money must be a primary
consideration with every executive in
the Federal establishment. The credit
OF the United States Government must
be maintained and it would be a breach
OF public trust for any of us in WASH
ington to permit the unnecessary ex-
penditure at this time Of one dollar of
Government funds.
Activities OF doubtful value will have
to be eliminated within this department.
employees OF doubtful efficiency will
have to go. The Federal Treasury can
not a1ord luxuries, but curtailment in
non-essential activities and services will
permit greater concentration on work
that Is genuinely useful and will in
crease tie effectiveness of those en-
p-oyes who are really producing"
ATTACKING the present American tar
In system, Roper advocated a tariff pol
icy "of common sense and common de-
cency,' to other nations.
Tired Of Antagonism.
For too many years." Roper said,
I'VE have, as nation, been fervent in
our pToteStdllonS OF a desire to foster
our international trade while, at the
same time, we have actually been doing
our best to place in its path almost in
Surmountable obstacles. There are
honest differences of opinion as to tar
i'll policies, but believe that an over
Whelming majority of the American
people have Enthusiastically shown that
they are tired of policy that has an
tagoniZed every other nation in the
world"
Buying as we'll as selling must occur
IN foreign commerce. he said. and no
nation can successfully market its own
goods If it persists in refusing to per-
NIT a reasonable volume of foreign
products to come in
i am not here suggesting any I'M
mediate and violent reduction in our
tariff schedules" he said. Il sugges,
only that our current policy should be
one OF common sense and common
decency to other nations. There is no
use of becoming virtuously indignant
at the effect of trade barriers thrown
up by countries to which We want to
sell our products, SO long as we refuse
to take as much as an inch of the
top OF the wall that we ourselves have
erected"