Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-11
Rules Committee of House
Offers Special Rule to Ad-
vance Resolution.
REAVIS EXPECTS 1T WILL
BE TAKEN UP MONDAY
Resolution by Smoot, Who May Be
Committee Chairman, Likely
to Be Substituted.

Plans to co-ordinate all activities of
the government by reorganization
in Uncle Sans workshop were ad-
vanced today. when the House rules
committee offered a special rule on
the Reavis resolution, giving it privi-
legged status for consideration in the
House.
1t was proposed in the rules commit
tee to bring this resolution up in the
House today, but several of the lead
ers. including Representative Reavis
of Nebraska, author of the resolution
Representative Simeon d. Fess of
Ohio, Representative Finis J. Garrett
of Tennessee and Representa- Ed
win Pou of North Carolina, democrat.
argued that this matter was of such
vital Importance and such deep con-
Germ throughout the country that
longer time should be given.
Recommendation Expected.
Representative Reavis. following a
conference with House Leader Mon
dell, said he expected to get his reso-
luton up for consideration in the
House on Monday. 1t provides for ap-
committee of three members of the
House and three of the Senate to
consider all legislative proposals for
reorganization of the government in
the interest of economy and efficiency,
and to make a thorough investiga-
tion in regard to duplication and
overlapping in the federal service,
and to report to Congress with rec
omfnendations.
It is generally understood that
Senator Smoot' will be chairman of
this joint committee. and that Repre-
sentative Reavis will be appointed as
the republican leader from the House.
At the hearing before the rules
committee today. Representative
Reavis gave credit to Representative
ginia, for having worked earnestly
with him on this proposition, and
suggested to the democratic MEM
bers that Representative Moore
should be placed as the democratic
representative from the House on the
investigating committee.
Substftution Proposed.
The rule on which the committee
ordered q report contemplates ex-
Dedittng action by Substituting for
the Resvfs sssofation fifg Sfioot
resolution, which has already passed
the Senate and 10 Awaiting action in
the House judiciary COMMITTEES. The
ready reported favorably the Reavis
resolution. In reply to questions by
members OF the rules committee today,
Representative Reavis said that he
knows 0f mo- opposition to the pro-
Reorganization of the federal service.
II was emphasized at the hearing to-
day before the rules committee that
this work is entirely non-partisan
and that the evils complained of in
the government service have grown
-up during both republican and demo-
cratic administrations. In reply to
question by Representative Roden-
berg Of Illinois, Representative Reavis
said that men retiring from Con-
sress are not eligible for appoint
mept on the investigating committee,
and that no lame duck will be taken
care OF. because no salaries are to be
paid. Representative Fess, a mem
ber Of the committee. said that the
Investigating committee ought to
have an allowance for hiring expert
investigators.
Representative Pou. formerly chair.
one Of the greatest undertakings that
have ever been proposed. 1t proba blv
would be possible to get the work
done better by appointing a COM
mittee with authority to employ what
ever expert service may be rearired- It
Is not a matter for petty economy.
We are not dealing with millions. but
with hundreds Of millions"
/. Would Save ~Mnlion n Day"
Representative Reavis said that he
had gone very deeply into the sub
ject and had been working upon the
project for more than a year. I'VE
can save for the taxpayers of the
government" he said, 'if the ad-
ministrative branches are properly
co-ordinated. more than million
dollars a. day"
Representative Reavis emphasized
that. after conference with leaders
on both sides of the House. he ex-
pressed their unanimous opinion that
this is a matter of exceptional inn
portance and that the committee
should be authorized to start work
sat once.
On the suggestion of Representative
Fess the time for debate on the spe-
cia1 rule was changed from one hour
to two hours. This is a matter of
tremendous Importance" said Mr..
Fess, the country is wonderfully in
terested in this possibility of a great
saving, while at the same time in
creasing the efficiency in the govern
ment service"
Representative Garrett suggested
that in order to get quick action the
rule might be brought up in the
House this afternoon, but II was de-
cided that there would not be time
enough to make sufficient statements
at this time.
The special rule was adopted on the
motion of Representative Royal
Johnson of South Dakota