Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1939-01-26
Bruckart's Washington Digest
Bruckarfs Washington Digest
Federal Government So Huge
Few Can Grasp Its Magnitude
Multiplicity of Bureaus and Agencies Demanding Reports
of All Kinds Places Tremendous Burden Business;
Many Agencies Covering Same Lines of Business.
BY WILLIAM BRUCKART
WNU Service National Press Bldg. WASHINGTON. D. C.

in billions. Recently, you know.
President Roosevelt asked congress
to appropriate more than S., 000, 00O,-
600 for the government year begin
ming July /, 1889. That total is not
all. There will be other and addi-
tional sums called for as each one
of these agencies, or many of them,
j fails to live within it's appropriation
and goes back to congress to ask
for more money. The relief admin
istration came in a few weeks ago
and asked for $875, 0O0, 900 more to
run it until July / when congress
believed in May, 1888, that It was
voting enough funds to meet the
needs Of relief until the coming july.
But to get back to Mr.. Rice's sur
vey. ! am not informed as to de-
tails, or whether the figures have
been segregated to show how many
Of these $4,000, 900 reports are fled
with each of the several agencies.
Certain of the great offenders in the
matter Of demanding reports can
be enumerated, however, to show
the trend. It is necessary obviously
in some cases for an agency of the
government to have all details of
businesses over which it has super
vision; yet, I can not help wonder
ing whether it is necessary to have
such supervision in the first in
stance.
Hos0 Many Of These Agencies
Can We Get Along Without?
Hence, the Rice survey calls at
tention to something much deeper
than just the burden that govern
ment places on its citizens. It sug.
gests the question: how many OF
these governmental agencies and
their functions can we do without?
How many can be abandoned with
benefit, both in the matter of sound
government and in the elimination
of useless expense to the taxpayers
and the individuals or corporations
required to meet government de-
mands? My guess is that at least a
third OF our present government
structure is of no value: that at
least that portion could be e.limi-
mated and everyone would be hap
pier, and that if large chunk of
these functions were forgotten, liv-
ing wouldn't be so complicated and
certainly not so costly. It must be
remembered that every time cost of
government is increased, there is
more than the outlay for govern
ment expense involved. Every time
government agency gets Shiny fin
gers into business, just then does
there arise an added cost of living.
1t is not hearsay with me when
say that high pressure groups force
additional government expenses
upon the nation. / have watched
their operation year after year.
have sat in the galleries Of congress
and observed the operation of lobby
lists who have checked and re-
checked their lists of members; I
have seen their propaganda, their
threats of dire consequences at the
polls and have seen cowardly sena-
tors and representatives capitulate
to the pressure. A million or so. or
several hundred millions, are voted;
a new federal agency is created and
starts spending money. The per-
sonnet that gets on the payroll at the
start begins Immediately to look for
ways to keep its jobs and the agen-
cy establishes ''liaison" with con-
gress in order that congress can be
informed"
There are 20 or 80 boards and bu-
reaus and commissions in a. W.