Evening star., 1933-04-25
Reorganization Program
Hitch Seen in Rail Co.
ordinator Bill.
COMMERCE Department
IS PIVOT OF SCHEME
White House Action Will Await
Disposition of Imitation and
Economic Issues.

The administrators anticipation OF
placing its governmental reorganization
program into effect before the beginning
of the new fiscal year was classed as
slim" in authoritative circles today.
The main obstacle was seen in the
progress toward introduction and en-
enactment of the rail co-ordinator Dill,
which. when it leaves the White House,
probably early next month. will nave
tackled onto it plans for the reorganl-
Eation Of the Commerce Department.
The rail measure is reported to hold
the key to the proposed new structure
for this vast trade-promotion agency.
Changes that have been planned out
side of setting up transportation reg
latorv agency within this department
were reported to be casual In comparl-
son. LII,
should the rail coordination nail
meet with defeat in Congress, Wnlch
informed circles hold improoaole' fresi-
dent Roosevelt's departmental regroup-
irg advisers probably would have TO
start all over again. Plans for the re-
organization of the Commerce Depart
ment are considered the major part OF
the reprouping program, and the pro-
posed shifts into and out OF this agency
of other Government bureaus are re-
ported to be contingent upon the pas
sage of the railroad measure In It's
present form.
White House Action Delayed
The White House has let 1t be known
q made nv Mr.
Roosevelt to study the rail measure ana
the reorganization program until the ao-
ministration's imitation plan and the IN
ternational economic conversations are
virtually completed. The rail bill. as re-
ported in informed circles, provides Tor
ADEQUATE powers to be bestowed upon
the Federal co-ordinator. However. II is
understood the proposed plans proVloe
for an appeal to the Interstate COM
merce Commission from rulings Oh thiS
officer.
Under the proposed program OF the
Commerce Department the commission
is to be reduced in size. and part OF lts
activities transferred to the depart
ment's transportation agency. The re-
organization is not expected to result In
an illoefeal dismemberment OF the COM
missions bureaus. Railroads and snip,
pers are reported to have been INFORMED
of this fact by the administration altef
thev are said to hive filed sharp pro-
tests These protests were reported CEN
tered against the proposed shifts OF the
commissions and bureaus OF nnance'
statistics and accounts to the depart
ment's transportation agency:
In the plans first submitted 70 the
White House by Secretary OF Commerce
Roper these bureaus were lncluoeo.
However, the White House mas an
nounced that Roper had recalled tne
plans for revisions but has recently re-
submitted them. At the Commerce d Dej
Yartment these revisions were reported
as being minor.
wide Authority Expected.
Exnectatton in administrative circles
is that the co-ordinator, who Will De
CLOSELY linked with the Interstate Com.
merce Commission and the proposed
transportation agency, Will nave 1ar,
reaching authority to deal with rallroao
problems The fact that provision Is 70
he made for an appeal to the commits
sion presupposes that this Offices power
will be extensive. Under the reorganiza-
tion plans a new appeal bureau Will De
created within the Interstate commerce
The administration Is reported to be
expecting some opposition TO lts ran
program, and does not look 1or lts en-
sctment until the latter part OF May.
40 days before the beginning OF the
new fiscal year Meantime, the pro,
nosed changes in other governmental
denartments are reported to be slowly
taking shape. Their major revisions
are said to be hinged on drastic cur
tailments in their 1884 running ex-
penses, the War Departments being
SI44 600 000
The proposed retirement Of veteran
employees Is also embodied in the 1884
Independent Offices bill. This Is viewed
in ranking circles as another sure sign
that the major reorganization plans
will not be placed into effect before
July !.