Evening star., 1933-04-12
r ReicheIderfer and Crosby
Successors Not Yet Dis
cussed at White House.
REORGANIZATION PLAN
STILL FAR IN FUTURE
President Studies Roper's Proposal
for Commerce Department
Changes.

President Roosevelt hopes to be In .
position to appoint successors to Com
missioners Reichelderfer and Crosby
within the next two weeks, it was
learned today.
He has been so busy with other Gov
matters he has been unable
to give attention to the District ap-
but it Is his purpose to do
so shortly, possibly in less than two
weeks.
This assurance has been given by
the President to those with whom he
talked within the past day or so. He
F. Costello, Democratic national COM
mitteeman for the District, and John
B. Colpoys, chairman of the Democratic
State committee for the District. They
said afterward that, while the filling Of
these posts was discussed, no names
were mentioned. Both stated they did
not make any recommendations to the
President or even make known any
preferences they might have.
Farley Expects Action.
Postmaster General Farley, who is
handling the Presidents patronage
problems, including that in the Dis
trict, said today he has had little time
to study carefully the matter of local
appointments. He said he would give
more thought to 1t in the near future.
1t was his opinion that the two new
Commissioners will be appointed in
about a week. He made 1t plain, how
ever, that no particular individual has
been recommended by him.
Costello and Colpoys, who were active
IN the interests Of Mr.. Roosevelt in the
convention campaign and after
ward, are naturally expected to have
some influence In the choice of those
posts in the city. Both said today,
however, the local leadership has not
yet made any slate of appointments.
VIII Name Attorney.
It Is expected that appointment of
successor to Leo A. Rover as United
States attorney will follow shortly after
the Commissioner appointments. The
term of Commissioners Reichelderfer
and Crosby expired April 9. Gen.
Crosby wrote formal letter of resigna-
ton to the President more than 9
month ago asking that he be permitted
to retire TO private life at once, but
while the resignation was accepted by
Mr.. Roosevelt, Gen. Crosby was re-
quested to remain on duty until sue
cessor could be selected.
Mr.. Rover's term expired In January
and he was held over until his successor
could be appointed. More than dozen
names are known to have been pro-
posed to the Attorney General for rec.
ommendation to the President. More
than twice that number of names, how
ever, have been proposed for the conn
missionerships.t The selection of an
Engineer Commissioner to succeed Maj.
John G. Gotwals Is expected to follow
the appointment Of the civilian Com
missioners.
Considers Roper Plan.
President Roosevelt has not had an
opportunity to give much time to the
study OF reorganization OF the executive
branch of the Government. He has
held brief discussions of the latter sub
ject with Lewis Douglas, director OF the
budget, and Secretary of Commerce
Roper, whom he has intrusted with the
task of working out q complete re-
organization plan to meet with his
economy program.
Secretary Roper's plan, calling for q
complete reorganization Of his own de-
partment, was laid before the President
yesterday and was in the same spot on
his desk today untouched. Mr.. Roosevelt
discussed the matter briefly with Roper.
but has not yet had time to study the
plan.
The understanding is, however, that
Mr. Roosevelt Is definitely aware Of
virtually all that is contemplated In the
Roper plan, inaSmuch as its proposals
for a six-bureau structure were dis
cussed from time to time before being
worked out in detail by the Commerce
head. Therefore, 1t Is natural to as
sumo that Mr.. Roper's plan, especially
inasmuch as 1t Is expected to effect
$19,o00,000 saving, win meet with the
Presidents approval.
Five-Day Week Studied.
Reports are current that the ad-
ministration Is considering establishing
a five-day week for the entire Federal
service and that the legal features Of
such a movement are being studied by
the Attorney General. The President
was represented as not having had time
to give serious thought to this proposal.
The intimation was, however, that Sec
retary of Labor, Perkins, is exploring
the proposal and win lay her ideas
before the President.
It is known, too, that some friends
of the President are advocating q
change in the law governing the Dis
trict to the extent Of abolishing the
Board of Commissioners and placing
the governing and administrative pow
ers in the hands of one official. While
ideas Of this kind have been advanced
to the President in an informal man.
ner, it was said at the White House
that he has not yet given it any
thought. Before any such change in
the local government could be affected,
action by Congress would be necessary.
The fact the President has informed
local Democratic leaders that he would
appoint the two civilian Commission
ers shortly indicates he does not have
in mind any reorganization of the Dis