Harry Truman

I urge that the Congress act favorably upon this legislation.

No authority of management is more important than that of selecting the personnel who are to operate the business.

It is not without reason that for many of our citizens the post office has come to symbolize the Federal Government.

I recommend as one of the first steps that legislation be enacted by the Congress to place the Post Office Department under the Government Corporation Control Act of 1945 so that it will have the benefit of the business-type budget, audit…

No other country furnishes a better or more varied postal service, and many other countries have used our postal service as a model.

In order to strengthen further the management of the Post Office Department, I have transmitted a reorganization plan to the Congress.

I again strongly urge, as I have in previous messages during the past two years, that the Congress enact an adequate revision of the postal rate structure.

The Department has done its vast job well and the effectiveness of its operations is a tribute to the loyalty and know-how of its more than 500,000 officers and employees.

I believe that the legislation now pending to increase the salaries of officers in the executive branch is a fundamental step toward the more effective operation of the Government.

I have today approved H.R. 4583, relating to telephone and telegraph service and clerk hire for Members of the House of Representatives.

Important as it is for Members of the Congress to have adequate clerical assistance, it is at least of equal importance to have men of ability in the key executive positions in the Government.

The Congress has already recognized the need for greater compensation for other groups of Federal officers and employees, including the Members of Congress themselves.

I have signed this Act willingly, for I believe that it is in the interest of the Government and of the people to provide for the efficient conduct of the public business.

The best of laws can be ruined by poor administration.

I feel constrained to point out to the Congress again, however, an opportunity which it has for a greater improvement of the public service than will be accomplished by this legislation, and at approximately the same cost.

In the promotion of the general welfare, Federal employees should not be neglected.

The success or failure of all the things the United States Government undertakes to do depends in large measure upon the wisdom and ability of these executives.

Such a process is obviously poor business and any apparent saving in funds for salaries is obviously a disservice to the taxpayers.

In the conduct of civil service operations the Chairman is subject to the regulations of the full Commission and to their investigatory powers and appellate jurisdiction.

I have concluded that the proper action at this time is to concentrate in the Chairman the responsibility for the internal administration of the agency.

This plan provides for unified direction by the Chairman of the United States Civil Service Commission of the executive affairs of the Commission.

It is essential that the Commission which directs that system should be effectively organized to discharge its responsibilities.

Since the principal purpose of the National Security Council and the National Security Resources Board is to advise and assist the President and their work needs to be coordinated to the fullest degree with that of other staff arms of the…

The function of the second is 'to advise the President concerning the coordination of military, industrial, and civilian mobilization.'

After investigation I have found, and I hereby declare, that each reorganization included in the plan is necessary to accomplish one or more of the purposes set forth in section 2(a) of the Reorganization Act of 1949.