Evening star., 1933-02-12
CONGRESS BALKS
DICTATOR GRANT
FOR THIS SESSION
Democrats Believe Senate
Amendments Mark Limit
to Be Gained Now.
FURTHER STEPS HELD
POSSIBLE AFTER MARCH
Adoption Of Garner-Buchanan Re-
organization Program Is Pre-.
dicted by Leaders.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


Democratic leaders Of the Senate, and
House have reached the conclusion that
the grant of authority to the President
and the department heads to reorganize
The Government and reduce expendi-
lures, contained in the Byrnes and
Bratton amendments to the Treasury
and Post ONCE appropriation bill. Is as
far as they can hope to 60 In the pres
ent Congress along those lines.
Notwithstanding the fact that Speaker
Garner and other Democrats Of the
House continued yesterday to talk OF
some kind Of compromise" between the
program they advanced recently and
the Senate provisions Of the bill dealing
with Government reorganization and
cuts In expenditures, 1t is believed that
the most these Democratic leaders can
hope for Is contained at present IN the
Senate amendments.
"A Warming Up Gallop."
These grants of power to the incom-
ing President. however, are only
warming up gallop" to the race to give
extraordinary powers to the Chief
Executive in the special session Of the
new Congress after March 4, 1t was de-
clared last night.
The original Garner pro-
gram, which looked to give the Presi-
dent authority to abolish major DEPART
ments or combine them, reduce ex-
go, .5;t,,~oc 70 l1ad roY1frQrtIiQl
obligations of the United States and to
reduce payments to the veterans, will
be put through In the new Congress, 1t
was predicted.
Furthermore, the Democratic leaders
are looking to Mr.. Roosevelt to lead
them in the matter Of general legisla-
ton. While the Democratic Senate and
House will continue, In the new Con-
areSs. to write the laws, MIR. Roosevelt
win submit drafts OF what he proposes
or give his OIL n. to the drafts Of laws
framed by the Democratic members Of
Congress. The President-elect, It Is said
by those close to him, will not hesitate
to proclaim individual bills administra-
tion measures and to put the full force
and influence Of the Executive back OF
them.
See Prompt Legislation.
With overwhelming Democratic ma
joritieS In both houses, the Democratic
congressional leaders, who seem entirely
willing 10 leave this leadership squarely
In the hands Of Mr.. Roosevelt, believe
that he will be able to get legislation
enacted promptly.
They expect to see the Roosevelt pro-
gram include farm legislation, relief
measures, including plans for vast public
projects similar to that proposed by Mr..
Roosevelt for the development Of the
carrying out the Democratic plank on
prohibition.
Many of the Democrats in Congress
are amazed at the extent Of the grant OF
power to the Executive they were able to
obtain from the Senate In the Byrnes
and Bratton amendments to the Treas
ury and Post ONCE appropriation bill.
II they can save these grants OF power
and write them into law, they will be
delighted. Their fear today Is that the
talk of still further power to the Presi-
dent may upset the apple cart In the
House, cause filibuster in the Senate,
or bring veto of the appropriation bill
from President Hoover.
Under the ByrneS amendment the
next President may abolish or transfer
or combine bureaus of the Government
and independent offices, such as the
Federal Trade Commission, the Ship
ping Board, the Farm Board and the
Interstate Commerce Commission. It
does not permit the Chief Executive to
60 as far as the abolishment OF one OF
the ten major departments or to the
combination Of two or more Of the
major departments.
Five Per Cent Cut Ordered.
BY the Bratton amendment, depart
ment heads are instructed to cut the
appropriations made for their depart
ments by per cent, although these
cuts are to be made without lowering
salaries or wages. This may mean the
dismissal of many Government en-
ployes or their indefinite furloughing,
or both. Indeed, such action appears to
be inevitable.
The temper of the Democratic leaders
In the Congress today Is to slash ex-
penditures, to fire employees of the Gov
ernment wherever they can be fired.
Thy have found it utterly impossible In
the present Congress TO get anything
done along these lines comparable to
the extent they say they desire to make
cuts. And apparently they fear that II
they leave the matter to the new Con-
gress, they will have little more success.
So they plan to put the power to cut
and discharge employees and officials at