Evening star., 1934-11-21
FEDERAL SYSTEM
Being RENOVATED
Roosevelt Declared Grad
uaIIy Reorganizing Func-
> ti0ns of Government.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

n DhvlD LIN w NLNOEs
A complete reorganization of the
functional side of the Federal Gov
ernment will be consummated under
the Roosevelt administration.
Steps already have been taken
which look toward regrouping and
rearrangement of Federal activities so
those which are really related to each
other may be brought into closer con-
tact. Heretofore, the need for modern
izing our antiquated Federal structure
has been fully recognized, as, for in
stance, In the many recommendations
to this end beginning under President
Taft and continuing under President
Hoover.
Mr.. Roosevelt has hit upon an
entirely different approach and it bids
fair to succeed where his prede, rs
have failed. The President has in yro-
duced the idea of collaboration Of
bureaus and departments, rather than
consolidation.
Emergency Council Is Example.
The first and most significant step
was the formation of the National
Emergency Council. created by execu-
tive order. This comprises 80 agencies
of the Federal Government, the reg
ular departments as well as the
emergency establishments
Some of the emergency. bodies will.
in due time. disappear, bqt the prin-
ciple back of the new collaboration
Of all agencies OF Government.
whether permanent or temporary, is
essentially sound.
Having put all the agencies into
the National Emergency Council. it
will be possible now to form COM
mittees Of the council. Already the
President has formed a committee to
include all the lending agencies and
bureau; in fact. every part OF the
Government which deals with credit.
He has put Secretary Morgenthau at
the head Of it.
Trade Group Is Next.
The next step contemplated is TO
put INTO single group all the Fed
eral agencies dealing In any way
with foreign trade. There are about
40 different places in the Federal
Government where there is jurisdic-
ton over some aspect Of foreign
trade.
The Department of State, as well
as the Department Of Commerce. is
involved in foreign trade. But there
is distinct differ ence between strictly
political and strictly commercial re-
lations, and yet both are to some ex-
tent interviewer.
These committees will function in
formally at first. 1t will mean that
the Roosevelt administration will feel
its way toward a better grouping of
Federal agencies, and. when expert
ence has revealed the practicability
Of consolida ton, it will, no doubt, be
ratified by Congress.
Flexible System Seen.
The National Emergency Council
some day may become the National
Executive Council and bring into the
Federal mechanism a more flexible
administrative establishment than we
have had. For the present set-up has
grown, like Topsy. over a period of
$50 years. and is the result of a
patchwork of appropriation bills
which were adopted to suit various
occasions in American history long
since grown obsolete
!. Mr.. Roosevelt has broad powers,
already given him by Congress, TO
reorganize the Government. and he
has a substantial majority, so he
can command any additional power
he may need. Whatever else the New
Deal may do from an economic stand
point. it certainly has q splendid
chance to bring new deal in the
administrative machinery of the
United States Government.
tCopyright 1934l