Evening star., 1926-02-21
EFFICIENCY BUREAU
UNDER HOUSE FIRE
Pulls Through Safely, How
ever, With Extra $4,000
Appropriation.

The U. s. Bureau Of Efficiency and
Herbert D. Brown. director of that
Independent Government agency, were
vigorously attacked in the House late
yesterday, but as vigorously defended
and came through with the appro-
priation for the next fiscal year intact
Emphasis was laid on a new prop
osition. during the debate, that the
Bureau Of Efficiency should be con-
solidated with the Bureau Of the
Budget.
In the independent Offices appropria-
ton bill Is an item Of $4,000 for
the Bureau Of Efficiency, an increase
or $60, 900 over the current apprppria.
ton and above the budget recon-
mendations. This came to Congress
through the Budget Bureau as a sup
Elemental estimate while the appro-
priation bill was being framed.
Declared Unnecessary.
Representative Byrns OF Tennessee,
ranking Democrat on the appropria-
tions committee. sought to strike out
the 0,000 increase. He declared the
Bureau Of Efficiency Is absolutely un-
necessary" and argued that 1t "dupli.
Gates work Of the Budget Bureau"
He insisted that there was nothing
IN tne hearings or no statement to
justify the $4,000 appropriation.
Representative Wood of Indiana
who was in charge Of the bill. sought
to explain the Investigations carried
on by the Bureau Of Efficiency in
the various Government departments
and other agencies and, under fire
by Mr.. Byrns and Minority Leader
Garrett mentioned Investigations
made at the Bureau Of Engraving
and Printing and in the customs
service. He credited the Bureau of
Efhciency with being responsible for
the new plan Of the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing for standardiz.
Ing money and getting out smaller
bills. better printed
Mr.. Byrns again arose to ask,
Who Is this man Brown? Does
he want to control the. whole Gov
ernment? What was he doing down
there?" He also wanted to know,
What were the director Of the
Bureau OF Engraving and Printing
and his three highly.paid assistants
doing?"
II am a member of the subcom-
mittee on the Treasury Department
appropriation bill. which passes on
the appropriations for the Bureau OF
Engraving and Printing" said Mr..
Byrns. The director OF that bureau
was before us and lauded the work
Of his organization. but at no time
mentioned the Bureau Of Efficiency" 4"
Mclaughlin Joins Argument.
Representative Mclaughlin, Re-
publican. Of Michigan. interjected
that as far as he was able to find
ont the main thing the E3urNau NJ
Efficiency did was to make arbitrary
changes in the rating of employees in
various departments. Mr.. Wood re-
sponded that the director Of tho
Bur~sa n Efficiency Is only ono mem-
Der Of the perernno) c!Hs.tdcation
board, to which Mr.. Mclaughlin re-
piled. Well. then. 1t Is only one-third
responsible"
Minority Leader Garrett took an ac-
tive part in the discussion and his
most striking comment was that Mr..
Woods explanation Of the need for
the $4,000 increase was very un-
satisfactory"
Mr. Wood characterized the Bureau
of Efficiency as the right arm OF
the Budget Bureau" He agreed with
Mr.. Byrns that the argument for con-
solidating the Bureau of Efficiency
with the Budget Bureau had much
more weight than to consolidate 1t
with the Civil Service Commission.
Representative Blanton, Democrat,
Of Texas, defended the Bureau Of Eff
cheney and lauded Mr.. Brown as one
of the most valuable Government en-
ployes.
The amendment offered by Mr..
Byrns to strike out the $4,000 in
crease was defeated by a strong viva
voce NO"