The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-01-04
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
RE.oRGANIZING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT


The determination of President Roosevelt to ask
Congress to give him the power to reorgahi%e the
Federal government is reassuring.
Perhaps, it would be more in order for Congress
to make this move itself, but if the country had to
wait on congressional action in this field, it might
as well dismiss at its expectations Of any re-
suits along this line.
In fact, i. is very likely that Congress that IS
always politically minded and, therefore, more I'M
mediately concerned with the spoils and patronage
phases of government than in business efficiency,
will resent this contemplated step of the President
and seek to forestall him in this worthy attempt.
| One of he needs for reorganization arises from
this very circumstance.
| The President wants to put all those in the Fed
era employe within the rules and specifications of
the civil service.
In. other words, he would make swift end Of the
present method of filling the public offices so large
lv on the basis of mere political reward instead OF
merit
The competitive examination plan which PreSi-
dent Roosevelt favors and proposes to insist upon
will greatly obvate this phase of office holding and
bring into the service of the government men and
women who have been chosen not because they
went down the line for some Congressman or Sem
ator. but because they show the qualities of intel
lgence and fitness which their particular jobs re-
quire.
Another reason the need for reorganization is so
pressing arises from the present lack of coordina-
ton.
The government of the United States is the big
gest business in the United States and, therefore,
it should be operated upon basis of the greatest
system and rigid organization, with every duty
strictly defined and all ofceholders the individual
cogs in this vast machine, deicately and specifically
fitting into their place in the mechanism
No such orderliness now abounds
The government is a mere hodgepodge of offices
and commissions and bureaus with thousands OF
employees treading upon each others toes, dong the
same work, crossing one another at frequent paths
and otherwise producing conglomerate mass Oh
topsy -turvy confusion and chaos.
MIR. Roosevelt will have the good wishes of the
patriotic citizens of this country in this aspiration
10 take a clean broom and begin vigorous sweep
inc o. the Washington government with view to
gre,aer efficiency in operation and less cost in
overhead.
There is no question but that millions of dollars
can be saved the taxpayers of America if the re-
organization is carried out with system and science
and independent of political tangents and influ-
ences.
With the functions of the Washington govern
ment so materially multiplied during the past four
years by reason of the creation of the New Deal
and its octopus of agencies top-heaviness has
developed that not only impairs good government
but which imposes upon the taxpayers burden OIL
cost that is wholly unnecessary and iniquitous
Not the least of the crowns that the President
can fabricate for himself during his second term
and by which he may add to a hstory-making adj
m;nstration can be patterned at this point OF
bringing about the cleanup which is in his mind
and putting the great business of operating the
government of the United States on a business and
scientific basis of management and operation
Charlotte Observer.