Evening Star Newspaper, December 9, 1932, Page 6

PRESIDENT'S ORDER WILL ELIVINATE 15 Proposal Sent to Congress Becomes Effective in 60 Days Without Action. (Continued From First Page.) Health and Recreation, which also would be a part of the Interior Depart- ment, the principal transfers are: Office of Education, Howard University, Co- lumbian Institution for the Deaf, Bu- reau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and Freedman's Hospital, all of which now are in the Interior Department; Division of Vital Statistics of the Census Bureau, administrative duties and functions of the Board of Vocational Education, now independent, and the Public Health service, now in the Treasury Depart- ment. In the division of Land Utilization in the Agriculture Department, the Presi- dent places the General Land Office, now in the Interior Department; the Forest Service, Bureau of Chemistry and Seils, Bureau of Biological Survey and the Advisory Council of the Na- tional Arboretum, all of which are now in the Department of Agriculture. In the division of Merchant Marine of the Commerce Department is placed the U. S. Shipping Board Merchant | Fleet Corporation; the Coast and Geo- | detic Survey; the Hydrographic Office | of the Bureau of Navigation of the Navy Department to be absorbed by the Coast and Geodetic Survey; Bureau of Navi- gation and Steamboat Inspection; Naval Observatory of the Bureau of Naviga- tion with exception of activities that have to do with development and main- tenance of instruments for the Navy; Inland Waterways Commission, now in | the War Department, and the Bureau cf Lighthouses. To the Commerce Department the President’s plan transfers the Weather Bureau, now in the Agriculture Depart- ment, the powers and duties of the Fed- eral Oi! Conservation Board: the duties and powers of the National Screw Thread Commission and the National A”visory Committee for Aeronautics, the last two activities to be assigned to the Bureau of Standards. Justice Department. To. the Justice Department is trans- ferred the powers and duties of the alien property custodian and those powers and duties of the Veterans' Ad- ministration relating to defense in court of cases involving litigation aris- ing under the adjusted compensation act. The powers and duties of the Em- ployes’ Compensation Commission would be transferred to the Labor Depart- ment, except those functions relating to compensation on account of injuries received by civilian employes of the Federal and municipal government of the District of Columbia, which are transferred to the Civil Service Com- mission. . The border patrol of the Iramigration S:rvice of the Labor Department and the border patrel of the Customs Serv- ice of the Treasury would be trans- ferred to the Coast Guard. The powers and duties of the Bureau of Efficiency would be transferred to the Budget Bureau. Some of the duties and powers of the General Accounting Office would be transferred to the Budget Bureau. ‘The President’s plan abolishing the board of trustees of the National Train- ing Scheol for Boys of the District and transfer of the powers and duties of that board to the Board of Public Wel- fare of this city. The President in his message pointed out that this action will automatically convert this school into a Jocal reform school, the manage- ment of which he contends should be confined to local authorities. He ex- plained that the practice of committing delinquent boys to the National Train- ing School from jurisdictions outside of this city has been generally discontinued. ‘The executive orders effecting these sweeping changes vary little from the major features of the program sent by Mr. Hoover to Congress during the last session. matter of reorganizing the Gov- 2L 50 as to eliminate waste and 1 duplicated effort and overlap- ¢f authority has been considered Sresidents and Congress for years. ent Harding soon after his inau- guration urged definite action, and un- der his supervision and in co-opera- tion with a joint congressional commis- sion a long study was made. This re- sulted in a general plan being reported to Congress, but which falled to be acted upon. Walter F. Brown, now Postmaster General, worked out the plan for Presi- d:nt Harding. The text of the President’s argu- ments as to why the changes should be made follows: Public Works Are Put Under One Head. 1t is proposed in the executive order on the Department of the Interior deal- ing with public ks and related activi- ties to consolidate and group those ac- tivities in the Department of the Inte- rior and to place th sibility for their props one of the Assistant Secreta Interior whose title will be changed to Assistant Sec: rv of the Interior for Public Work: who will be responsi- ble to the S y of the Interiur for the work placed under nis jurisdiciion. At the present tim2 Federal activitios relating to the planning and prosccu- tion of public worl the maintenance and operation of buildings, and the pur- chase and supply cf mate: used by the Federal Government are scattered among a number of departments and dent boards or commissions. ivities are all closely reiated control to achieve co-ordin: The activities of the Depar the Inter by the Bureau of Reclamation, the Geo- logical Survey, and the exercise of the duties and auth y formerly performed y the Board of Road Commissioners ka. It is proposed to transfer lowing organizations, bureaus, offices, and ac s to the Depart- ment of the In 1. The Office Architect from of the the Supervising Treasury Depart- military _activities (with of the Supervisor of New and the Survey of North- ern aiii Northwestern Lakes) admin- istered under the direction or super- vision of the Chief of Engineers, United Elates Army, including rivers and har- bors and flood-control work and the duties, powers, and functions of the ) ssissippi River Commission, the Cali- fornia Debris Commission, the Joint Board of Engineers for the St. Lawrence River Waterway, the Board of Engi- neers for Rivers and Harbors, and the Interoceanic Canal Board, from the War Department. The said boards and commissions will be retained to serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of the Interior. 3. The Bureau of Public Roads from the Department of Agriculture. 4. The Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks from its status as an inde- pendent establishment. 5. The administrative duties, powers, Yark Harbor and functions of the National Capital ing Commission which Inhdmndm-fl*fl&&fla The commission will'be continued sole- 1y as an advisory body. 6. The administrative duties, powers, and functions of the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Commission which is now 4n independent agency, and the re- | tention of the commission solely as an | advisory body. | 7. The administrative duties, powers, and functions of the Arlington Memo- rial Bridge Commission which is now an independent establishment and the continuance of the commission to serve in an advisory capacity. 8. The administrative duties, powers | and functions of the Commission of Fine Arts which is now an independent agency, and the continuance of the | commission to serve in an advisory ca- pacity. 9. The administrative duties, powers, and functions of the George Rogers | Clark Sesquicentennial ~Commission, and the continuance of the commission | as an advisory body. | 10. The administrative duties, powers, and functions of the Mount Rushmore | National Memorial Commission, and the | | continuance of the commission as an | | advisory body. | | 11. The administrative duties, powers, | {and functions of the General Supply | Committee, Treasury Department, and the continuance of the eommittee sole- ly as an advisory body. | _12. The Government fuel yards from | | the Bureau of Mines, Department of Commerce. There follows a statement of the | origin, duties, and reasons for the transfer of each organization, bureau, | office, or activity named above. Office of the Supervising Architect. The Secretary of the Treasury has, from an early period in our history, | | been charged with the duty of con- | structing public buildings. Later the | | Office of Supervising Architect was de- | | veloped in the department to supervise | the construction of public buildings, and to maintain and operate Govern- | | ment buildings outside of the District | of Columbia, The Office of the Supervising Archi- | tect advices the departments on such | | construction matters as architectural | | designs, general layout, structural fea- | tures, ‘and mechanical equipment; it | | makes surveys of public building re- | | quirements, prepares reports showing | estimated costs, evaluations, ete., for submission to Congress; and it prepares plans and specifications for Govern- ment buildings, awards contracts there- for, and supervises their construction. | The work of this office is essentially connected with public works so far as design and construction are concerned and with service activities so far as care and maintenance are concerned, and | therefore logically belongs in the depart- | ment having jurisdiction over public works and service activities. It is pro- posed therefore to transfer the Omfice of the Supervising Architcet from the | Treasury Department to the Interior Department. | Rivers and Harbors and Flood Control. | The Office of the Chief of Enfinecrs is in control of all river and harbor im- | provements and flood control, as well as | all military activities of the Corps of | Engineers, For many years, the service of Army engineers has been used in making, planning and passing upon the | internal improvements in which the Federzl Government has been inter- ested. In 1824, the President of the | United States was authorized by an act of Congress (4 Stat. L., 22; approved Aprii 30, 1824) to cause the necessary | surveys, plans and estimates to be made of the routes of such roads and canals as he might deem of national impor- tance and was given authority to em- ploy civil engineers and officers of the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army to prosecute such work. The im- portant tasks of improving the naviga- tion of rivers and harbors were soon added to the road and canal work. Since that time, the Corps of Engineers, under the War Department, has been assigned a considerable volume of duties relating to internal improvemonts and today the principal non-military work of the Corps of Engineers consists of river and harbor improvements and flood control. ‘The primary duties pertaining to river and harbor improvements which are | now performed by the Office of the | Chief of Engineers, under the directicn | of the Secretary of War, involve the | execution of work ordered by Congress | for the improvement of rivers and har- | | bors and other navigable waters of the | United States. This includes the mak- | ing of examinations and surveys; ad- | | ministration and enforcement of laws | for the protection and preservation of | such waters; establishment of harbor | lines and anchorage grounds; promulga- | tion of all regulations for the use, ad- | | ministration and navigation of such | grounds and for the operation of draw- | bridges; removel of wrecks and other | obstructions to navigation; approval of plans of bridges and dams; issuance of | permits for structures, or for dredging, | dumping or other work in navigable | waters and related tasks. | | Certain branches of the rivers and | harbors and flood-control work are | operated under the control of the Mis | sissippi River Commission, the California | Debris Commicsion, the Joint Board of | Engineers for St. Lawrence River Wate | way, special boards for the establis] {ment and modification of harbor lines |and certain other boards. A Board of Engincers for Rivers and Harbors has | been established by statute under the | | Office of the Chief of Engineers for the | purpose of conducting certain investi- | | zations and passing upon plans per- | taining to river and harbor improve- ments and the promotion of water transportation. ‘The river and harbor and flood- | control work now performed by the Of- fice of the Chief of Engineers and the . _THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1932. Text of Hoover’s Reorganization Message HE text of President Hoover's I message on Government re- organ{zation follows: To the Senate and House of Representatives: ‘The Congress, on June 30, 1932, enacted provisions for the reorgani- zation of the executive departments, which subject I have from time to time laid before the Congress. The declared policy of the Con- gress, as set out in Section 401 of Title 4, Part 2, of this Act, follows: “Sec. 401. In order to further re- duce expenditures and increase effi- ciency in government it is declared to be the policy of Congress— “(a) To group., co-crdinate, and consolidate executive and adminis- trative agencies of the Government, nearly as may be, according to jor purpose: (b) To reduce the number of such agencies by consolidating those having similar functions under a single head: “(¢) To eliminate overlapping and duplication of effort; and “(d) To segregate regulatory agen- cles and functions from those of an administrative and executive char- acter.” To accomplish these purposes, the President was authorized by Execu- tive order to transfer executive agen- cles to and from departments and independent executive agencies and to designate titles and duties of the officials connected therewith. The act provides that such Exec- utive orders must be transmitted to the Congress while in session, and that they shall not become effective until the expiration of 60 calendar days, unless the Congress shall in the meantime approve them. In ac- cordance with this authorization, I am transmitting herewith to the Congress Executive orders which have been issued today, transfer- Ying and grouping a large number of exccutive agencies. A further limitation was placed upon Executive action in the pro- vision that statutory functions may not be abolished by Executive or- ders, the effect of which renders it necessary to retain many commis- sions, but, under the orders issued, their administrative functions are placed under various departments, the commissions retaining their ad- visory functions only. A total of 58 executive agencies and parts of agencies have been grouped or con- solidated. One cffect is to reduce by about 15 the number of inde- pendent agencies and commissions. I have made no estimate of the extent of the economies which will eventually result from this reor- ganizaticn program. The total ap- propriations for the present fiscal year to these agencies is approxi- mately $700,000,000. ‘These orders constitute the nec- essary initial action required in car- rying out the policy which the Con- gress has proclaimed in connection with reorganization of the execu- tive branch of the Federal Govern- ment. They undertake to group certain executive agencies and ac- tivities in logical and orderly rela- tion to each other as determined by their major functions and pur- poses, and to vest in the head of each department, subject to Execu- tive approval, the authority and responsibility to develop and put into effect the ultimate details of better organization, elimination of overlap, cuplication, and unneces- sary expenditure. These results can only be worked out progressively by the executive officers placed in charge of the different aivisions. An example of the value of such grouping and consolidation is well shown in the increased efficiency and administrative’ economies brought about through the consoli- dation of agencies relating to vet- erans’ -service and likewise of en- forcement activities which were au- thorized some time ago. I have under consideration fur- ther consolidations and grouping in the different departments, includ- ing certain functions of the Army and Navy, which I hope to be able to transmit to the Congress at a later date. Public Works. I have established a Division of Public Works in the Department of the Interior and designated that the title of one of the present Assistant Secretaries shall be changed to “As- sistant Secretary of Interior for Public Works,” under whose direc- tion I have grouped the following organizations and functions: 1. The Bureau of Reclamation, now in the Department of the In- terior. 2. The Geological Survey, now in the Department of the Interior. 3. The Office of the Supervicing Architect, which is transferred from the Treasury Department to the Department of the Interior. 4. The non-military activities (ex- cept the Survey of Northern and Northwestern Lakes and the Super- viscr of New York Harbor) admin- istered under the direction or su- pervision of the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, including riv- ers and harbors and flood control work, and the duties, powers, and functions of the Mississippl River Commissicn, the California Debris Commission, the Joint Board of En- gineers for the St. Lawrence River ‘Waterway, the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, and the In- teroceanic Canal Board, which are transferred from the War Depart- ment to the Department of the In- terior, and the said commissions and boards shall serve in an advisory ca- pl-clty to the Secretary of the Inte- rior 5. The activities and duties relat- ing to the construction, repair and maintenance of roads, tramways, ferries, bridges, and trails in the Territory of Alaska, now in the De- partment of the Interior, 6. The Bureau of Public Roads, which is transferred from the De- partment of Agriculture to the De- partment of the Interfor. 7. The Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks, which is trans- ferred from its status as an inde- pendent establishment to the De- partment of the Interior. 8. The administrative duties, pow- ers and functions of the National Capital Park and Planning Commis- sion, which are transferred to the Department of the Interior, and the commission shall serve in an ad- visory capacity to the Secretary of the Interior. 9. The administrative duties, pow- ers and functions of the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Commission, which are transferred to the De- partment of the Interior, and the commission shall serve in an ad- visory capacity to the Secretary of the Interior. 10. The administrative duties, powers and functions of the Arling- ton Memorial Bridge Commission, which are transferred to the De- partment of the Interior, and the commission shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of the Interior. 11. The administrative duties, pow- ers and functions of the Commis- ;mn gl’ ;‘ln:h Arts, which lge ttrnnu: erre e Department of Interior, and the commission shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of the Interior. 12. The administrative duties, pow- ers and functions of the George Rogers Clark Sesquicentennial Com- mission, which are transferred to the Department of the Interior, and the commission shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of the Interior. 13. The administrative duties, pow- ers and functions of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Com- mission, which are transferred to the Department of the Interior, and the commission shall serve in an advisory capacity tb the Secretary of the Interior. 14. The administrative duties, pow- ers and functions of the General Supply Committee, Treasury De- partment, which are transierred to the Department of the Interior, and the committee shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of the Interior. 15. The Government fuel yards, which are transferred from the Bu- reau of Mines, Department of Com- merce, to the Department of the Interior. Education, Health and Recreation. I have establshed a Division of Education, Health and Recreation in the Department of the Interior and have designated that one of the As- sistant Secretaries shall be called “Assistant Secretary of Interior far Education, Health and Recreation,” and have transferred to that division the following organizations and functions: 1. The Office of Education, now in the Department of the Interior. 2. Howard University, now in the Department of the Interior. 3. The Columbia Institution for the Deaf, now in the Department of the Interior. 4. The American Printing House for the Blind, which is transferred from the Treasury Department to the Office of Education. 5. The administrative duties, pow- ers and functions of the Federal Board for Vocational Education, which are transferred to the Office of Education, and the board shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of the Interior. 6. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, now in the Department of the Interior. 7. The Public Health Service, which” is _transferred from the Treasury Department to the De- partment of the Interior. 8. The Division of Vital Statistics, which is transferred from the Bu- reau of the Census, Department of Commerce, to the Publi¢ Health Service in the Department of the Interior. 9. St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, now in the Department of the Interior. 10. Freedmen's Hospital, now in the Department of the Interior. 11. The National Park Service, now in the Depariment of the Interior. 12. The national parks, monuments and cemeteries, which are trans- ferred from the War Department to the Department of the Interior. Land Utilization. I have established a Division of Land Utilization in the Department of Agriculture to include functions ‘whose major purpose relates to the protection and utilization of land and its inherent natural resources, and have designated a change in the title of the Assistant Secretary to “Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Land Utilization,” and have transferred to that division the fol- lowing organizations and functions: 1. The Forest Service, now in the Department of Agriculture. 2. The General Land Office, which is transferred from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Agriculture. 3. The administrative duties, pow- ers and functions of the Committee on the Conservation and Administra- tion of the Public Domain, which are transferred to the Department of Agriculture, and the committee shall serve in an adviscry capacity to the Secretary of Agriculture. 4. The Advisory Council of the National -Arboretum, now in the De- partment of Agriculture. 5. The Bureau of Biological Sur- vey, now in the Department of Agri- culture. 6. The Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, now in the Department of Agriculture. "vaous fractions of bureaus already in the Department of Agri- culture dealing with this major pur- pose will be subsequently added to this general division. The Merchant Marine. 1 have established a Merchant Marine Division in the Department of Commerce and an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Merchant Marine, and have transferred to that ditision the following organizations and functions: 1. The Coast and Geodetic Sur- vey, now in the Department of Commerce. 2. The Hydrographic Office of the Bureau of Navigation of the Navy Department to the Coast and Geo- detic Survey. 3. The Survey of Northern and Northwestern Lakes of the Office of the Chief of Engineers of the War Department to the Coast and Geo- detic Survey. . 4. The Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection, now in the Department of Commerce. 5. The Supervisor of New York Harbor of the Office of the Chief of Engineers of the War Department and the powers and duties of sald supervisor to the Bureau of Naviga- tion and Steamboat Inspection. 6. The Naval Observatory of the Bureau of Navigation of the Navy Department, with the exception of those activities that have to do with the development, maintenance, and repair of instruments for the Navy, to the Department of Commerce. 7. The United States Shipping Boerd Merchant Fleet Corporation to the Department of Commerce. 8. The Inland Waterways Corpo- ration of the War Department to the Department of Commerce. 9. The Bureau of Lighthouses, * now in the Department of Com- merce. Commerce and Industry. I have transferred to the Depart- ment of Commerce or the bureaus thereof, as indicated, the following organizations and functions which involve services in the interest of commerce and industry: + 1. The powers and duties of the Federal Oil Conservation Board to the Bureau of Mines, and the said board is abolished. 2. The administrative duties, powers, and authority of the Na- tional Screw Thread Commission to the Bureau of Standards, and the commissicn shall serve in an ad- visory capacity to the Secretary of Ccmmerce. 3. The administrative duties, pow- ers, and functiens of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics to the Bureau of Standards, and the committee shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of Com- merce. 4. The Weather Bureau .of the De- partment of Agriculture to the De- partment of Commerce. Department of Justice. I have transferred to and consoli- dated with the Department of Jus- tice the powers, duties, and functions of the alien property custodian, and the powers and duties now exercised by the Veterans' Administration which relate to the defense in court of cases involving litigation arising under section 19 of the World War Veterans’ Act of 1924, as amended. Department of Labor. I have transferred to and con- solidated with the Department of Labor the powers and duties now exercised by the Employes’ Compen- sation Commission which relate to the administration of the long- shoremen’s and harbor workers' act of March 4, 1927, and the act of May #7, 1928, extending the pro- visions of the 1927 act to private employers and their employes in the District of Columbia. Civil Service Commission. I have transferred to and con- solidated with the Civil Service Com- mission the powers and duties of the Employes’ Compensation Commission which relate to the administration of the act of September 7, 1916, and amendments thereto, provi com- pensation on account of injuries sustained by civilian employes of the Federal Government and the mu- nicipal government of the District of Columbia, leaving -the Employes’ Compensation Commission to serve in an advisory capacity to the Civil Service Commission pending its abo- lition by legislative action. Border Patrol. I have transferred to and con- solidated with the Coast Guard in the Treasury Department the fol- lowing services: 1. The border patrol from the Im- migration Service in the Department of Labor, and 2. The 'border patrol from the Customs Service in the Treasury Department,. Bureau of the Budget. I have transferred and consoli- dated the following activities in the Bureau of the Budget: 1. The powers and duties now exercised by the General Accounting Office which relate to the designing, prescribing, end installation of ac- counting forms, systems, and pro- cedure in the several executive departments and independent estab- lishments, except that the Comp- troller General shall retain the power and duty to prescribe the form and manner in which eccounts shall be submitted to his office for audit. 2. The powers and duties now exercised by the General Accounting Office which relate to the adminis- trative examination of fiscal officers’ accounts and claims against the United States, and the adequacy and effectiveness of the administrative examination of accounts and claims in the respective departments and establishments. and the adequacy and effectiveness of departmental inspection of the officers and ac- counts of fiscal officers. 3. The powers and duties of the Bureau of Efficiency. Recommendations Requiring Legislation, 1 recommend that legislation be enacted to accomplish the following additional changes in organization which the law does not confer upon me authority to make: 1. Abolish" the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Commissicn, whose powers and duties are transferred to the Department of the Interior. This ccmmission has accomplished the purpose for which it was created and need no longer be retained as a separate entity. 2. Transfer jurisdiction over the operation, protection and mainten- ance of the parks, parkways, play- grounds and recreational ectivities of the District of Columbia from the Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks to the Commissioners of the District of Columbiza, making it possible to consolidate and co- ordinate these activities with similar functions now performed by the municipal government of the Dis- trict, and relieving the Federal Gov- ernment of the ccntrol of activities ‘which are purely local in character and which are paid for out of Dis- trict of Columbia funds. 3. Abolish th> Employes’ Compen- sation Commission. I have trans- ferred those duties and activities of the commission which involve re- lations between private employers and their employes to the Depart- ment of Labor, and the remainder of its duties and activities, involving relations of the Federal Govarnment and the municipal government of the District of Columbia with their own employes, to the Civil Service Commission, This leeves no justi- fication for the retention of the Employes’ Compensation Ccmmis- sion. 4. Abolish the board of trustees of tre National Training School for Boys and transfer the pcwers, duties and functions of that board to_the Board of Public Welfare of the Dis- trict of Columbia. The practice of committing delinquent boys to this institution from jurisdictions outside of the District of Columbla has been generally discontinued. This will automatically convert it into a local reform school, the management of which should be entrusted to local authorities. A similar change in jurisdiction over the National Train- ing School for Girls was made by an act approved March 16, 1926 I am submitting herewith not only Executive orders, but also a brief discussion_prepared by the Burcau of the Budget of the proposed transfers m;g.( lhed basis on which they are predicated. 4 5 HERBERT HOOVER. ‘The White House. December 9, 1932. Burcau of Public Roads does the engi- neering work in connection with the survey, design and construction of roads in national parks. The bureau also has should be placed in the department in | charge of public works and service agencies. Therefore, it is proposed to transfer the Office of Public Buildings various commissions and boards report. | Supervision over main roads through | and Public Parks of the National Capi- ing or responsible to tge Chief of Engi- neers is_ primarily non-miiitary in cl acter. It is related to national defense tin only the most indirect manner and then largely because it pertains to the general transportation capacity and econom'c strength of the country i time of war. Ii was originally placed under the control of the War Depart- ment because at the time 1iver and harbor improvemenis were first under- taken by the Uniled States Government, ernment e-tablishment which possessed | a group of engincers of sufficient size apd training to prosecute the work sat- ecution of river and harbor ) and flcod-control work under the Corps of Engi: sarily resulled in the cflicer personnel of ti: e point to which it would no; have grown if its field of operations had been confined to strictly military activities. It is proposed that the serv- ices of Engineer officers should continue to be available by detail in the perform- ance of this work. | This river and hs ! and flood-control work is similar to and |should be grouped with other public works and construction activities. It is | recommended, therefore, that these ac- | tivities now performed under the direc- ! tion and supervision of the Office of the Chief of Enginesrc, War Department, be transferred to th> Department of the will be closely co- other Federal public r improvement Interior where t! ordinated with works fuctions. | Bureau of Public Roads, | The Bureau of Public Roads came | into existence as the Office of Road In- quiry in 1893. In 1906 the designation of this office was changed to the Office of Public Roads. In 1919 the organiza- tion was given the status of a bureau and became the Bureau of Public Roads. The work of this bureau was purely educatiunal in character for many years, but by 1912 the organization was en- gaged in construction work. In 1916 the Federal aid road act was passed and its administration was placed in the hands of the Office of Public Roads. At this time th2 office was given control of all engineering work and the super- vision of construction and maintenance of the roads in the national forests, Under an agreement entered into be- tween she Secretary of the Interior and Becretary of Agriculture in 1926, the unappropriated or unreserved public lands. In addition to its control over con- struction prejects, the bureau engages in research in highway construction, finance, safety, transportation, road ma- terial and structural design of road ma- | terials. Formerly scme connection ~with agriculture through the promotion of better agri- cultural engineering work. However, this work has been taken away from the Bureau of Public Roads and the Bu- reau of Agricultural Engineering has been created for ‘this purpose. There- fore, the Bureau of Public Roads is now a bureau entirely for the supervision, construction and maintenance of roads. The mere description of its work is 1 to indicate the proper depart- o which the Bureau of Public Roads should go. It has no longer any real connection with the Department of Agriculture and should be placed with the public works group. It is proposed, therefore, to transfer the Bureau of Parks of the National Capital. The Office of Public Buildings and | tal from an independent establishment ' to the Interior Department. | National Capital Park and Planning | Commission. The National Capital Park Commis- sion was created by the act of Con- | was changed to National Capital Park 'and Planning Commission by the act approved April 30, 1926. | The duties of this commission were | to prevent the pollution of Rock Creek, | and the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, lprnscrve the forests and natural scen- | ery, to provide for the systematic and continuous development of the park, | parkway, and playground system of the | | National Capital. It has wide advisory | | duties in relation to planning in the ' National Capital. The director of pub- lic buildings and public parks of the | National Capital is the executive and disbursing officer of the commission. Some of the specific duties of this commission are the purchase of land | | Pub from_the Department of | for parks. parkways, and playgrounds, | 3 Agm’fifi??dfo ;l:em Interior px)ep.nmenL | control of changes in street plans of | prescribed as follows: ** * * * To advise Office of Public Buildings and Public | the District of Columbia, city planning | relative to drainage, sewage, and water supply, public and private buildings, bridges. and water fronts, etc. These The Arlington Memorial Bridge Cm-! | ‘mission. ‘The Arlington Memorial Bridge Com- | mission was created by section 23 of the public buildings act approved March 4, 1913, for the purpose of in- | vestigating and reporting to Congress a suitable cesign for a memorial bridge across the Potomac River from the city | of Washington to a point at or near the Arlington estate. The act approved February 24, 1925, this bureau maintained | E7€SS &pproved June 6, 1924. The name | authorized the commission to proceed | with the construction of the bridge, in- | cluding the approaches roads, streets, | walks, etc., on both sides of the river. | It is proposed to transfer the pow- | ers and duties of the commission to | | the public works group in the De- ‘panment of the Interior, leaving the | commission to serve in an advisory ca- pacity to the Secretary of the Interior. | Commission of Fine Arts, The Commission of Fine Arts was created by the act approved May 17, 1910, which provided for a commission of seven well qualified judges of the | fine arts. These commissioners are ap- | pointed by the President and serve for a period of four years each. The duties of the commission were | upon the location of statues, fountains, and monuments in the public squares, streets, and parks in the District of | Columbia, and upon the selection of Public Parks of the National Capital | duties are similar to other engineering | models for statues, fountains, and mon- was established. as an independent esteblishment by the act approved Feb- ruary 26, 1925. It succeeded to the |and service activities assigned to the | public works group. It is proposed, | therefore, to transfer this commission | uments erected under the authority of | | the United States and upon the selec- | tion of the artists for the excution of | duties of the Office of Superintendent, | from an independent establishment to | same.” The commission is further re- | State, War and Navy Building and the Office of Public Buildings and Grounds. ‘The generzl dutles of this establish- ment are the maintenance and opera- | tion of buildings, grounds, parks, monu- | ments and memorials in the District of | Columbia. ; | Some of the specific duties of this es- | tablishment are the operation and maintenance of public buildings in the | District of Columbia, the policing of | the park system, the operation and | | maintenance of the Lincoln Memorial |and the Washington Monument, the construction of roads in the Mall ad- | jacent to Federal buildings, the con- | struction of a warehouse, the mainte. nance of the Executive Mansion and grounds, Arlineton Memorial Bridge. This establishment is principally a ;&efvlce unit for the Federal buildings and grounds in the District of Colum- | bis. Tt also has some con- 15 manifest from 11 eommeretion” i G Gt e en! and the construction of the| | the Interior Department. | Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway | Commission. The Rock Creek and Potomac Park- way Commission was created by sec- tion 22 of the public buildings act ap- proved March 4, 1913, for the purpose of preventing the pollution and obstruc- tion of Rock Creek and of connecting Potomac Park with the Zoclogical Park and Rock Creek Park, and was author- | ized and directed to acquire certain land | necessary for this purpose. Many of the activities performed by the com- miesion are sumilar to those performed | by the National Capital Park and Plan- | ning Commission It is proposed to transfer the admin- istrative powers and duties of this com- | mission to the public works gromp in the Department of the Interior, leaving the mmmun';n to act in an ad capacity to the Secretary of the Inte- rior until such time as it may be abol- ished by legislative action, % i | quired to advise generally upon ques- tions of art when required to do so by ‘the President or by any committee of either House of Congress. By execu-| tive order all plans for public build- | ings to be erected in the District of Co- |lumbia for the general Government | must be submitted to the Commission | of Fine Arts for its comment and ad- vice. The members of this commission | serve without salary from the Govern- |ment. There are three salaried em- ployes who handle the clerical and ad- ministrative duties of the commission. In view of the fact that the work of the commission is concerned with the | | plans for construction of public build- Ings, statues, monuments, etc., and that | the full-time personnel is very small, I | believe that the functions and authority of the commission should be placed in the department having the duty of con- struction of public works. It is, there- fore, that the administrative Pine Arts be transferred to the Depart- ment of the Interior, leaving the com- misston to serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of the Interior. The George Rogers Clark Sesqui- centennial Commission. The George Rogers Clark Sesquicen- tennial Commission was created by joint resolution approved May 23, 1928, for the participation of the United States in the celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the conques of the Northwest Territory by Gen. George Rogers Clark. The commission is composed of 15 commissioners as fol- lows: Three persons to be appointed by the President of the United States, three Senators by the President of the Sen- ate, three Representatives by the Speaker and six members of the George Rogers Clark Memorial Commission of Indiana to be selected by such com- mission. The life of the commission was origi- nally to continue only to June 30, 1931, but the time was extended to June 30, 1935, by the act of Congress approved February 28, 1931. The work of the commission consists in improving and embellishing the site of and grounds ad- Jacent to Fort Sackville, the erection of a monumental memorial structure and its ornamentation, the ornamentation of a bridge across the Wabash River and the protection of the grounds by a river wall. 1t is proposed to transfer the powers and duties of the commission to the public works group in the Department of the Interior, leaving the commission to serve in an ‘advisory capacity to the Secretary of the Interior. Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission. The Mount Rushmore National Me- morial Commission was created by act of Congress approved February 25, 1929, and consists of 12 members appointed by the President. The purpose of the commission is to complete the carving of the Mount Rushmore National Me- morial, to consist of the heroic figures of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt; to landscape the contiguous grounds, and to construct the entrances thereto. It is proposed to transfer the pow- ers and duties of the commission to the public works group in the Decpartment of the Interior, leaving the commission to serve in an ‘advisory capacity to the Secretary of the Interior. The General Supply Committee. mouu:lasummmnmm hld“&cmnwmefl 17, the provisions ef sec- || June 1910. Its duties were increased by the act _approved February 27, 1929. The is munpo-edt of one department, desig- nated by the head of the department and a representative of the municipal government of the District of Columbia and a representative of the Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks of the National Capital. The duties of the General Supply | Comumittee are to purchase or procure | and distribute supplies to meet the con- solidated requirements of the executive departments and independent establish- Washington and of the municipal gov- ernment of the District of Columbia. 1t is also authorized, upon the request of the head of any department, to ren- der similar services for fleld activities. The committee also records transfers of all surplus Government property from | one department or establishment to an- other and disposes of all sm prop- erty, not transferred to ant estab- lishment. ‘The purchdse of all supplies for the Government in the, District of Colum- | bia and, so far as practicable, in .the | field should be consolidated and the control of purchase and supply placed in one bureau with single-headed re- sponsibility. The committee should have only advisory powers relative to this service. The logical place for an organization concerned entirely with service of supply is in the department that is largely a service department. Therefore, it is proposed to transfer the edministrative powers and duties of the General Supply Committee to the Department of the Interior, leaving the committee to serve in an advisory ca- pacity to the Secretary of the Interior. Government Fuel Yards. The Government fuel yards were es- tablished by the Secretary of the In- terior under authority granted by the | act approved July 1, 1918. This ac- tivity was placed under the control of the Bureau of Mines, and when that bureau was transferred from the De- partment of the Interior to the Depart- ment of Commerce the Government fuel yards also came under the juris- diction and control of the Depariment of Commerce. The Government fuel yards are op- erated entirely for the purchase and supply of fuel for Government use. In order to consolidate the purchase and supply units of the Government, the control and operation of the fuel yards should be consolidated with the work of the General Supply Committee. It is, therefore, proposed that the control and coperation of the Governinent fuel yards be transferred from the Bureau of Department of Commerce, to the Department of the Interior. § 13 Agencies Are Given | To Education Post. | _ The function of the Federal Govern- ment in respect to education is princi | pally that of research and the dissemi- nation of the results thereof to assist the State and local governments to & | better and more uniform performance of their dutles in the administration, of | cducational systems. Research and co- cperation with State and local authorities and co-ordination of their activities are likewise the major func- tions of the Federal Government in the feld of public health. These activities are closely related to each other, deal in large measure with the same State and local governmental units, and may | be performed more effectively if subject | to the same general direction and con- trol. The recreational activities of the Federal Government involve both the eduzation of the public to a knowledge | and appreciation of the natural phe- nomena and beauties of the country | and the. possibilities for the develop= | ment of health in outdoor life and rec- reation. It is, therefore, intended by the ex- ecutive order on the Department of | the Interior relating to education, health, and recreation to ‘consolidate Government dealing with education, heaith, and recreation m the Depart- ment of the Interior, and to place such activities under the direction of an As- sistant Secretary of the Interior for Education, Health, and Recreation, who will be responsible to the Secretary of the Interior for the proper adminis- |tration of the organizations whose iduties and functions directly relate to education, health and recreation. There are now in the Department of the Interior the following organizas . | bureaus, or offices which are perform- | ing work of an educational, health or recreational character: L The Office of Education. . Howard University. . Columbia Institution for the Deaf. . The Bureau of Indian Affairs. . St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. . Freedmen's Hospital, . The National Park Service. It is proposed to extend and consoli- date the education, heaith and recrea- tion activities of the Department of the Interior by transferring to that depart« ment the following services, activities or offices: 1. The American Printing House for the tBlmd from the Treasury Depart- ment. 2. The administrative duties, powers, and functions of the Federal Board for Vocational Education (which is now an independent _establishment) and the ‘commu:nce of the board to serve only n an advisory capacity to the Secreta of the Interior. > o 3. The Public Health Service from the Treasury Department. 4. The Division of Vital Statistics from the Bureau of the Census, De- partment of Commerce. 5. The Natonal Parks, Monuments and Cemeteries, from the War Depart- | ment. There follows a statement of the origin, duties and reasons for the trans- fer of each bureau, office, service or activity named above. American Printing House for the Blind. 1 By the act of March 3,°1879 (20 S. 67). Congress established a permanent Tust fund of $250,000 for the purpose of educating the blind in the United States, and authorized a permanent an- | nual appropriation of $10,000, equiva- | lent to 4 per cent on the principal of | the trust fund, to be paid by the Secre- | tary of the Treasury to the American | Printing House for the Blind. This lorg-mmtion is a private corporation | which was incorporated by a spacial act |of the Kentucky Legislature in 1858 | for the purpose of printing books and | making apparatus for the instruction of the blind of the United Statess The |act of August 4, 1919 (41 S. 272), au- ‘hhonsed an appropriation of $40,000 to | brovide additional aid, and the act of February 8, 1927 (44 S. 1060), author~ | ized an’ increase in the supplemental | annual appropriation to $65,000. | _The total amount of books and ap- | paratus manufactured and furnished | by the income of $75,000 each year is | dictributed among all the public insti- tutions for the education of the blind in the States and Territortes, based upon | the number’of pupils in such institu- | | tions. The trustees of the American | Frinting House for the Blind are re- qured to make annually to the Secre- tary of the Treasury a report of their expenditures of the appropriation with supporting vouchers from each institu- tion showing that the amount of books and apparatus due has been received. Obviously there is no connection be- tween the fiscal function of the Treas- ury Department and the promotion of the education of the blind. It is there- fore proposed that the funds for this purpose be administered by the Com- missioner of Education in the Departe ment of the Interior and that the an- r];u&l re’pon"?x g}‘: American Printing ouse for the nd be submitf to the same individual. e | Federa! Board for Vocational Education. The Federal Boerd for Vocational | Education was created by the act ap- proved February 23, 1917 (39 S. 929). Secreta: ments of the Federal Government in |ing health. | tral adm: and group the work of the Federal |Se by the President by and with the ad- flumdm&dmmnm representing . commercial jnterests, one the agricul- tural interests ‘and one -interests of labor. The executive officer of the board is a director appomted by the board. ‘The board is charged with responsi- bility of administering the Federal funds providéd' for vocational educa- tion and civilian vocational rehabilita- tion the several States and in Hawali and Puerto Rico. It is charged also with the responsibility ‘of promot- vocational education and civilian vocational rehabilitation and conduct- 1n studies and researches in these elds. The money appropriated under the act of February 23, 1917, is allotted to the States for the promotion of voca- tional education in agricuMure, trades and industries, and home economies, and for the preparation of teachers of vocational subjects. ‘The money ap- propriated under the act of June 23, 1920 (41 8. 735), is allotted to the States for the promotion of votational rehabilitation of persons disabled in in- dustry and their return to ctvil employ~' ment. Utllization of allotments is au- thorized upon condition that for each dollar of Federal money expended the State or local community, or both, shall expend at least an equal amount. By the act of February 23, 1920 (45 S. 1260), the program for rehabilitating disabled persons was extended to the District of Columbie, and the board was made the agency responsible for its administration. Except for rehabili- tation in the District of Columbia, the board operates no schools or direct services to individuals. The Federal Board for Vocational Education now operates as an independ- ent establishment. However, through the membership of the Commissioner of Education on the board, its activities are correlated with those of the Office of Education, of which he is the head. The board’s organic act also gives the Commissioner of Education the power to make such recommendations to the board relative to the administration of the act as he may from time to time deem advicable. Although there is no actual duplication between the activi- ties of the board and the Office of Edu~ cation, have the same general pur= pose. Both of them dispense leral ald to the States for the promotion of education and both engage in educa~ tional research. and improved administra undoubtedly result by bringing them together in one department. It is propcsed to transfer the powers and duties of the Federal Board for Vocationsl Education to the Depart- ment of the Interior, and it is recom= mended that legislation be enacted abolishing the board. Pending such legislation, the board will serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of the Interior. Public Health Service. The Public Health Service had its beginning in the Marine Hospital which was created for the relief of sick and- disabled seamen by the act of July 16, 1998 (1 S. 605). The act of July 29, 1870 (16 S. 169), which provided a cen- inistrative agency for the Ma- gne :I‘os ital Servlce'm?d'e; the diree- ion e Secretary of the Treasury, is the foundation on which the hos- pital work of the present Public Health Service has been built. During the fol- lowing 30 years the duties of the serv- ice were gradually increased to include the supervision of quarantine, the medical inspection of ts, the prevention of the interstate spread of diseases. and general investigations in the field of public health. These in. creases in duty resulted in a change of the name of the service to the Pub~ licdfl.ellth and1 Marine Hospital Service and in an enlargement of its specific statutory powers, which was .accom= plished by the act of July 1, 1902 (32 8. 712). By the act of August 14, 1912 (37 8. 309), the name of the -service was again changsd to the Public Health, . rvice, and it was given definite status . tory authority to make extensive inves= tigations in the fleld of public health. The World War resulted in a consider= able expansion of the activitles of the service. In 1929 the service was au= thorized to extend its researches to in- clude drug addiction and mental and nervous diseases and was charged with the responsibility of administering the two nareotic farms of the Federal Gov~ ernment, At the present time the Public Health Service is a bureau in the Treasury Department under the supervision of the Surgeon General, who is appointed by the President, by and with the ad- vice and consent of the Senate. The service comprises seven technical di- visions as follows: Division of scien- tific research, division of foreign and insular quarantine and immigration, division of domestic (interstate) quar- antine, division of sanitary repofts and statistics, division of marine hospitals and relief, division of venereal diseases, and division of mental hygiene. (for- merly the narcotics division). These divisions of the Public Health Service are_engaged in the following activities: The operation of hospitals and narcotic farms and the furnishing of medical and psychiatric service to specified beneficiaries, the medieal in- spection of immigrants, the administra~- tion of maritime and border quarantine, the prevention of the interstate apread of diseases, the examination of cal products to determine purity snd potency, the collection of morbi@ity and other statistics ining to health, the dissemination of health in- formation, and the study and investi- si.ttlm%nm d:seue: of man and c::): luencing the proj tion. spread of diseases, includn}a’:"umunm and sewage and the pollution of the navigable streams and lakes of - the United States. Its functions, therefore; fall into three classes: (1) Medical re- lief for designated persons, (2) preven- tion of the spread of disease by virtue of the powers exercised by the Federal Government over interstate and foreign commerce, and (3) making studies for the contrel of disease and furnishing a central agency for assisting State and municipal health officials in their work. There is general agreement that the Public Health Service finds no legiti- mate place in the Treasury Depart- ment. It is also obvious that the Pub- lic Health Service should constitute the central organization around which the cther health services of the Gove ernment sheuld be grouped. Under the proposed plan this service s trans ferred to the Definm-ncn: of the Inte- rior, where it form the nucleus of a {wallih gmruu n view of the proposal to associate the Public Health Service with the edu- cational services of the-Government, it should be pointed out that the activi- ties of this service are to a considerable extent educational in character, Its duties include the education of the public and of local authorities with Tespect to such matters as ene, the maintenance of health res , and the methods of controlling cont us and infectious diseases. Its effectiveness in certain flelds will be increased by its contact, and the co-ordination of its work with that of the educational agencies which ere to be located in the same department. Division of Vital Statistics, Bureau of the Census, The Division of Vital Staf subordinate unit of the mr%';‘%:"m: Census, having for its function the col- lection, compilation and publication of elaborate statistics of and deaths in the United States. An important feature of its work has been to promote the organization by the States and cities of ltxh':“clounu;y bfll efficlent systems of regi ion of births and deaths, and to secure uniformity in “o( deaths by causes. A national of registration of births and dea thus being built up under its direction with the co-operati local health luthnripentulz. o Pate. il It consists of the ry of Agricul- f,m.t.hrmo&umn&‘m Commissione ]