Evening star., 1936-12-20
BYRNES PROPOSES
RE0RGAN|z|NG Be
PRESIDENTS JOB
Full Power, With Congress
Approval, Seen Solution
of Problem.
PAST UNSUCCESSFUL
EFFORTS RECALLED
Senator Points Out Difficulty Of
Session Trying to Work
Out Details.
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

General power for the President to
work out Government reorganization.
with Congress having an opportunity
to consider the changes before they
take effect, was proposed last night
by Senator Byrnes. Democrat, of
South Carolina as the method most
likely to succeed in dealing with the
problem.
Calling attention to unsuccessful ef-
forts in the past TO bring about re-
arrangement of Federal agencies by
specific legislation embodying de-
tailed plans. the South Carolinian
said:
II am not optimistic over the out
look for reorganization in the next
Congress unless power is given to the
President"
He indicated he had in mind pro-
cedure somewhat along the lines
adopted in the economy acts of 1882
and 1888, which authorized the Pres
ident to issue executive orders de-
signed to bring about consultations,
with a proviso that such orders be
submitted to Congress and left pend
ing for so days before going into
effect.
Provisions Of 1888.
Under the 1882 law either branch
OF Congress. acting alone. had the
right TO disapprove an executive Or
der. The 1888 law also required the
executive orders to be pending in
Congress for so days before taking
effect. but eliminated the right Of one
branch alone to veto an order.
Elimination of the veto power pre-
viously possessed by one branch meant
that a law passed by both branches
and signed by the President would
be necessary to stop an Executive
order for reorganization. The reor.
ganizaton authority conferred on the
President in the 1888 Law, however.
was limited to two years.
Senator Byrnes said experience has
shown the diff1culty of trying to agree
upon legislation which outlines in
detail the agencies to be included in
reorganization plan. Congress has
been trying to accomplish reorgani-
zation in that way for a long period
Of years, he said.
The South Carolinian is a strong
administration supporter in the Sen.
ate, and followed closely the economy
legislation Of several years ago.
With three separate committees
studying reorganization, the subject
is slated TO return to the limelight
on Capitol Hill again this Winter.
The Senate and House each has q
committee. and the President also
appointed a group of experts early this
year to cooperate in analyzing the
subject. The Senate committee,
headed by Senator Byrd. Democrat,
of Virginia, has gathered data on
the status of all existing agencies,
and probably will meet as soon as
all committee members have returned
to the city to map out a program Of
procedure for considering the prob.
lem when the session starts.
Silent on Other Bills.
Senator Byrnes was not ready to
express his views yesterday on bills
that are to be introduced at the
coming session to bring about a more
general application of the Civil Serv-
ice law throughout the Government
service.
Unemployment relief requirements,
he said, would be one of the first
tasks the new Congress will have to
consider, and he suggested modifica-
tons in the administrative features
of the new corporation surplus tax
enacted last session. He said that
without changing the principle of the
surplus tax. Congress could adjust
provisions that have been found un-
duly restrictive and unnecessary.