Evening star., 1932-03-12
BUREAU REVAMP|Nl
BILL IS Rejected
Senate Votes Against Amend
ment to Authorize Reor-
ganization, a. to 80.


An effort to attach TO the Interior
Department appropriation bill an
amendment conferring broad power on
the President to reorganize the Gov
eminent departments in the interest of
economy failed this afternoon when the
Senate, by the narrow margin Of 81
to 80, voted that such an amendment
was not germane to this bill.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican, of
Michigan, contending there is no pros
pect Of bringing about economy in
governmental expenditures without re-
organizing the agencies of the Gov
ernment. had proposed placing in the
Interior bill the provision empowering
the President to transfer and consoli-
date bureaus. Such changes as the
President might decide on would be
final unless Congress by concurrent
resolution should disapprove Of the con-
templated action within go days.
Offered as Substitute.
The Michigan Senator offered his
amendment as substitute for the pro-
visions placed in the Interior bill by the
House seeking to prohibit salary pro-
motions and to curtan the filling of
vacancies.
He took the position that the House,
having opened the door to conSidera-
ton of matters relating to personnel, it
was in order for the Senate to make
further amendments In the same direc-
ton. He cited a previous ruling by
former Vice President Marshall to sus-
tain his contention.
Vice President Curtis held that the
Vandenberg amendment came within
the scope of a rule requiring the pre-
siding officer to submit to the Senate
the question of whether the amendment
was in order
The vote was extremely close
throughout the calling of the roll and
just before the result was announced
Senator Harrison, Democrat, of Missis-
sippi, who had voted that the amend
ment was germane, changed his vote.
The result as announced by the chair
was 30 to "a, thus preventing consid-
Grafton OF the reorganization proposal
The Senate later approved the action
of its Appropriations Committee in
striking from the Interior bill the House
limitations to prohibit salary promotions
and the filling of vacancies. The final
fate of these restrictions will be decided
when conferees meet on the agriculture
appropriation bill, in which the same
questions are at issue.
Used George Resolution. .-.
The amendment which Senator Van
denberg sought to have considered was
taken verbatim from a resolution spon-
sored by Senator George, Democrat, Of
Georgia, and reported favorably from
the Finance Committee several weeks
ago. 1t was waiting consideration on
the Senate calendar.
Senator Robinson Of Arkansas, Demo-
cratic floor leader, opposed the Vanden-
berg motion, holding it was not In order.
He argued that broad reorganization of
the Government bears no direct relation
to the House amendment relating to
| promotions and vacancies. Senator
F, Robinson said he was in sympathy with
the purpose Of the amendment, but
deemed it impracticable and neon
sistent with Senate rules to legislate on
| q question Of such Importance in an
| appropriation bill
Senator Borah, Republican, Of idaho.
| opposed the Vandenberg amendment
on the ground it would put Congress
IN the position Of avoiding its own duty
| to pass upon such questions by passing
the buck to the President of the United
States" Borah argued the budget law
enables the President to have the Bud
get Bureau investigate duplication and
overlapping in the Government service
and make recommendations to Con-
gresS.
Roll Call Listed.
Those who voted that the reorgani-
zation amendment was in order were:
Republicans (25)-Austin, Barbour,
Bingham, Capper, Carey, Couzens, Dale,
Davis, Fess, Glenn, Goldsborough, Hale,
Hatfield, Howell, johnson, Jones, Kean,
McNary, Oddie, Patterson, Reed, Smoot,
Vandenberg, Walcott and White.
Democrats CD - Bankhead, Black,
Copeland, Dill, George, McGill and
Thomas of Oklahoma. rs
Those voting that the amendment
was not germane we're: r.
Democrats (25) -Ashurst, Bailey,
Bulkley, Bulow, Byrnes, Mrs. Caraway,
Costigan, Fletcher, Glass, Gore, Har-
r1son, Hayden, Kendrick, King, Logan,
| Mcclellan, Morrison, Neely Pittman,
Robinson of Arkansas, Sheppard, Smith,
Trammell, Wagner and Walsh Of Mon
tana 90
Republicans (s) - Blaine. Borah.
Brookhart, Frazier, Keyes, La Toilette.
Nye and Schall. ~,
Farmer-Labor D-Shipstead. ...