The time lag in a democracy between the original presentation of a
sound proposal and official acceptance of it is well illustrated by the
unanimous action of the Congress in the summer of 1947 in approv-
ing the Lodge-Brown act providing for the reorganization of the
executive branch of the federal government.

As President, Mr. Hoover repeatedly asked the Congress for such
authority but the then Democratic majority for unadmirable po-
litical reasons just as repeatedly denied him this authority.

In 1947 the Congress called him back into the public service. In
doing so they gave him a job which by experience he was better fitted
than any living man to undertake.

What Congress asked him to undertake as stated in the directive
which the enabling legislation was:

It is hereby declared to be the policy of Congress to promote econ-
omy, efficiency, and improved service in the transaction of the public
business in the departments, bureaus, agencies, boards, commissions,
offices, independent establishments, and instrumentalities of the ex-
ecutive branch of the Government by

1.	Limiting expenditures to the lowest amount consistent with the efficient performance of essential services, activities and func- tions;
2.	Eliminating duplication and overlapping of services, activities, and functions;
3.	Consolidating services, activities, and functions of a similar nature;
4.	Abolishing services, activities, and functions not necessary to the efficient conduct of Government;
5.	Defining and limiting executive functions, services and activi- ties.

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