Evening star., 1936-03-23
BROWNLOW HEADS
.PROBERS TO WORK
WITH BYRD GROUP
GuIiCk and Merriam Also to
Pursue Inquiry Into
Organizations.
HOUSE ASKED TO PICK
PARTICIPATING GROUP
Coordination Of Investigations
Is Objective in New Ap.
pointments.

For the second time, President
Roosevelt is undertaking a study Of
reorganization Of executive agencies.
Naming a committee of three to
pursue this inquiry, the President yes
terday asked cooperation Of the spe-
cial Senate Economy Committee,
headed by Senator Byrd. Democrat of
Virginia and, at the same time. Sug-
gested to Speaker Byrns that the
House also name participating group.
Prior to assuming Office, Mr.. Roose-
velt instituted similar undertaking.
A committee composed of Daniel c.
Roper, Lewis ". Douglas and SVagar
Sherlsy went over the Government
Set-Lo and formulated recommenda-
tions which were used aS the basis
for reorganization moves designed 10
make effective the 1882 plank pledging
the Democratic party to 25 per cent
cut in expenses.
The White House announced the
presidential committee shortly after
Mr.. Roosevelt had departed for the
South.
At the head Of his committee, Presi-
dent Roosevelt named Louis Brown
low. former District Commissioner,
now director of the Public Admins
tration Clearing House, Chicago: Lu-
ther Gulick. New York, director of the
Institute Of Public Administration. and
Charles E. Merriam, professor Of DO
litical science at the University of
Chicago.
Advirers for Byrd Group.
Both BroWnlow and Gulick were
announced last week as advisers for
the Byrd committee, which has been
given $50,000 to conduct an investi-
cation of useless and overlapping"
agencies in the Government.
Senator Byrd said Brownlow and
Gulick were named to the presidential
committee by Mr.. Roosevelt to make
possible. through them. the co-ordi-
nation of the work of the two groups.
Byrd said the President told him of
his plans when the V.rginian confer
reo with him more than q week sso.
Il asked him to avoid any duolica-
ton said byrd, which ne assured
NE he would"
The White House announcement
said the Presidents committee was
| created to make a careful study Of
the relation of the emergency agen-
cies to the regular organizations Of
the executive branch of the Govern
ment"
1t was said the group would serve
as an adjunct Of the National Eme--
gency Council, which will provide
| Office facilities "and such personnel
as the committee may require"
Discussed Last October.
In letters to Vice President Garner
and Speaker Byrns, dated March 20,
Mr.. Roosevelt said he began holding
| conversations last OS.nh=t with in
terested and infornsed persons con-
necessity of making careful study OF
the organization Of the executive
branch of the Government"
He added that of new agencies
created during the emergency" some,
| with recovery, will be dropped or
greatly curtailed, while others, in
order to meet the newly-realized needs
of the Nation, will have to be fitted
into the permanent organization Of
the executive branch"
| In making such a reorganization
Mr.. Roosevelt said he felt it was
necessary "also to study as carefully
as may be the existing regular organ
ization" He said he carried on con-
versations along this line in November
and December, and then determined
to appoint the committee just named
to assist me in making such study.
with the primary purpose of consider
ing the problem Of administrative
management"
The President. in the two letters.
requested cooperation of the special
Senate committee, and the group he
suggested the House appoint, "in order
that duplication of effort In the task
of research may be avoided and to the
end that it may be as fruitful as pos
sible."
In addition to appointing its five
advisers, the Byrd committee has en-
gagged the Brookings Institution to
outline its inquiry.
Seek Useless Agencies"
Byrd has described the principal OBJ
ject of his committee as searching for
useless agencies" that may be abol-
ished and Overlapping bureaus" that
may be consolidated at savings of
hundreds Of millions of dollars in
Federal Government costs"
The Bryd Committee is TO report to
the Senate next January.
President Roosevelt has instructed
his committee to make its report to
him in time so that he can make
recommendations also to the next Con-
gress.
mi Inr cIIIrro MMAnr