Evening star., 1932-12-10
GARNER FORECASTS
BAN ON TRANSFERS
Speaker Says Congress Is
Against Taking River and
Harbors From Army.
Continued From First Page.)

NSOAbAAGC4 EAOAA Ea0t 69CsJ
transferred from the War to the In
terror Department, with Chairman
Mansfield OF the House Rivers and Har-
bors Committee, who leads large bloc,
terming the proposal ridiculous" and
"the worst thing that could happen"
A bill to take the rivers and harborS
and flood control work out of the hands
Of the War Department did not get far
in the last session of Congress, it was
recalled, principally because 1t was felt
that IL civilian engineers were intruSted
with the work they would be subject
to political influence.
Even Representative Cochran saw
danger in transfer of this work, declar-
ing, I'VE must safeguard against poll
tics in rivers and harbors work" Rep
resentative Schafer also opposed this
transfer.
Savings Chief Concern.
The principal concern of members Of
both houses Of Congress appeared to be
tions would effect real savings in Gov
eminent cost or merely be shifting
about of establishments in the interest
of greater efficiency after the attendant
disorganization Is resolved.
Senator Robinson of Arkansas, the
Democratic leader in his branch. said,
"The indications are that those pro-
visions not requiring legislation will go
into effect at the end Of the 60-day
period prescribed by law"
Several of the House members indt-
Gated that after they had studied the
message a little more they might intro
duce resolutions to keep Mr.. Hoover's
orders from becoming effective. Lewis
Deschler, parliamentarian IN that
branch, said that under the law any ot
the executive orders issued by President
Hoover could be stopped by adoption OF
a resolution in either House or Senate.
Only simple majority would be neces-
sary, he said, and the President would
have no veto power over such resolua
tions.
Studies Economic Phase.
While declaring himself in favor OF
Government reorganization, Senator
Dickinson, Republican, OF Iowa said
today he wants to see exactly what
economies are involved in the specific
proposals submitted and whether they
will also make for greater efficiency.
Senator Dickinson is member OF the
Special Economy Subcommittee OF the
Appropriations Committee, to which the
Presidents reorganization plan was re-
ferred.
There Is O certain amount of dis
organization In transferring a bureau
from one place to another" said Sem
ator Dickinson. What I want to find
out is whether the agencies will oper-
ate more efficiently in the new place
than in the old and, secondly, how
much Is going TO be saved"
Senator Byrnes of South Carolina,
one of the Democratic members OF the
economy group, issued q statement
commenting on the reorganization plan
as follows:
president Hoover,s recommendation
for the reorganization Of the executive
departments Is merely q stunning
around Of the present governmental
machinery and the creation OF many
new divisions in the existing bureaus.
While some of his proposals may be
logical and promote efficiency, his pro-
gram as a whole gives no such indi-
cation. Certainly it does not effect any
material reduction Of expenses.
Cite Failure TO Save.
"The President recommended the
abolishment of the Employees Compen.
sation Commission, but preserves an
the activities Of the commission. trans.
ferring them to the Labor Department,
thereby effecting no saving. Other sug.
gested abolishments are the Board Of
Trustees of the National Training
School and q park commission, neither
OF which are calculated TO bring about
any economy.
1.-THE Screw Thread Commission, how
ever, is saved, its activities being placed
in the Bureau Of Standards. A new
be all right, but I doubt the advisability
Of having Congress create department
of recreation.
"It Is to be regretted that the Presi-
dent has not abolished such agencies as
the Farm Board, transferring only It's
cooperating marketing features to tbs
Department of Agriculture. Such q
step would accomplish real saving,
and hope that he win stin take such
action.
"One or two Offices of assistant secre-
taries have been created to offset in
measure any saving which President
Hoover's plan might bring about. so that
instead Of being proper and adequate
outline for the reorganization Of the
Governments administrative structure,
it Is merely a suggestion OF doubtful
value"
Other Comment.
Other comments follow:
Representative McDufie, Democrat,
Of Alabama, chairman Of the Special
House Economy Committee last session.
II am glad the President has made
some effort. 1t should have been made
in 1929, certainly in 1880. But nothing
was done until 1t was known the other
fellow would have to do the work Of
carrying 1t OUT
Representative Britten, Republican, OF
Illinois-"Upon inquiry in various direc-
tions, can find no one who says that
saving will accrue from transfer Of
the non-military work of the Office Of
the chief of engineers of the Army to
the Department of the Interior"
Chairman Vinson of the House Naval
Committee-"After March Wen do
some real reorganizing"
Representative Williamson, Repub-
lican, Of South Dakotar-"In general,
agree with his recommendations"
Wheeler Not Impressed.
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, Montana,
said today he was not much impressed
by the Presidents reorganization plan
because it appeared TO be lust shift
ing Of agencies from one place to an
other" He said he did not see that
much could be accomplished by trans
ferring agencies and indicated he
thought there should be more elimina-
tions.
At the same time, Senator Wheeler
has taken stand against salary reduc-
tions in the Government service. He
urged restoration Of wage scales by the
Federal Government and In private en-
ployment as well.