OCR Text |
Show NATIONAL CAPITAL II ATEMBS II New Department of Public Welfare? WASlll.MITO.V. President I'oolhlgo favors the creation crea-tion by congress of a federal department of jmblle welfare, with a member of tho cabinet at Its head, It has been learned authoritatively at the White House. The mutter was brought to the President's Presi-dent's attention by a message from the National Education association advocating advo-cating establishment of a department of education. The lieneral Federation of Woman's Clubs and other nationwide nation-wide organizations are supporting the movement. The new welfare doimrt-nient, doimrt-nient, the President feels, should Include In-clude educational work among its activities. Mr. Coolldge Is planning to take up with congress at Its coming session the advisability of creating the department depart-ment of public welfare In accordance with principles for the re-grouping of federal activities nlong more systematic syste-matic lines. The new branch of the government would take over from the different departments already In existence those activities directly affecting the public welfare. President Coolldge, however, does not believe that consolidation of the War ond Navy departments Into one department of defense will he recom- mended to congress In the forthcoming report of the government reorganiza tion commission which has been at work for two years. Following cabinet discussion of the report of the reorganization reor-ganization commission, headed by Walter Wal-ter Hrown of Ohio, the President let it be known that ho Is Inclined to disfavor dis-favor at this time such a drastic change In the government as the proposal pro-posal to consolidate the two big defense de-fense departments. A spokesman for the White House said that consolidation of the War and Navy departments Is Incorporated In the Hrown reorganization report as submitted to the cabinet. The report submits a comprehensive plan of reorganization re-organization of departments. The President believes If the reorganization reor-ganization of the defense branch of the government ever Is undertaken It should be brought up In congress as a separate proposition, and not In connection con-nection with the general reorganization scheme now In preparation. He thinks the reorganization problem of the army Is too big a one to be discussed In connection con-nection with reorganization of other branches of the government. The army and navy, in his opinion, have so long been established as separate departments de-partments and have functioned so well as such that their consolidation should be approached only after the most careful thought and discussion on the part of the administration and of congress. Memorial to Hardin? in Washington PRESIDENT COOLIDGE has received re-ceived a letter from Acting Mayor Murray Hulbert of New York suggesting as a fitting memorial to President Harding the early completion of the project to Improve Im-prove East Potomac park lu Washington Washing-ton as a public recreation field. He says It would give notice to the world that the United States has officially recognized general participation in amateur athletics, and it would be of great value in stimulating preparation of an American team for the next Olympic games at Paris in July. Col. C. O. Sherrill, aid to the President, Presi-dent, in charge of public buildings nnd grounds, warmly approved the suggestion sugges-tion and said it would mean a great play and athletic ground for Washington Washing-ton and would stimulate preparation for the Olympic contests. The White House gave out Mr. Hulbert's letter In part as follows: "May I offer the suggestion that no more fitting memorial to the late President Pres-ident Harding could be dedicated than the early completion of the project to Improve East Potomac park as a public recreation field. President Harding, himself an enthusiastic advocate of all movements conducive to the welfare of our future citizens, was personally interested In this great national playground.' play-ground.' "During my Incumbency as a representative repre-sentative In congress from the Twenty-first Twenty-first district of New York I Introduced, on April 21, 1916, a bill (H. It. l-i,P95) to appropriate $1,540,397 for the improvement of this park In accordance with plans approved by the secretary of war. "After a public hearing before the committee on appropriations favorable action was tnken by congress on the project und an Initial appropriation In the sum of $50,000 having been made on July 1, 1910, toward the construction construc-tion of a field house, the wings were erected and since then have been in very effective use. "The measure was re-Introduced by me on April 2, 1917 (H. It. 9S). but further appropriations were deferred because of the subsequent declaration of war, a considerable part of the property being used thereafter by the War department for military purposes. Wanted: Agricultural Relief Program DESIKULS of being able to present to congress in December De-cember a concrete program of agricultural relief, President Presi-dent Coolldge has given serious consideration con-sideration to the proposal that the War Finance corporation finance the sale of surplus wheat to Europe. Two steps in this program have been made in directions given the special commission headed by Eugene Meyer, Jr., director of the finance corporation which went to the Northwest to promote pro-mote formation of co-operative mar-"keting mar-"keting associations and to consider reductions re-ductions in freight rates on export grain. The proposal was laid before Secretary Secre-tary Wallace by a group of Middle Western grain men and later outlined to the President. Prior to this visit Mr. Coolldge had been acquainted with the general features of such a plan by C. H. March of Litchfield, Minn., who lias made a special study of agricultural agricul-tural problems. Mr. Coolldge held two conferences with Mr. March, who was a week-end White House guest. Secretary Hoover also talked with the Minnesotan. Secretary Sec-retary Wallace said that the proposal appeared to have strong support. The principal question in the mind of the President is understood to be whether such a plan would meet his requirements that all relief measures be economically sound. On this point he was given assurances by Mr. March. Another question Involved is whether such an operation could be taken over by the War Finance corporation cor-poration without . further authority from congress. Mr. March expressed the view that action by congress probably prob-ably would be needed. "Wre have three principal classes in the United States the manufacturing class, the laboring class and the farming farm-ing class," Mr. March asserted In a statement. "With the end of the war deflation In money return faced all ol these classes. To aid the manufacturer manufac-turer congress passed a tariff act and to help the workers meet the deflation an immigration law was enacted. Something still must be done for the farmers. Because the farmers have not been sufficiently helped there is real distress in the West." Mr. March told the President that approximately 900,000 farmers left the farm In 1922 and that from a million to a million and a half would leave this year unless something was done to relieve the situation. Whales Are Threatened Vith Extinction THE killing of extraordinary numbers of whales from shore whaling stations in different parts of the world in the last few years through the use of modern weapons and means of transportation seriously endangers the future of these mammals, says E. W. Nelson of the United States bureau of biological survey in a statement urging urg-ing the establishment of an international interna-tional agreement for protecting them from extinction. The present situation, coupled with the knowledge of what has occurred in the past to seals, sea elephants, etc., has drawn attention, he says, to the urgent need for taking steps to bring about proper conservation of all the existing valuable sea mammals. Mr. Nelson points out that Great Britain already has begun to send out expeditions to conduct researches in problems arising in connection with the whaling industry. The example set by the British government gov-ernment in beginning"" definite research work covering the life histories of whales, he declares, is one that shpuld be extended to cover seals and other mammals, and should be promptly followed fol-lowed by the United States. "It is obvious," Mr. Nelson continued, contin-ued, "that the present uncontrolled, wholesale slaughter of sea mammals over most of their range and practically practi-cally throughout the year can result only in their rapid extermination. During Dur-ing the last century the pursuit of sea mammals was carried on on a great scale and yielded an enormous return in oil, whalebone, hides and furs of fur seals and sea otters. "Several species have been almost exterminated by this pursuit, and others oth-ers will follow without concerted action. ac-tion. "The success of the fur seal treaty, whereby through International action Japan, Russia, England and the United States safeguard the breeding grounds of the fur seals on the fur seal islands In Alaska, has been a practical demonstration demon-stration of the effectiveness of such action. "It is to be hoped that a similar treaty between the maritime powers interested may be equally effective in saving the other sea mammals from threatened extinction." |