Evening star., 1937-01-12

y.
report on administrative management in the GoD-
ernment OF the United States follo,os:
Modern management equipment for the Federal
Government that 1t may do promptly and efficiently
what is expected Of 1t by the American people is the
keynote Of the report made today to the President by
his Committee Administrative Management. The
purpose of making Federal administrative management
modern and businesslike is to make American de-
mocracy efficient. 1t is the view of the committee
that fgovernment cannot long survive in this
country unless it do its work efficiently. 1.-The
forward march Of American democracy at this point
Of history" says the committee, depends more
upon effective management than upon any other single
factor To this end ve-point program Of reorgani-
zation OF the executive branch OF the Government
presented by the committee including these major
recommendations:
Five-Point Program
Is Recommended.
Modernize the White House business and manage
ment organization by giving the President six high
grade executive assistants to aid him in dealing with
the regular departments and agencies.
Strengthen the budget and efficiency research,
the planning and the personnel services Of the Gov
ernment so that these may be effective managerial
arms for the President. with which he may better
coordinate direct and all of the work of the
executive branch for which he is responsible under
the Constitution.
Place the whole governmental administration
service a basis and under the merit system
by extending the Civil Service upward outward and
downward to include all -policy-determinng posi-
tions and jobs.
Overhaul the more than 100 separate departments,
bOardS, commissions, admnlStratonS autnorltleS cor
poratonS, committees agencies and activities which
parts Of the executive branch, and theoreti-
cally under the President and consolidate them within
IL regular departments which would include the exist
ing 10 departments and two new departments, a De-
partment of Social Welfare and Department Of Pub
lie Works. The of the Department of Interior is
changed to Department OF Conservation.
Make the executive branch accountable to the
Congress by creating a true post-audit Of financial
transactions by independent auditor general who
would report illegal and wasteul expenditures to Con-
gress without himself becoming involved In the man.
agement OF departmental policy, and transfer the
duties of the present controller in part to the audi
tor to the Treasury, and to the Attorney General
. These five points woven together in a single
comprehensive program.
Executives to Assign
Bureaus for Agencies
The report of the committee does not deal with the
abolition of established activities or jobs
which is stated to be matter OF policy for the Presl-
dent and the Congress to determine but oeVotes seI
entirely to setting up an efficient modern machinery
Of Government But in this process over 10 actVlties
abolished separate and independent establish
ments and their work transferred either to the new
Departments of Social Welfare and Public Works, or
to of the 10 old departments. The exact placing OF
bureaus and activities is not set out in the report as
this assignment of work placed upon the Executive
as continuing responsibility, after research by the
Bureau Of the Budget, in accordance with ehcency
and service standards to be fixed by Congress. Such
assignment and division of work. once the standards
have been set by law. is regarded by the committee
as an executive function"
No estimate of savings by reorganization is con-
tanned in the report though these will follow In the
opinion Of the committee. Extensive economy beyond
this point depends upon change of policy, the aoan-
donmen of functions and the demobilization OF the
STATS involved and outside of the terms of reference
Of the Committee Administrative Management
The committee points out however, that the recon-
mended plan of organization which ties all agencies
into IL departments is designed to permit the prompt
and efdcent rehabilitation of any activities which are
later discontinued by act of Congress or by executive
order.
Aides to Assist President
In Keeping Contact.
The proposed addition to the White House staff is
not to be made of assistant presidents says the
committee It will be composed of half dozen men,
drawn the very top of the existing career service
or from outside, and will assist the President in or
ganizing and maintaining contact with his depart
mens These executive assistants will not issue orders
or make speeches. but will work directly and anony-
mousy in the White House getting information when
needed by the President making decisions and then
in seeing that decisions are promptly communicated
to those who are involved. They would De IKE the
private assistants of the president general manager
of great private business. The committee CONDEMNS
the existing situation and says that the President OF
the United States managing the biggest business In
the world has less assistance Of this sort IMAM
many State Governors, city managers and mayors,
and executives of even small private concerns.
Extensive reorganization of the civil service sys-
tenn with increase of salaries for posts Of great
responsibilities, is part of the program. AS the
committee says, Government cannot be any better
or more efficient than the men and women who work
in it." 1t pointed out that many of the people are
now leaving the Government for industry because
Government does not offer satisfactory career.
Top posts both in and out of the civil service are
underpaid and there is systematic provision ior
transfer and advancement in the service. This Is
corrected by making personnel administration part
of every department and part Of overhead manage
ment by establishing a civil service administrator
to work directly under the President, just as the
budget director does now. This administrator would
devote his attention only to giving civil service
examinations recruiting. classifying, etc. but even
more to finding able people who can be brought into
the Government especially the lower rungs OF
career ladders, to discovering able persons in the
service, and to seeing that they get training and
opportunities promotion and generally to advance
ing the merit system and the career idea. Salaries
in top posts increased and the civil service ex-
tended upward to include all except the secretaries,
undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and similar
positions
25O0O0 Positions TO Be
Under Civil Service.
Over 250 900 positions. some Of which now
under merit principles will be brought under civil