Evening star., 1922-11-15
HARRISON ASSA|LS
| BROWN PUBLICITY
|0NREORGAN|zAT|ON
Senator Indignant Over Civ.
ing Of Plan te Press in
Advance.
MAINTAINS CHAIRMAN
IGNORED CONGRESSMEN
Adds That No One Tock Member
ship on Board Merely to Act
as an Automaton.

Congressional members of the joint
government departments have been
ignored by the chairman of the COM
mission. Walter F. Brown. declared
Senator Pat Harrison, democrat. Of
Mississippi. member of the COM
mission. today. The Mississippi SEN
ator said any reorganization plan
would be given most careful scrutiny
by members of the commission. The
Brown plan, he intimated. was in for
some hard shedding before it could
be adopted.
Il take it," said ~'enator Harrison.
that no member 81 the commission
supposes he was appointed to under
take this important work merely to
act as an automaton-accepting the
recommendation of the chairman
without himself investigating every
phase Of the question.
Press Got Plan First.
THE worst phase of the Brown re-
organization plan, as has been pub
lished in detail. is its violation of the
expressed understanding Of the men,
bers Of the commission on reorganiza-
tion. 1t is almost inconceivable that
Mr.. Brown should have given his per-
sonal views to the press before sub
mitting them to members of the COM
mission.
THE commission on reorganization
was created bv act of Congress as the
agent of the legislative branch of the
government 1t consisted of three
members of the Senate and three
members Of the House.
Mr.. Brown. as the personal represent
ative Of the President. was added 10
the commission to cooperate with the
congressional members of the commits
sion at the instance of the President, and
the joint resolution creating the COM
mission was amended to meet the views
Of the President in that particular. He
was made chairman of the commission
by a majority of the members of the
that body. but over the objection OF
the minority members.
Has Held Three Meetings.
The commission, although created
nearly two years ago. has held not over
three meetings and at no time has it
considered any question of reorganiza-
tion.
THE congressional members of the
commission have been ready. willing
executive branches of the govern
ment in beginning it's work and to
consider such plans as might be laid
before 1t by Mr.. Brown or any one
else tending toward reorganization.
AT the last meeting of the commits
sion, which was called at the instance
of the President and which was held
at the White House about April. this
year, and at which meeting every
member was present. the congress
sional members of the commission
were informed that the plan would
be submitted to them within the next
thirty days.
What has transpired in the three
meetings of the commission has been
merely a discussion of the prelimi-
naries. but always with the under
standing that none of the details
would be given to the press.
Assails Browns Plan.
1t has been the opinion of certain
members of the commission, and, SO
far as 1 know. of all members of the
commission. that before any definite
steps should be taken the questions
would be considered by the whole
commission. with a full exchange of
views. and, il the commission thought
it advisable, a full hearing should be
granted.
Some of the recommendations made
ny INI oTo"H IL, dS puUllSHeu. may De
very wise, but. as one member of the
commission. l shall never sign a re-
port recommending any changes to
Congress without a thorough in
vestigation and an opportunity. when
advisable. for those who are best
advised as to the questions involved,
to be heard.
Expresses Wish to Cooperate.
1.-THE minority members of the COM
mission, Mr.. Moore and myself. have
desired, from the beginning. to co.
operate in every way with the
majority members of the commission.
as well as the chairman and the
President. in effectipg real reforms,
and coordinate certain bureaus.
where possible. and reorganize the
departments where efficiency might
be promoted and a saving might be
effected. but they will not be a party
toward disrupting the established
order of things unless 1t can be
shown that it is to the best interest
of the government service. 1t would
be unreasonable for the commission.
after delaying a report for eighteen
months. to expect congressional ac-
tion within three months, with the
calendars of both houses crowded
with important legislation