Evening star., 1933-05-05
ROPER DENIES HITCH
I'm REORGANIZATION
Secretary of Commerce De-
CIareS Plans Will Not
Be SheIved.

After denying reports that the ad-
ministration was preparing to shelve
plans for reorganization of Government
departments for one year, Secretary Of
Commerce Roper today sounded a
! warning to all Government workers
that in bringing about "the economies
to which we are pledged, there are
bound to be unhappy consequences to
individuals. through no fault of their
own"
Prior to addressing the annual con-
vention Of the Chamber of Commerce
Of the United States on 1.-THE Place
and Functions Of the Commerce De-
partment." Roper told The Star that
plans would be submitted to Congress
by President Roosevelt before adjourn
| ment Of the special session. The cabi-
net officer Is Mr.. Roosevelt's chief reor-
ganization adviser.
I'VE have put too much work on
along" Roper asserted, TO get them to
Congress during this session. Most as
suredly they will not be shelved."
Explains Misinterpretation.
The shelving reports, he said, gained
circulation because Of misinterpretation
| IN ofhcial quarters of the powers given
President Roosevelt in the economy bill
| to reorganize the Government. The
provision states that plans must be sent
to Congress while in session and shall
expiration of go calendar days - un-
less Congress shall by law provide for
| an earlier effective date" =
Under this provision the plans could
be submitted to Congress on May 30
and that body could adjourn the fol-
lowing day. Sixty days thereafter the
plans could automatically be placed in
| effect.
I'VE won't resort to that trick"
Roper said. THE plans will be sent to
| Congress as soon as Mr.. Roosevelt COM
| pletes his study" He estimated that
the Government would save by regroup-
ing bureaus within the Commerce De-
partment alone approximately $l5,-
100000.
Secretary Roper spoke at the closing
session Of the twenty-first annual meet
! ing Of the chamber today.
Roper told the business leaders that
many Of the employees slated for dis
missal In his department were highly
| trained in clerical, administrative,
technical and scientific work. He said
they include both men and women OF
education, culture, fine traditions, pa
triotic ideals and of proven loyalty"
| Advocates staggering" System.
In advocating Staggering" system
| to cut down as many dtsmissals as pos
sible, the Secretary continued:
"As the ills of this depression are
| cured and, along with our business, the
| Government resumes some Of the func-
| tions that now will have to be sus-
pended, many Of these employees could
| be re-employed. In view of this posi-
| bility, and also in order to protect their
eligibility to the retirement privileges,
| which was in many cases an inducement
| for them to enter Government service.
what would you think of the feasibility
| of staggering employment for those OF
the civil service force that are efncient
and can be used under normal admin
istratve conditions for necessary func-
tions? In this way men and women
would draw, say for IL months, part OF
their present pay, with the hope that
| conditions might during that time i'm
prove to an extent that would enable
| them to obtain more liberal treatment
by the Government or to be absorbed
by industry.
Soliciting your sympathetic co-opera-
| ton in this matter, I suggest that you
consider the setting up OF some sort
! OF clearing house arrangement, where
you might receive from us and main
| tain records of such persons as would
be genuine assets to any business that
reaches position where it can en-
ploy additional personnel.
Doror briof1u outlined fS.e nr0n0Spd
Federal Bureau of Transportation to
be set up In his department and urged
cooperation of the business leaders
! toward the solution "of our mutual
problems"
"It is the primary responsibility OF
business to formulate in the first in
stance ways and means for recovery
from the depression" Roper declared
"The air is full of plans" he added,
"fo- the organization of some body,
| comparable to the Council of National
Defense or the War Industries Board
organized by President Wilson"
would you regard it fitting to make
q beginning by organizing for the De-
partment Of Commerce a properly
1 qualified co-ordinating general COM
mittee, to be designated, If you wish, the
| Presidents Council on Business, con-
sisting Of a reasonable number OF repre-
| SentativeS of commerce and industry
| say not more than 81 in all, and
properly distributed geographically and
| ndustrially-who could advise period
| ically with the department?
such q body would be a channel
| through which the business community
could express itself to the Government;
and would, at the same time, supply the
| Government with the most experienced
business advice as to proper ways OF
stimulating and reviving the business
Of the country. 1t would be body able
| to supply experienced advice on the
multitude of plans for the stabilization
| Of industry and for Government aid in
such connections.
F., 1T would also serve as an agency
through which there could be turned
back to business its proper responsibility
for effecting through its own organiza-
tions those measures which had received
the approval of the Government. ]
| might also say that such an agency
| could greatly relieve the existing pres
sure upon the Government by itself
undertaking, to analyze and work out,
in cooperation with the proposing
business agencies and with the assist
ance Of Government experts, PROPOSE
tions not requiring governmental guld-
ance or legislative action.
| Invites Suggestions.
'I have not worked this out in detail.
Before doing so, I should like to nave
the comments and suggestions OF sucn
q group Of representative business men
as Is assembled at this meeting. not
only as to the central suggestion itself:
but also as to the ways and means OF
putting the plan into concrete operation.
One problem, of course, would be that
of choosing the members of the COM
mittee representing trade and industry
Possibly, it might be desirable to bring
into the picture the departments OF eco
nomics and schools of business admin