American Government, History, Law, and Political Theory

• Date: 01 March 1951
• Published date: 01 March 1951
• DOI: 10.1177/000271625127400144
• Author: Roger V. Shumate
• Subject Matter: Articles

220
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT,
the proper functions of the national govern-
HISTORY, LAW, AND
ment.
POLITICAL THEORY
ROGER V. SHUMATE
University of Nebraska
PUBLIC AFFAIRS INSTITUTE, THE. The
EMMERICH, HERBERT. Essays on Federal
Hoover Report: Half a Loaf. Pp. 47.
Reorganization. Pp. x, 159. University,
Washington, 1949. 50 cents.
Alabama: University of Alabama Press,
In the welter of partisan dispute
1950.
over the
$2.50.
report of the Hoover Commission, it is re-
Herbert Emmerich, Director of the Pub-
freshing to find a brief, readable, penetrat-
lic Administration Clearing House, views
ing, and objective analysis. This study, in
federal reorganization as a process which
addition to summarizing the contents of the
has been iendered continuous by social
report, points out that the executive branch
dynamics and man’s innumerable efforts to
of the national government is badly in need
mprove governmental administration. Ma-
of reorganization and that many of the
jor efforts at reorganization, from the
recommendations made would be approved
Dockery-Cockrell Commission of 1893 to
the Hoover
by
Commission, have marked
any competent student of public ad-
ministration, but suggests that the promise
every decade of our time.
Countless
other less
that these recommendations, if adopted,
generalized reforms have re-
mained
would reduce the budget by three billion
inconspicuous. The author con-
siders that the main
dollars
accomplishment of
a year is a gross exaggeration. In
these efforts is the development of the
this connection, it explains, quite appro-
President and his staff as a focus of
priately, that the Hoover Commission was
nanagerial control and policy co-ordination.
charged only with studying the structure
The struggle has been continuous, for the
or organization of the national government
influences which have obstructed are endur-
and not its functions or policies, and that
ing in nature. Chief among these are the
&dquo;the only way to save...