Evening star., 1952-03-02
DeIuyin Hoover Reforms
Held Costly Waste
Writer Blomes Administration
For Loss of 10 Billions
By Frank R. Kent

Probably the waste and inefhciency
inherent in a democratic form of gov
ernment on as vast scale as ours is not
too high price to pay for individual
liberty. Nevertheless. there are times
when it seems not only too high but
ruinously so.
For example in a crisis such as we
now face, threatened by a ruthless
foreign foe and exposed to even greater
danger by fiscal mismanagement inside,
the blessings Of our highly vaunted sys-
tenn are not too easily sustained. These
reflections seem justified not only by
the present situation in the United
States but by the almost incredible
stupidity with which we ignore the facts
with which we are confronted and the
shocking complacency with which We
refuse to perform the obvious acts de-
signed to save uS from internal disaster
and which 20 clearly would be 10 the
advantage Of every citizen.
Reference here ID to the Hoover coms
Missions report submitted In le4V. Gre.
Ated BY Congress and appointed by the
President. In the judgment OF most In.
formed men, this commission has per.
formed the most unselfish, constructive
and nationally valuable lob OF any
agency OF its kind since the Republic
was founded. The idea behind the
commission was to feefgani4e the eXeeus
tive branch Of the Government, con.
eededly swollen and expanded beyond
all reason, costly, confused and uns
Wieldy to q degree never before dreamed
Of, To this end the commission was
made as completely non partisan and,
non-political as possible, No one has
suggested that either its labor or ito
recommendation were 30 much a.
tinged- with politics,
When the commission presented It's
report there was almost unanimous
commendation from the politicians,
from the press and In the country gener-
rally. There was practically no dissent
from either the soundnesS or the desir.
ability Of the proposals. Nor was there
any denial that their adoption would
not only vastly increase governmental
efficiency but save more than IS billion q
year. One of these proposals-to take
the appointment Of internal revenue
collectors out Of politics and place them
under civil Service-recently was made
by President Truman himSelf-after the
department scandals had been revealed.
AS pointed out by Mr.. Hoover, II the
commissions recommendations concern
ing methods Of selection and organi7a-
ton Of Federal employees had been
acted upon when first suggested they
would have saved great grief to the
country"
Rejecting upon the lack Of open op-
position, the general admission Of
soundness, the utter lack Of politics, the
high character of the commission and
the clear needs Of the Nation, it was diff
ficult to believe the recommendation
would not be adopted quickly. Particu-
larly was this so when the S. billion
annual saving was considered. Think
what that would mean to Nation
weighted down by debt Of unprece-
dented size. burdened by grievously
heavy taxation and faced with new and
tremendous expenditure for defense!
One would suppose the American people
would deeply resent any politically in
spired delay or opposition.
Yet it has taken three years Of hard
work by a citizens committee composed
Of non-political and outstanding mem
to get through 55 per cent Of the recon-
mendations. The delay has cost the
country more than $40 billion. Much less
than half of that S. billion annual saw
ing is now assured. The reasons: Cd
Lukewarm support from the President:
CD opposition Of the great organized
group Of Federal jobholders who con-
stitute the most potent bbby in WASH
ington: 90 refusal of members Of Con-
gresS to cooperate in recommendation
that seem to lessen their political pa
tronage and perquisites.
Last week the citizens committee dis.
banded because this is an election year
and 1t does not want to hurt its cause
by becoming mixed up in campaign
politics But final drive Is being made
to get through at this session the more
important remaining recommendation
The work will 80 on. TO fail would be O
national Disgrace and disaster.