REORGANIZATION OF FEDERAL AGENCIES 161 



The most important problem at the present time is to set 

 up a conservation division somewhere in the administrative 

 structure. Then it will be possible to add or subtract bureaus 

 from that group as later developments make necessary. Any 

 particular combination will depend in large part upon what 

 other groups are established and upon the future develop- 

 ment of each particular bureaus. 



The Brief for Reorganisation: The chief objections to 

 the present administrative system can be classed under three 

 heads: (i) economic loss to the government, (2) economic 

 loss to the individual dealing with the government, (3) the 

 bad effect upon the administrative organization itself. Vari- 

 ous estimates ranging from a few millions to several hun- 

 dred millions of dollars 41 have been made of the savings 

 possible to the government through complete reorganization 

 in all departments. It is difficult to say how much could be 

 saved through a regrouping of the conservation activities 

 of the federal government, but most probably not a great 

 deal because there is at present very little duplication in their 

 activities. 



To offset these possible economies most of the proposed 

 plans of reorganization contemplate some additional over- 

 head in administration personnel. It would appear that if 

 reorganization does not mean abandonment of certain activ- 



41 See also message of President Hoover on reorganization, Feb. 17, 

 1932, p. i. Regarding saving through consolidation of wild life bureaus, 

 see Senator Wolcott's estimate of several millions of dollars. Hearings 

 on the Consolidation of Federal Conservative Activities, Special Com- 

 mittee on Conservation of Wild Life Resources, United States Senate, 

 Jan. 12-13, 1933- On the other hand, Secretary Hyde of the Department 

 of Agriculture, although favoring reorganization, was unable to point 

 out a single specific case, when cross-examined by House Committee, 

 where economy would result. Hearings on J. R. 6655, House Com- 

 mittee on Expenditures in Executive Departments, 72nd Cong., ist Sess., 

 February, 1932, pp. 77-80. 



