The daily record., 1952-01-07

markable preamble:
After extensive study of the
matter with Secretary of the Treas
ury, I have decided to institute a
sweeping reorganization of the Bu-
reau of Internal Revenue. This re-
organization is part of a program
to prevent improper conduct in the
public service, to protect the gov
ernment from the insidious influ-
ence peddlers and favor seekers
and to expose and punish any
wrongdoerS."
This was given to our country
on January 2, 1852, The Hoover
Commission report on the identical
subject. making similar recon-
mendations, was issued on March
5, 1949 The Hoover Commission
was appointed on July IT, 1947
because there was obvious need
for reform. Actually the need goes
back decades.
The question then arises: Why
was the Hoover Commission ap-
pointed at all? If one goes into
that, it is possible to say that at
the moment of appointment, the
President sincerely desired an over
all reorganization of the executive
branch of government. He invited
Herbert Hoover to assist him and
the original legislation creating the
commission was of Herbert Hoo
yer'S designing.
This commission consisted of ap-
pointees by the President, the Sen
ate and the House of Representa-
tives 1t was strictly non-partisan.
1t included officials and private
citizens. In addition, a large body
of distinguished and able Ameri-
cans, not actually on the commits
sion. were co-opted for task forces.
They did the investigating and the
preparation of the basic task force
reports on which the commission
reached its conclusions.
From the very start, Mr.. Hoover
encountered measure of oppoSi-
ton and delay among those men,
bers who had developed a govern
mental philosophy supporting the
widest expansion of governmental
authority and the development of
bureaucratic methods. This battle
was fought steadily and often the
questions at issue were placed be-
fore President Truman. 1t must
be said here that the President
supported the position of Herbert
Hoover most often and seemed to
show the keenest interest in the
commissions work. =.
However, when. the reports were
ont and public enthusiasm evident,
sn-S liz service was offered to the
reforms a lens committee was
organized under the chairmanship
Of Robert L. Johnson. president of
Temple University, which has de-
voted itself to propaganda for
the implementation of the Hoover
proposals. The effective opposition
came not only from the White
House and the bureaucracy, but
also from members of Congress
who favor patronage as a means to
retaining their seats.
President Truman says:
1T is my intention to make
the Bureau of Internal Revenue a
blue-ribbon civil service career or
ganization. 1 intend to make it a
service in which all of us can
place genuine confidence and have
justified pride / hope that I will
have the full support of the Con-
gress and of the public in bringing
this about
1t is to be hoped that the Presi-
dent intends to do this. He could
have done it long ago. His Secre-
tary OF the Treasury and his Attor-
ney General could have done it at
any time since they were appointe
to office. It is not only Awithin
their power. but it is their sworn
duty to keep their personnel in
order.
This is not partisan question.
Republicans are not more honest
than Democrats because they be-
long to a different party. Actually,
three factors are involved:
l. Patronage is a vicious system,
utterly untenable by any argument.
A public official, particularly a tax
collector or law enforcement Off
Ger, should not be beholden to a
politician for his office or for con-
tinuance in office.
2. The bureaucracy has grown too
large and is unmanageable. There
are too many offices and bureaus
and responsibility has become diff
fused. Bookkeeping methods are
antiquated and clever men can find
means for evading checks and pro-
tectiveS. A private business would
be bankrupted by the inefficiencies
not only tolerated but encouraged
in the management of public af-
fairs.
All this is amply established in
the Hoover reports.
3. The morals of public conduct
reflect the decay of private morals.
A shift from patronage to civil
service, from Democrats to Repub-
licans, will not suffice unless the
people themselves demand and in
sist upon a moral approach to a
public responsibility.
Criticizing mink coats is not
the answer. For by any law of life,
if there are givers, there will bt
takers. Human frailty can always
be found and depended upon. 1t is
up to the people to show their
moral indignation at and intoler-