Evening star., 1937-01-29
Joint Committee to Consist
of Nine Senators and Seven
Representatives.
NO interference
WITH BYRD'S GROUP
Virginian Unopposed to Addi.
tional Inquiry in Fight for
Reducing Government Costs.
BY ], A. O'LEARY.

The Senate today adopted the
House proposal for a joint congress
sional committee to handle reorgani-
zation Of Government bureaus, with
Majority Leader Robinson giving as
surance this will not interfere with the
special Senate Byrd committee, al
ready at work on the subject.
A last-minute change leaves the
House representation on the joint
group at seven, although allowing nine
Senate members. As 1t came from
committee two days ago, 1t called for
nine members Of each branch.
Senator Robinson explained today,
however, the House already has
named its seven members and desires
to adhere to that number, but its
leaders are willing to have the Senate
name nine.
Separate Committee.
At the same time, the Senate also
adopted separate resolution estab-
fishing Senate committee of nine
members on reorganization, the theory
being that the same group selected to
serve on the joint committee also Is
likely to be chosen to function as the
Senate's regular committee. This
was done to conform to the plan the
House has followed Of designating its
seven on the joint committee to act
as the regular House committee when
specific legislation Is ready to bs
considered.
Senator Byrd, Virginia Democrat and
chairman Of the special Senate COM
mittee which started the reorganiza-
ton inquiry going last Summer, did
not object to the measure setting up q
Joint group. He does not, however.
regard the creation of the joint COM
mittee as winding up the work Of his
special Senate committee.
The Virginian, who wants a reor.
ganization plan that would sharply
reduce Government expenses, takes
the position that the special com.
mittee over which he presides will
still have the right to submit its re.
port to the Senate after the joint com.
mittee has been set up. Byrd u
known to favor consultations that
would result in q greater reduction
Of expenses than he believes would
be accomplished by the changes pro.
posed by the administration two weeks
ago.
Report Provided.
The resolution Of the last session
creating the Byrd Committee directed
1t to file a report, the Virginia Senator
pointed out.
It Is entirely possible that some or
all Of the membership Of the Byrd
Special Committee will be included In
the Senate contingent on the joint
committee If, as is expected, the House
joint resolution passes.
Should the Senate adopt the reso-
luton today, however, 1t must go back
to the House for action on a Senate
amendment increasing the representa-.
ton Of each branch of Congress on
the joint committee from seven to
nine. It Is believed the House will
concur in the amendment, making q
joint group of Is. Since there are
only five members on the Byrd Com.
mittee, that group, together with four
additional appointees, could be chosen
to represent the Senate.
Much Data on Hand.
The Byrd Committee has q mass
Of data on the existing set-up Of
Federal agencies, gathered last Fall
by the Brookings Institution and other
experts. Senator Byrd Is understood
to be waiting until the proposed joint
committee is created and maps out its
plan of procedure before deciding
whether to hold any separate hear
ings, in order to avoid duplication Of
effort. He takes the view, however,
that in any event the special commits
tee will still be entitled to submit rec.
concentrations to the Senate.
Senator Robinson's statement on the
floor coincided with Senator Byrds
view regarding the status of the ex-
isting Senate committee.
In response to questions by Senator
King Robinson said the resolution for
joint committee is broad enough to
cover . thorough study of all Govern.
ment agencies.