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Marine Review January 1933 « EDITORIAL » Reorganization Consolidates Marine Activities N Dec. 9, President Hoover sent a mes- O sage to congress covering his recom- mendations for the reorganization of the executive departments of gcvernment. By act of congress, June 30, 1932, the President was authorized to carry out a reorganization of government administrative functions by issu- ing the necessary executive orders and provid- ing that such executive orders be_ trans- mitted to eccngress while in session. Also that these orders shall not become effective until the expiration of 60 calendar days, unless con- gress shall in the meantime approve them. It was under this authority that the Presi- dent on Dec. 9 issued executive orders affect- ing a total of 58 executive agencies and parts of agencies. One of the effects, the President stated in his message, is to reduce by about 15 the number of independent agencies and com- missions. The law definitely limited executive action, so that no statutory functions could be abol- ished. In view of this, the President points out, it is necessary to retain many commissions, but that under the orders issued their admin- istrative functions are placed under various de- partments, the commissions retaining their ad- visory functions only. It is well to bear this in mind because it has been incorrectly stated that the shipping board by executive order now comes under the department of commerce. This is not so. There is no authority in the congres- sional enabling act to do so. Possible Effect on Merchant Marine Let us consider the effect of the executive or- ders issued as far as the merchant marine is concerned. A merchant marine division in the department of commerce, to be headed by an assistant secretary of commerce for merchant marine, has been established. To this division have been transferred the following: 1. Coast and geodetic survey. 2. Hydrographic office of the navy, to the coast and geodetic survey. 3. Survey of Northern and Northwestern lakes, to the coast and geodetic survey. 4. Bureau of navigation and steamboat in- spection. 5. Supervisor of New York harbor to the bu: reau of navigation and steamboat inspection. 6. Naval observatory, with certain excep- tions, to the department of commerce. 7. The United States Shipping Board Mer- chant Fleet Corp. to the department of com- merce. 8. Inland Waterways Corp. to the depart- ment of commerce. 9. Bureau of lighthouses. This re-arrangement and consolidation of functions bearing upon the merchant marine, if finally allowed to take place, will undoubted- ly materially strengthen the position of the merchant marine in its relation to activities of the government. It will bring under one di- recting head, the assistant secretary of com- merce for merchant marine, all of the admin- istrative functions to the end that they may be intelligently and energetically managed in the best interests of the merchant marine and the country at large. Shipping Board Continues Independent It is important in this connection to bear in mind that this does not in any way affect or limit the true function of the shipping board as an independent regulatory and advisory body which under mandate of congress is invested with the responsibility of encouraging, by every means within its power, the upbuilding of an adequate and efficient merchant marine. It will be recalled that the shipping board has been re-organized and now consists of three members including its chairman. We believe that the shipping board should, in all circum- stances, be continued as an independent body directly responsible only to the President and the congress. The executive orders issued by the President do not in any way, could not legally, affect this status. We believe that the duties of the Merchant Fleet Corp. can well be and should be placed, as the President by ex- ecutive order, has caused them to be, under an assistant secretary for merchant marine in the department of commerce. MARINE REVIEw—January, 1933 v4