Evening star., 1937-10-02
AUDITOR GENERAL
|. PLAN IS FORECAST
Rep. Vinson of Kentucky
Sees Prompt Passage.
Predicts New Economics.
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

soiiipt paoSdSt dJ Tie next SSSSiou
o. Congress-whether it is a special
or regular session-of the reorgani-
zation bill, which amends the budget
and accounting act of 1921 and estab-
fishes The Office of auditor general. Is
predicted by Representative Vinson.
Democrat, Of Kentucky, chairman of
the subcommittee which favorably re-
ported this bill to the House.
In the closing days of the last ses-
sion the House passed the first two
Of the fou- reorganization bills. uD
creating six additional administrative
assistants for the President, and (2)
giving broad reorganization powers to
the President and creating a depart
menU of welfare. The other reorgani-
zation bill still pending on the House
calendar, sponsored by Representative
Mead, Democrat. OF New York, pro-
vides for abolshing the existing Civil
Service Commission and setting up
single administrator.
Representative Vinson said today he
is spending much of his time while
Congress is in recess explaining the
auditor general bill to his colleagues,
and in breaking down their opposition
on the ground that Congress would be
surrendering its control over expendi-
lures through pre-audit. He said he
is gaining considerable support and
expressed confidence the bill will pass
"as soon as the members find out that
| 1t insures Congress stricter control
4 4
Forecasts Economies.
| He emphasizes that Congress has
never had a proper picture of the use
! of appropriations" He said he "ex-
| poets tremendous savings through re.
ports by the new auditor general on
expenditures that were made legally
but improvidently." Such reports will
be the signal for reduction in appro-
priations and prompt other economy
legislation, he believes.
This legislation will broaden legis-
lative control over expenditures in
stead of surrendering it." he said. Il
have found the reaction among my
colleagues most favorable, especially
when they understand that we are
really not surrendering an iota of con-
troll. When that bill becomes law We
will secure for the first time reports
to Congress on expenditures from an
impartial and unbiased legislative
agent. At the present time we have
the report from an agent who is not
unbiased because he is reporting on his
own decisions"
Representative Vinson pointed out
the report of the Brownlow Committee,
advisory to the President, asked that
the control feature be vested in the
Treasury Department, an executive
unit, and the omnibus reorganization
bill sponsored by Chairman Byrnes OF
the Joint Reorganization Committee
which is special order of business for
prompt consideration as soon as the
Senate meets, would place the control
in the budget. an executive agency
The Vinson bill, however, would leave
the control in the hands of an in
dependent agency, the General Ac-
counting Office, where it now is.
Would Preserve Office.
He expressed himself as not at all
antasonistic to the Office Of the con-
troller general, because he feels thai
a mighty good job as been dont
there" He explained, I'VE do not fee
that the General Accounting Office
should be abolished. or that it shoulc
be placed in the Treasury, or in thu
Bureau of the Budget, as has beer
suggested. Also, we feel that Congress.
is entitled to ar independent audi
of the receipts and expenditures o.
the executive branch of the Govern.
ment by an agent responsible to Il
and to it alone. We propose to brins
into being for this purpose the auditor
general, as q new legislative agent.
He insisted that under the proposed
change, duplication of effort founc
under the present system will bt
eliminated.
Vinson pointed out that the reaI
purpose of the bill is to strengthen
the budget and accounting system
which he feels confident it will do
along the line Congress originally in
tended-"by providing the legislative
branch with an independent audit ol
receipts and expenditures of the Gov.
ernment by an agent directly respon-
! sible to Congress"
This bill will segregate," he SAYS
the functions of settlement and ad-
Justment under one officer, and the
function of reviewing and criticizins
such settlements and adjustments anc
reporting thereon to the Congress il
another officer, thus providing Con
gress with an independent audit-fol
the first. time"
The controller general will continue
to operate in the future exactly as h.
mas IN the past, Vinson explained
that is, he will continue to render ad.
vance decisions and settle and adj
all accounts and claims. The depart.
ments and establishments and all ac.
countable officers of the Government
Will continue to furnish him with theiI
accounts exactly as they have i'm the
past. The new Office of the audito,
general would be decentralized anc
the auditor general would conduct ar
audit of all Federal expenditures i'm.
mediately following payment and be.
fore settlement and adjustment by the
General Accounting Office when. un-
der existing law payments are made
prior to settlement and adjustment.