Evening star., 1937-04-01
NJ CARL HITS PLAN
ON REORCAN|z|NC
Says Roosevelt Proposal
Would Spell! End of Con-
gress' Money Control.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, April l.-Surrender
to the recommendations of President
Roosevelt's Committee on Govern
mental Reorganization would spell
the end of Congress ability to control
by law the uses of the public money"
John Raymond McCarl, former con-
troller general of the United States,
said today, addressing the Chamber
of Commerce of New York State.
McCarl further declared the reor-
ganizat ation plans Of the administration
are being considered behind closed
doors by joint committee.
1T is unthinkable," he said, that
so serious and far-reaching a matter
should be taken to the floor Of either
house of Congress without full public
hearings"
Il can't believe there is danger OF
such a thing being done. However, we
are warranted in these times in taking
nothing for granted. I would urge
all citizens to be alert"
Sees Expense Cut Vital.
McCarl prefaced his attack on the
Presidents reorganization plan with
statement that he was firmly con-
vinced that reorganization of the Gov
ernment, with a view to cutting ex-
penses, was vitally essential. The
Presidents plan, he insisted, looked
for no economy, but rather called for
greater expenditures.
mo savings by law, recommends
the Presidents committee said Nc
Carl, "let the Congress abdicate in
favor of the Executive is its urge
IF we are to avoid utter exhaustion
of the national credit-even bank
ruptcy-avoid riotous imitation, an
other crash-or worse, it is imperative
that we bring costs of government
within Treasury income, that we bal
ance our budget, stop borrowing for
Government spending.
I'VE can bring Government spend
ing within income only by reducing
Government costs or by increasing
income-or by combination of both"
Praise for Byrd.
McCarl gave credit to Senator
Byrd of Virginia and small group
of Seantors who worked with Byrd
for earnestly trying to bring about
governmental reorganization that
would really cut down governmental
expenditures. This group, however,
has been submerged in the joint con-
gressional committee, with the ap-
| pointment of preponderance of Sem
ators who are ready to do what the
President wants, McCarl continued.
"Savings?" said McCarl. The re-
port does not even suggest savings. Ad-
ditional costs? AsSured-and subStan-
| tial costs improved administrative
methods? Conjectural and exceedingly
doubtful. Further surrenders of con-
gressional responsibility to aid execu-
tive growth? Many and with vital
consequences
McCarl said that under the Presi-
| dents program ''our independent ac-
counting system would be emascu-
lated; that 1t was intended to be emas-
culated
The proposal to wreck our inde-
pendent accounting system" he said
going as it does to the authority of the
Congress to effectively safeguard and
prescribe the uses of public money
reaches out far beyond any matter Of
reorganizing existing agencies. It i.
proposed to revamp the respective
Jurisdictions Of two of the three co.
ordinate branches of government
with loss by Congress of means whereof!
to discharge its constitutional re-
sponsibilities to the country"
The proposal in the Presidents plar
to establish two new major depart
ments of the Government, McCarl in
sisted, would cost lot of money. II
view of the need to reduce costs, h
said. it would be terribly wrong"
With reference to the proposal t.
place the independent, quasi-judicia
governmental agencies, like the Fed
eral Trade Commission, the Interstate
Commerce Commission and others
under cabinet heads, McCarl said:
What might be the condition il
this country of ours if one man. ant
he the head Of a partisan politica
organization in power, could influence
at WILL even dictate, the investiga
tional activities, the policies and tn
decisions of such powerful regulator.
agencies as these independent com
missions? That poWer-to favor or II
ruin-to reward or to punish-a
means life or death in industry"
|