Evening star., 1937-07-28
ROOSEVELT VOTED
6 AIDES BY HOUSE
First of Four Reorganization
Measures Is Passed,
26O to SO.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

OAAN fNAiC VI eiiC ltOl RdIllLdlIOI DIOA
gram submitted to Congress last Jan.
uary by President Roosevelt TODAY had
completed passage through the House,
the bill TO give the President six ad-
mlnlstratiVe assistants with q passion
for anonymity being approved late
yesterday by roll call vote, 26o to 80.
The debate preceding the vote was
marked by bitter attack on the meas
ure. Representative Fish, Republican,
Of New York described it as another
step to concentrate power and set up a
Fascist or Communist regime" and
other Republicans accorded it equally
harsh treatment.
Democrats, defending the bill, said
the President, who now has three Sec
retar1ea, needs more helpers because hs
is overworked.
Four Bills In Program.
In the House the Presidents reor-
ganizatlon program is divided into four
measures, which administration spokes-
men told their colleagues yesterday will
be taken up in order Second will come
the bill to abolish the Office Of con-
troller general and substitute an au-
ditor general; third, reorganization Of
the civil service, substituting a single
administrator for the present commits
sion, and, fourth. delegatlng authority
to the President to regroup consoli-
date, abolish and coordinate adminls-
trative agencies.
In the Senate the entire program is
included in one omnibus bill.
In spite Of administration expires.
sions Of confidence that the major
portion, at least, Of the Presidents pro-
gram will be promptly enacted into
law, there is quite general conviction
among those in closest touch with the
legislative program and its possibilities
that the measure approved YESTERDAY
will be the only reorganization bill
passed at this session, and doubt has
been expressed in some quarters that
it will get by the Senate.
Describes Type He Wants.
In message to Congress the Presi-
dent described the type CT assistants
he desires to fill these positions:
They should remain in the back
ground, issue no orders. make no de-
cisions. emit no public statements.
They should be men in whom the
President has personal confidence and
whose character and attitude is such
that they would not attempt to exer-
else power on their own account. They
should be possessed Of high COM
petence, great physical visor and
passion for anonymity. They should
be installed in the White House itself,
directly accessible to the President"
Passage OF this bill was urged by
four Democratic members Of the Re-
organization Committee: Chairman
Cochran, who also heads the Expend!-
lures Committee; Representative War
rem of North Carolina, who heads the
Accounts Committee: Representative
Vinson Of Kentucky, on the Ways and
Means Committee. and Representative
Robinson Of Utah. chairman Of the J
subcommittee that sponsored the meas.
Ue 4
Marshalled in opposition were these
Republicans: Minority Leader, Smell
Representatives Taber Of New York
and Clifford Of Massachusetts. who |
are members Of the Reorga nization
Committee, and Representatives Fish.
Rich of Pennsylvania. jenkins Of Ohio,
Knutson Of Minnesota, White Of Ohio.
Short of Missouri, Thurston Of Iowa
Ti,,L oS Zoe
Repeated attempts were made TO
amend the bill. several Of them face
GUS. Representative Short proposed to
name the six new secretaries for the
President, suggesting the names Of
members Of the Roosevelt family. Rep
resentative Knutson proposed that
none over 10 years of age should be
appointed" Andrews. Republican. Of
New York sought 20 have the new sec
retaries subject to confirmation by the
Senate. Representative Collins, Demo-
crat, of Mississippi offered an amend
ment which would have increased the
allowance of members of Congress for
clerk hire from $4,000 to $4,000, per-
mltting the employment of third
clerk, but this was ruled out Of order
and, on an appeal from the decision
of the chair, the vote was 1853 to SO
against the amendment.
Amendment Offered.
Representative Mclean, Republican,
of New Jersey offered as an amend-
ment proposed amendment to the
Constitution providing for a six-year
term for the President and Vice Presi-
dent. with reelection banned. He
argued that this would relieve the
strain on the President and take the
presidential Office out Of politics.
Representative Short called the pro-
posed new administrative assistants
various names: "sycophants," "snoop-
ers,' 'undercover men," "nincom-
poops," 'errand boys and "interlop-
ers." He declared the President could
get more dependable information about
legislation from Vice President Garner.
Speaker Baakhead and experts in all
branches Of Government.
Thomas G. Corcoran and Benjamin
V. Cohen, legislative advisers to the
President. were repeatedly mentioned
during debate as reputed prospective
appointees.
Representatives Tinkham, like Fish.
warned against concentration Of power
in the Executive. He accompanied his
protest with resolution for an in
vestigation to determine the desira-
bility of plural executive 10 prevent
dictatorship.