Evening star., 1942-02-08
Jones Asks Authority
For Department 10
Charge for Services
Commerce Secretary
Seeks to Cut Costs
Of Administration
BY OLIVER MCKEE.


AS a means of reducing costs of
administration and providing the
Federal Government with a new
source of revenue during the war
period, Secretary Jones wants the
Commerce Department to charge
fees for many of the services now
rendered gratis to business corpora
tions and to individuals.
Though the department, under
existing law, charges its customers
for some services, statutory author
ity is required to extend the fee
system. In letters to Speaker Ray
burn and Vice President Garner
Secretary Jones recently urged leg
isiation authorizing the Commerce
Department to charge for special
services to corporations and indi-
v;duals. Accompanying his letters
was the draft of bill prepared by
department experts.
Extension of the fee system, along
the lines proposed by Secretary
Jones, would add approximately
100000 to the revenues of this
Federal agency, officials estimated
yesterday.
Survey Made Last Summer.
The recommendation now before
Congress is based on surveys that
began last summer. These studies,
covering all the bureaus of the de-
partment, were designed to show
the free services rendered to indi-
viduals and business firms, and to
obtain the views of the officials
concerned as to the possibility of
extending the fee system.
Before Secretary Jones made his
request for legislation. the plan was
submitted to the Budget Bureau,
which not only gave it immediate
approval, but suggested that the
proposed legislation be broadened
to give all other Government agen-
cieS the authority to charge for
special services to the public.
Those calling on the Government
for assistance, or who require its
administrative services, whether be-
cause of statutory regulations or
for other reasons, should be asked
to help defray the costs of the work
performed for them, according to
department officials.
Most of the States, they point out,
recognize this principle by charging
for auto registrations and inspec-
tions, imposing fees for drivers Ii
censes, etc. The Federal Govern
ment, on the other hand, licenses
civil aviators and seamen without
cost, and makes no charge for in
specting steamships.
The Office of the Secretary, on
the average, certifies gratis five to
20 weather charts every day for
court use, as well as many Coast
and Geodetic Survey charts. BY
imposing reasonable fees for such
services, officials point out, the de-
partment would be able to add sub
stantially to its present revenues.
Extremely Valuable" Services Free.
Though payment is exacted for
some work performed, In many in
stances, services of extreme value
are rendered without charge to re-
cipients, although at considerable
expense to the Government" a de-
partment memorandum pointed out.
In view of the large war expendi-
lures, it explained further, other
sources of revenue besides taxation
should be tapped to reduce admin
istrative costs to a minimum.
THE department is of the opin-
Ion that it is equitable and sound
for the cost of services rendered by
governmental agencies to be met
through the imposition of charges
on those benefited by the service,
particularly where the service is
such as to be of more immediate
benefit to the one for whom the
service is performed, rather than to
the public at large" Secretary Jones
said.
The request of Secretary Jones,
and the departments proposed bill,
are now before the House Interstate
Commerce Committee and the Sen
ate Committee on Commerce.