Evening star., 1942-05-03

HAhOLO II. SMII II.
Harris & E1Ding Photo.
That Is the semi-facetiouS, Semi-seri-
| Gus remark of a member of Congress
| who has followed the revolution in Gov
ernment which has come with reorgan-
| ization of the Budget Bureau. The bu-
reau was created originally in 1921. Be-
fore that time there had been no check
whatever on appropriation requests by
the executive departments The Gov
eminent was small and unimportant in
the whole scheme of American life.
In the 1921 law the bureau was made
responsible to the President. and given
considerable supervisory powers over
Government expenditures. 1t was estab-
Ished, however, in the Treasury and al
lowed to remain little more than an add
ing device for reckoning income and out
go. The annual appropriation for the
Budget Bureau up to and including 1898
was not more than s187 900, which de-
cidedly limited its functions. 1t was
still government by irresponsible depart
mentS.
Bill Initiated Changes.
The change was initiated by Daniel w
Bell, a distinguished civil servant who is
now Undersecretary of the Treasury. Bell
saw the useful function which the bu-
reau could perform as housekeeper ex-
traordinary to the expanding Federal
Government. He drew on the powers Of
the 1921 act and as budget director re-
organized the bureau Just before his
successor. Smith, was to take Office in
April of 1885,
That was the beginning. The reor-
ganization was carried another big step
ahead by an executive order issued in
September. 1899, under the reorganiza-
ton act passed that year. This gave the
budget director the broadest possible
powers. At the same time the President
told Smith that he wanted the bureau
not merely administratively in the ex-
ecutive office but physically as near the
White House as possible. Smith began to
assemble an enlarged staff in the State
Department Building, just across the
street from the White House Offices
One of the functions delegated to the
bureau under the reorganization was ito
improved plans of administrative man.
agement and to advise the executive
departments and agencies of the Gov
eminent with respect to approved ad-
mlnStratlve organization and practice"
Order Out Of Chaos.
Another with even broader implica-
tions, was ito aid the President to bring
about more efficient and economical con-
duct of Government service" Still an
other function was ito assist the Presi-
dent by clearing and co-ordinating de-
partmental advice on proposed legisla-
ton and by making recommendations as
to the presidential action on legislative
enactments ,"
Under this last provision all legislative
recommendations must be approved by
the Budget Bureau. Before that time
heads OF departments had acted more or
less on their own initiative in putting
forward legislative proposals which were
often at cross-purposes.
In many instances the revised Budget
Bureau has moved to restore order out
OF chaos. Mr.. Smith has been working
toward standardizing Government ac-
counting practices. This is essential if
any real month-to-month check on
progress is to be made. Formerly hours
of work in Government hospitals varied
from A to 72 a week; now standardized
rules have been worked out. standard
has been established for charges for
quarters in the military services. Like
wise, the allowance for furnishing Gov
ernment offices has been standardized.
Rooted Deep in Tradition.
All these details of government house.
keeping take time and patience. Gov
ernment practices are rooted deep in ira
ditional habits which are hard to break
Bureau chiefs, says Smith wryly, cling
to members of their staff and hang on
even more grimly to their files
One of his chief jobs today is finding
space for the vast flood of war workers
now converging on Washington. 1t is
Smith who decides, with the Presidents
approval, what bureaus and agencies are
to move out of Washington. He was re-
sponslble for sending the Rural Electri-
flcation Administration to st. Louis and
the Farm Security Administration to
Cincinnati. The space problem is ter
rife and certain to grow worse during
the present year.
BY checking on the spending of Gov
eminent agencies, Smith has been able
to bring about substantial savings He
reported to the House Appropriation
Committee in January that he had been
able ito set up reserves of approximately
$415 900. 600" This represents savings
from the appropriations of many bureaus
and agencies
Hard Hitting Young Aides.
In many instances they try to get it
back again, but If it has been kept in the
reserve fund until the end of the fiscal
year-and most of it is SO kept-then it
either goes back into the Treasury or the
amount Is Offset against the agency's
request for the next fiscal year.
How much more we might have been
able to do II W had the stai, do not
know" Smith told the House committee.