Evening star., 1932-04-05
Tied in a Knot.

Granting that House ana Senate were
willing to accept the Presidents recon-
mendations yesterday for effecting
economy through creation Of a special
commission, representative of House,
Senate and the Executive, there is the
question whether the findings OF such
a commission could be translated into
necessary legislation in time To bring
about the desired material reduction OF
expenditures before the beginning OF
the next fiscal year. Although the
President said in his message that
"such a course would expedite rather
than delay the passage of appropriation
bills" Senator Robinson replied that
'if we wait until the process of max
ing a thorough and scientific tnvesti-
CATION is carried out the credit OF the
Government will be very materially i'm
paired" And even though the investi-
cation might be carried out and the
legislation presented, everybody knows
what happened to the results OF the
REORGANIZATION Commissions work OF
1924. 1t still occupies some pigeon hole
at the Capitol large enough to hold
other papers.
It is, however, impossible to grant
that the House or Senate will accept
the Presidents recommendations. Judg-
ing from its reception in the Senate
yesterday, this latest message on the
subject, will meet the fate OF its pre-
decessors. The problem of reorganiza-
ton of the Government in the name
of economy has tied the legislative ma
chinerv in a knot that none seems able
to unravel.
The President pointed out some OF
the handicaps in his message yesterday
The Executive, he said, is bound to rec
ornmend appropriations adequate 10
provide for the functions and activities
of the Government as now established.
The Appropriations Committees OF both
House and Senate have given earnest
consideration, he said, to questions of
economy, and in addition the special
Economy Committee of the House and
the Committee on Expenditures in the
Executive Departments of the House
have studied and suggested reductions
, in expenditures. But the major portion
of the suggestions cannot be made ef-
fective without legislation.
But the proper origin of the sugges-
tions for cutting down Federal expendi-
lures Is the President, members Of the
Senate reply. Yet when the President
has asked for authority to reorganize
the Federal establishment by executive
order, giving Congress a veto power to
be exercised within sixty days. he is
sternly admonished against asking that
Congress delegate to him its legislative
powers. 81 am ready" said Senator
Borah, "to help in the repeal Of any
law or the enactment of any measure
If can know what they are and that
they are in the interest of economy.
But I cannot vote for a generalization
and will not vo.e to delegate legisla-
tive power"
When the President asks Congress TO
adopt a definite plan for economical
reorganization he is told to do it him
self When he asks to do it himself
he is told that such power will not be
delegated.
There apparently remains one, and
only one, stroke left for the President
to take That is to send to Congress
Immediately a list of specific recon-
mendations for the elimination of un-
necessary expenditures and a plan for
amalgamations and combinations of
Government functions. Accused of
generalizing, the President might reply
with specifications. Congress has csked
for them. What will happen if it gets
them?