The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-06-08
Nv ]. EARLE MoSER

.WIbk14L1 bA1C AAbAASA SA@S%SS ~
ficialdom at the General Account
ing Offices there is a strong hope
for the success of S. 1850, the
measure recently introduced by
Senator Harry Flood Byrd CD,
OF Virginia, as an integral part OF
his own reorganization program.
The principal reason for official
enthusiasm is that the bill would
take the heat off" G. A. o. by
providing a method by which in.
dWiduals and offices believing
themselves injured by decisions OF
the Comptroller General would
have the opportunity to appeal.
Since the G. A. O. was set UP
under John r. McCarl, it has been
constantly in the public print over
decisions handed down that have
stepped on the toes Of department
heads and Administration favor.
ties. But under the law, nothing
could be done except ask Con-
gress for specific legislation re-
versing the Comptroller General.
This took time. and those rebuked
in decisions could only grumble-
although at times there were
sharp disputes between the Attor-
ney General and Comptroller Gen.
eral as to whose decisions had pri-
GRITTY.
And to all this fuss may be at
tributed the current move on the
part Of the Administration to ham.
string G. A. o. and turn it into a
post auditing agency sans any
fangS whatever.
The Byrd bill, however, provides
an excellent "out." 1t would turn
the Comptroller General into the
Auditor General" and would con-
tinue much of his power. But it
provides that any department
head dissatisfied with his decisions
may place them before the United
States Court of Claims. and if so,
the Auditor General or his repre-
sentative must appear and defend
the particular ruling that is ques.
toned. And finally, the Court of
Claims could reverse the Auditor
General without any appeal to
Congress.
G. A. o. mogulS like the idea, as
they have squirmed, so to speak,
under the constant implication in
past years that their office housed
a financial GEAR" Further, the
fact that S. 1850 would set up, in
addition to the Auditor General
and his assistant, a second as
sistant at $4,000 per annum is
hardly likely to cause any wave of
opposition at the Old Pension OF.
flee Building.
Senator Byrd's document would
also place the United States for
the first time on an actual bust
ness basis. Uncle Sam, in the
past, has never kept a set Of
books in the meaning Of the term.
s. 1850, however, provides the
Auditor General should do Just
this, saying:
"The Auditor General shall
render to the President when
requested by him. and to Con-
greSs at the beginning Of each
regular session, q cOmprehen-
sive current statement of the
financial condition and opera
tiOns Of the Government as a
WHOLE"
BONER-Advertising for the
AF.GE.'s forthcoming European
trip declares:
"N may be that you can
arrange to pay for this tour out
Of income"
We'd like to hear from anyone
who doesn't.
Despite the current heat, the
Agriculture Chorus intends to con.
tinue activities through the sum.
mer, its next activity being q
program of welcome for All Clubs
annual meeting, June 10. Also
a concert for the Esperanto Club
is to be given July 2 at the HamiI
ton Hotel.
Robert Frederick Freund will d.
rect for another year, and Victor
H. Neal will continue as accom-
PIANIST. Newly elected officers are
John Wilson, president; Lillian
Novak, secretary, and Doris Men
tor, librarian.
Proceeding serenely, the N. F
F. E. has announced charterins
Of two new local unions, No. 81;
at Portsmouth, Ohio, and No. 611
at Lockhart, Texas. War Depart
ment and Soil Conservation Serv
ice workers make up the two babI
groups.
In addition. Secretary!Treasure
Gertrude McNally has announce
formation Of the Kentucky Stat,
Federation of Federal Employees
Unions following an organization
convention at Greensboro, KY. tn
N. F. F. E. is hoping for 100, 00
members by the time of it's nations
convention at Springfield, Ill. Ser
TENDER 8.
PHONES Nine out of 10 q
these Government Girls" VIII
claim horseback riding" as thei
principal recreation most &
'em don't even know how to noun
one !. reason: sasSiety pages pla
up the "debS" astride a nag {.
the gentleman Cor clerkette) VIII
writes or phones in a terrific tai
Of exploitation Of personnel b
some official but won't tell his {
her name or any details excep