Evening star., 1948-12-01
Hoover Unit Proposes
Merging Of Activities
OF State Department

A substantial reorganization OF
the State Department, including the
merging of its career foreign serv-
ice with its departmental organiza-
ton here, has been recommended
to the Hoover Commission.
A spokesman said the proposals
had been made by one of the COM
missions task forces" and are now
being considered by the 12-man
group headed by former President
Herbert Hoover.
Mr.. Hoover himself estimated
after a White House viist yesterday
that the Government can save So
900 100000 annually by an overall
reorganization to bring about better
housekeeping"
Talking with reporters after re-
viewing with President Truman the
commissions work, Mr. Hoover said
one aim of his group is to bring
within the framework of 10 depart
ments and six administrative agen-
cies about 10 independent establish
ments in the executive branch Of
the Government. The tenth de-
partment probably woult. be de-
partment of public welfare, created
by giving cabinet status to the Fed
eral Security Agency.
Transfers Proposed.
Mr.. Hoover said the President ap-
proves the overall principle.
The proposals regarding the State
Department recommend the estab-
lishment of a new Foreign Rela-
tions Corps" from the combined
foreign and departmental services.
Among other changes urged by the
task force" is the transfer of some
State Department functions to other
GuTernplent agencies, -a- step which
would involve about 1,400 employees
now on the State Department s
payroll.
The State Departments visa divi-
sion would be transferred to the
Justice Department, and its cultural
relations activities would be. shifted
to the ONCE of Education or what ]
ever new Federal department might
be set up to handle educational ac-
tivities.
The proposals also call for the
Voice of America and other overseas
information work to be removed
from the State Department except
for overall policy and planning
matters. Actual operation of these
activities would be in the hands of
an especially created semipublic
foundation or corporation. The ac-
tivities would be operated largely
with public funds, but private cit
izens would compose the Board Of
Directors.
Practices Criticized.
The task force report was critical
of present operating practices in
the department, asserting that the
present setup was too cumbersome
and prevented maximum efficient
operation.
The task force group recommend
ed four assistant secretary posts be
created, to be responsible for four
different geographical areas - the
American republics, Europe, the
Near East and Africa, and the Far
East. At present there is only one
assistant secretary for political af-
fairs.
Another post would be the assist
ant secretary for congressional rela-
tionS. Still another assistant secre-
tary position would be established
to handle problems involving the
United Nations.
AS for the overall reorganization
being studied, such regulatory agen-
cies as the Interstate Commerce
Commission and the Federal Com
munications Commission would not
be affected. Mr.. Hoover empha-
sized the need, too, for a higher
scale for top Government officials,
and a definite program to build up
Government employment as a Ca
reer Service.
The Government is losing its
most skilled men in the upper
brackets to industry" he explained.
Payment i'll the top scale has just
got to be increased If this Govern
ment is going to function"
The Hoover commission, a BIZ
partisan group, is required by law
TO report to Congress January 8, and
a preliminary report will be ready
then. Mr. Hoover said, however,
that the group will ask for addi-
tional time to present detailed find
ings.