Evening star., 1933-02-13
COMPROMISE SEEN
ION REORGANIZATION
Leaders Expect Senate Plan
to Be Adopted-"Big
Stick" Abandoned.
BY the Associated Press.

How far Congress will go toward CIV
ing up its own power by granting Presi-
dent-elect Roosevelt the greatest au-
thority ever held by an Executive to re-
organize the Government, was being
considered today by Senate and House
conferees.
It was indicated compromise would
be reached along the lines of proposals
adopted IN the Senate. despite the in
sistence Of Speaker Garner to "go the
limit" under the Constitution. Opposi-
ton to the incoming Vice President s
plan has been voiced in both branches
Of Congress, by Government officials
and outside organizations.
Senate conferees on the Treaury-Post
Once Department supply bill, to which
the economy provisions are attached,
definitely t10eated they would adhere
generally to the original proposals of
Senator Bynes, Democrat, Of South
Carolina, giving the President elect
power to abolish or consolidate bureaus.
Adoption Held Remote.
However, these may be expanded
slightly, but it was generally conceded
by House Democrats that the possibility
OF adoption of the Garner proposal was
remote at this session. Garner wants
the new President empowered to abol-
ish cabinet departments. cut salaries
and reduce veterans allowances.
Meanwhile, Speaker Garner made It
clear that disciplinary action to force
the Democrats in line was not contem-
plated, but merely that an effort was to
be made to sound out the sentiment of
Congress on all proposals to give Mr..
Roosevelt broad reorganization powers.
The Vice President-elect said he
wished to correct an erroneous impress
sion, gathered yesterday from CONVEX
sations with party leaders, that drastic
means were to be resorted to to get
members on record. Garner said that
while he was encouraged over the
prospects Of the Senate plan, he was
doubtful Of the complete success of his
proposition.
Protest Against Cut.
Letters from cabinet members to
Senator Bingham, Republican, Connec-
ticut, protesting the per cent cut in
all appropriations for the next fiscal
year, as provided under the Bratton
amendment to the Treasury-Post Office
bill, were being studied by members of
the conference committees. This amend
ment, the officials hold, coupled with
the Costigan provision excluding sala-
ries from the cut, would result in the
dismissal Of thousands of employees and
the crippling of activities Of depart
ments and bureaus.
The Bratton amendment also was
assailed by John Thomas Taylor, vice
chairman OF the Legislative Committee
Of the American Legion, In letters to
the conferees in which he said 1t would
almost paraly1e" the operations of the
Veterans Administration.
1T seem apparent" Taylor wrote
that the full weight Of the Bratton
amendment may fall upon that
part of the independent offices bill
carrying the operating expenses of the
veterans administration and Its hospi-
tails, as the portion of the veterans ap-
preparation providing direct payments
on account Of veterans would not be
susceptible to the per cent reduction
without amendment to existing law.
Sees AZ Per Cent Reduction.
"This would have the effect of reduc-
ing the operating cost OF the veterans
administration by 43 per cent, as the
entire per cent reduction would have
to be taken from only % per cent OF the
appropriation.
I feel sure this was not the inten-
ton OF the Senate"
On the other hand, Maj. Henry H.
Curran, director of the National Econo-
my League, addressed a letter to Sen
ator Hale, Republican Of Maine, chair
man of the Senate Appropriations
Committee, requesting that the inde-
pendents Offices bill carrying the
veterans appropriation be held over
until the special session of the new
Congress in April. He urged the COM
mittee to wait until Roosevelt takes
office and makes his own responsible
recommendation to Congress with re-
gard to this particular appropriation
which ordinarily consumes nearly one
quarter Of the entire Federal budget"
"The principle which should govern
the reform Of veterans legislation, :"
Curran said, "is the repeal of all statutes
granting money payments and free
disqualification for causes not in fact
the result of military service" He esti-
mated this would save total of $3.50
100000 from World War and Spanish
American veteran costs.