The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-12
By RICHARD [. MARKNEss

By RICHARD L. HARKNESS United Press Stan Correspondent)
 Washington, Jan. 12-CUP)- President Roosevelt asked congress today for almost unlimited power ,tc give the executive branch of the federal government the most com plete reorganization since ita founding-the right to meld 100 diff ferent agencies into 12 major de- partments under direct control oi the White House.
 Five Chief Points
 The plan was presented in 6 spe- cial message. It contained five chief points. all providing greater presi- dential executive management than ever before in American history They were:
 1. Creation of a new depart ment of social welfare and a new department of public works, mak- ing 12 cabinet posts instead of 10. The governments 100 boards, commissions, administrations, au- thorities, corporations, commit tees, agencies and activities would be replaced under the dozen de- partments.
 2. Assignment of six "execu- tive assistants" to the president 50 he may devote more time to his ofiice. At the same time the White House secretariat would continue as presently planned making MT. Rosoevelts son, 29- year-old James, White House lia- son man with congress. Fiscal, personnel, and planning activities would be placed directly under the president.
 3. Development of the present bureau of the budget into the presidents right hand agency. It's functions would be enlarged to include direction of a~central in- formation and publicity bureau, conducting government research, drafting and issuing executive or- ders and studying legislative rec- concentrations in line with coor- dinating federal activities-all in addition to formulating and exe- cutting the federal budget.
 4. Extension of the civil serv- ice system to all government workers except top-rank, policy making jobholders. The civil serv- ice commission would be abol- ished, replaced by an administra- ton appointed by the president on 8 merit basis, and an advisory board of seven non -salaried lay men approved by the U. s. senate.
 E. Elemination of the comp trolier generals office. The new position would be that of an audi tor general. A new general audit ing offlce would be established in the U. s. treasury.
 VIII Meet Opposition
 The recommendations, which ob- servers conceded would meet heavy in some congressional quarters, came from reorganiza- ton report drafted by Louis Brown low, director of the public adrninis- tration clearing house; Charles E. Chicago university politi- cal science professor. and Luther H Gulick, executive director of the in- stitute of public administration.
 MT. Roosevelt approved the plan' of his committee on adminiStra' tive management" made 1t officia by explaining a report summary ir person to newspaper correspondents and drafted 6 special message tt congress to accompany 1t.
 Not Encroach on Powers
 The committee carefully pointed out that it's reorganization plar would not encroach upon congress legislative powers. It said:
 "It is with full realization of thu necessity of continuing this impor tant function of the congress ant It's committees that we suggest thu necessity for improving the machin cry of holding the executive brancf more effectively accountable to th' congress.
 This accountability often is ob scured by the congress itself in i'm posing upon the executive in to' great detail minute requirements fo the organization and operation O the administrative machinery"
 The committee suggested tha congress, to keep in step with .iti outline, should establish four new legislative committees--fiscal, bud get, personnel and planning.
 Two other committees are work ing on reorganization. One grouI is headed by Senator Harry Floot Byrd, democrat, Virginia, and thu other by Rep. James P. Buchanan democrat, Texas. All three utilized the same information, then sepa' rated to write their own reports.
 Efficiency, Capitalization
 The presidents committee mad' greater efficiency and centralizatior of responsibility with the chief exc cutive as the chief aim of theil work. Economy came second. MT Roosevelt himself explained the frs purpose, declaring he sought com mon sense management of hi branch of the federal government An attempt was being made, he said to apply management methods ol big, successful business houses tt operation of the government.
 MT. Roosevelt held no hope tha, the plan would work overnight in the federal system. Ht forecast that two or three year. will be needed to have 1t intt smoothly operating order.
 The committee itself set forth it' stand on efficiency versus economy in this statement:
 No Estimate of Saving
 Tt will be noted that we have made no estimate of the amount of money that will be saved by sucf q. encouragement and reorganiza' ton of the executive branch as w have suggested.
 We have not made such an esti' mate despite the fact we ar' convinced that the establishment O the managerial agencies and the re- organization of the administrative departmentg that we have recon.