In 1918, the President directed that all sanitary or public health activities carried on by "any executive bureau, agency, or office, especially created for or concerned in the prosecution of" the World War, should be exercised under the control of the Secretary of the Treasury.37 The appointment and promotion of officers in the service was systematized by the Act of January 4, 1889,38 the detail of additional personnel to the bureau was authorized,39 and leaves of absence 40 and the promotion of certain officers who served in Panama.41 In time of actual or threatened war, the Public Health Service shall constitute a part of the military forces.42 When serving with the Army, Navy, or on Coast Guard vessels, in time of war, they shall be subject to the laws prescribed for the government of the service to which detailed, including eligibility to pensions for themselves, widows, and children.43 44 A reserve of the Public Health Service was provided for.4 The public health functions of the Service had their inception in the prevention of the introduction and spread of quarantinable diseases. Their development in logical sequence was brought about by growing public opinion, so that now the activities of the Service include research and educational work. The investigative functions began with the investigation of such diseases as yellow fever and cholera, in the early part of the existence of the Service, but it was not until March 3, 1901, that Congress authorized the establishment of the Hygienic Laboratory for this purpose. Since this legal authorization, the Hygienic Laboratory has grown rapidly, until now it stands as one of the foremost research institutions in the world. 3. Functions in General Under existing authority of law, in addition to its hospital functions, the functions of the Public Health Service may be described under the following heads: (1) Protection of the United States from the Introduction of Disease from Without. It now operates all of the maritime quarantine stations of the United States and its insular possessions. The object of the quarantine service is to protect the United States from diseases like smallpox, typhus fever, leprosy, yellow fever, cholera, and bubonic plague. To further prevent the introduction of diseased persons into the United States, the Service is charged by law with the medical examination of immigrants. (2) Prevention of the Interstate Spread of Disease and Suppression of Epi 37 Executive Order of July 1, 1918. 38 25 Stat. 639 (Comp. St. §§ 9132, 9133). 39 Act July 31, 1894 (28 Stat. 179 [Comp. St. § 9138]); Act March 2, 1895 (28 Stat. 780). 40 Act Feb. 19, 1897 (29 Stat. 554 [Comp. St. § 9140]). 41 Act March 4, 1915 (38 Stat. 1191 [Comp. St. § 1899e]). 42 Executive Order of April 3, 1917. 43 Act July 9, 1917 (40 Stat. 242). See, also, Act March 8, 1918 (40 Stat. 440 [Comp. St. 1918, Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1919, § 30784a et seq.]); Act April 16, 1918 (40 Stat. 530 [Comp. St. 1918, Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1919, § 2118b]); Act July 1, 1918 (40 Stat. 644); Act March 6, 1920 (41 Stat. 507); Act May 18, 1920 (41 Stat. 601). 44 Res. Oct. 27, 1918 (40 Stat. 1017 [Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1919, § 9136aa]). CHAPTER 18 BUREAU OF THE BUDGET 1. Origin and Mission On July 1, 1921, the work of the Secretary of the Treasury of submitting to Congress annually estimates of probable revenues and disbursements of the government was placed in the hands of the President. To aid him in the performance of this duty a Bureau of the Budget was created by act approved June 10, 1921.1 This bureau in the Treasury Department acts under the immediate direction of the President and submits its report to him. Under rules prescribed by him the bureau prepares the annual budget and such supplemental or deficiency estimates as he may desire to submit to Congress. 2. Activities The bureau has the authority, under the act, "to assemble, correlate, revise, reduce, or increase the estimates of the several departments and establishments. The act requires the head of each department and establishment to appoint a budget officer whose duty it is to prepare, under his direction, the departmental estimates of appropriations and such supplemental or deficiency estimates as may be required. This official is a sort of liaison officer between the department and the Bureau of the Budget. The bureau deals directly with them in the routine work of preparing the budget. The estimates are prepared and submitted to the bureau in such form, manner, and detail as the President prescribes. On or before September 15 of each year the head of each department and establishment revises his estimates and submits them to the bureau.5 The bureau is authorized, when directed by the President, to make detailed studies of the departments and establishments for the purpose of enabling the President to determine what changes should be made, in the interest of economy and efficiency, in "(1) the existing organization of activities, and methods of business of such departments or establishments; (2) the appropriations therefor; (3) the assignment of particular activities to particular services; (4) the regrouping of services." Each department and establishment is required, under regulations by the President, to furnish to the bureau such information as the bureau may from time to time require. Officials of the bureau are given the authority to have access, for the purposes of examination, to the books, papers, and records of any department or establishment.7 6 The office of Chief Co-ordinator was created by Circular No. 15, Bureau of 142 Stat. 20 (Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1923, § 400% et seq.). the Budget, July 27, 1921, and the duties of this office were later enlarged by Budget Circulars Nos. 23, 25, 26, 35, 41, 42, 47, 52, 69, and 137, and Executive Order No. 3578, dated the White House, November 8, 1921. Subject to general supervision by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, the Chief Co-ordinator handles all questions of co-ordination arising through the application of the policies of the President and of the Congress to the routine business activities of the executive branch of the government. 3. Organization and Distribution of Functions (a) Office Proper of the Director of the Budget. (1) The Director of the Budget. (2) The Assistant Director of the Budget. (3) The Executive Assistant. (4) Chief Clerk. (5) Counsel. (b) The Board of Estimates.-The board consists of the Director of the Budget, as chairman, the Assistant Director of the Budget, and seven Assistants to the Director. (c) Investigations under the Board of Estimates are under the supervision of 14 investigators. (d) Budget Officers.-Each department and independent establishment has a Budget Officer, through whom the Director of the Budget acts in reference to the respective departments and establishments. (e) Office of Chief Co-ordinator. (1) The Chief Co-ordinator. (2) The Deputy Chief Co-ordinator. (3) Executive Officer. (4) Four Assistant Chief Co-ordinators. (5) Assistants. (f) Area Co-ordinators.-There are seven area co-ordinators, whose duty is to bring about co-ordination of federal activities in the field. The interdepartmental transfer of surplus property, supervision of the use of government-owned office space, investigation of the cost of rented space, co-ordination in the use of government-owned motor and water transportation, arranging the use, by agreement, of the idle capacity of government-controlled communication facilities, and many other activities of these co-ordinators have resulted in substantial reduction in the expenditure of government funds. They are stationed as follows, there being an assistant co-ordinator in some of the areas: Eighth Área: Co-ordinator at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. (g) Federal Business Associations.-There are 124 of such associations of government officials in the nine areas in which the United States is divided. They not only initiate projects of economy, but consider problems submitted to them by the Chief Co-ordinator. The Business Associations are potent factors in welding the government service into a unified whole. They are important agents of the co-ordinator in carrying on his work throughout the wide areas over which the government field activities are dispersed. (h) Co-ordinating Boards.-(1) Permanent Conference on Printing. The Public Printer, chairman, and the membership consists of a representation for each executive department and independent establishment. (i) Federal Real Estate Board.-Under policies determined by the Federal Real Estate Board, all purchases, sales, transfers, and rentals of real estate by the several government departments are co-ordinated through the Surveyor General of Real Estate, in the interests of economy and efficiency. Data relating to all real property owned by the United States, which has been in the process of compilation since the organization of the board, are now completed. The total value of this property is $1,542,655,511.81, which sum does not include the public domain, national parks, and property in the District of Columbia. A record of all leases of real estate by the government is maintained in the files of the board. (j) Federal Purchasing Board.-The Federal Purchasing Board formulates policies to govern the purchase of materials of all kinds. Consolidation of the requirements and purchasing in definite quantities enables the government to take advantage of its large purchasing power. It suggests plans for reorganizing the system of paying accounts that will permit of more generally taking advantage of cash discounts, to effect the tangible saving of the discount as well as the intangible saving of lower prices to be expected in view of the prospect of quick payment. (k) Federal Liquidation Board.-Considers co-ordination of the liquidation of surplus property held principally by the War and Navy Departments (war surplus property) and by the Shipping Board. (1) Federal Traffic Board.-The Traffic Board has continued its service in co-ordinating the traffic activities of all departments. Representing, as it does, the traffic business of the entire government, it is enabled to take up questions with transportation companies that affect the shipment of commodities and persons. Freight classifications for certain kinds of government property have been secured, which have resulted in very decided reduction in freight rates. Switching rates have been adjusted; concessions in the rates for hauling governmentowned cars have been secured; information is furnished departments of rates and routings over different transportation lines and of sailings of government ships. This offers opportunity to select the most advantageous rates. The board has prepared uniform travel regulations for all civilian officers and employees of the United States while traveling on duty. These regulations have been approved and will soon be ready for promulgation. Each of the executive departments (except the State Department and Department of Justice), the Alien Property Custodian, the District of Columbia, the United States Marine Corps, the Government Printing Office, and the Veterans' Bureau, are represented by a traffic manager. (m) Co-ordinator for Motor Transport in the District of Columbia.-Besides furnishing transportation interdepartmentally, and pooling the trucks for government hauling, repairs, spare parts, and gasoline are furnished at cost. (n) Federal Specifications Board.-Besides a Chairman and Vice Chairman, the membership consists of a representative from each federal executive department and from the District of Columbia, General Supply Committee, Marine Corps, Government Printing Office, Interstate Commerce Commission, Panama Canal, Civil Service Commission, United States Shipping Board, Emergency Fleet Corporation, Tariff Commission, and Veterans' Bureau. (0) Interdepartmental Board on Simplified Office Procedure.-Created to promote economy and efficiency in routine office procedure in the departments and establishments, through simplicity and uniformity of procedure as to matters not already allocated elsewhere by law or executive order. (p) Interdepartmental Board of Contracts and Adjustments.—Addresses itself to the drafting of standard contracts for building, supply and lease, and to recommending legislation to reform statutory requirements imposed upon government departments in the execution of such contracts. 4. Organization (a) The organization of the Bureau of Budget is as shown by Chart 15. (b) The Board of Estimates is composed of: The Director of the Budget, Chairman. The Assistant Director of the Budget. The Executive Assistant. Seven Assistants to the Director. (c) The Executive Assistant and Five Assistants to the Director supervise Investigators as follows: (1) An Assistant to the Director: (1a) Investigator. War Department. Panama Canal. (1b) Investigator. District of Columbia. (1c) Investigator. Navy Department. National Advisory Committee of Aeronautics. (2) An Assistant to the Director. (2a) Investigator. Bureau of Efficiency. Civil Service Commission. Employees' Compensation Commission. Federal Board for Vocational Education. Housing Corporation. Smithsonian Institute. (2b) Investigator. Executive Office. Alaska Relief Funds. |