Evening star., 1937-06-12
REORGANIZATION
BILL IS MODIFIED
Only One New U. S. Depart
ment Sought in Robin.
son Measure.

Confidential copies Of the Govern
ment reorganization bill by Senator
Robinson, the Democratic leader, dis
closed today that it proposes q num-
Der Of major notifications in the pro-
gram recommended by President Roose-
welt.
The copies were distributed to mem
bers OF the Senate Reorganization
ComUittee. They showed the bill
would retain the major framework of
the Roosevelt proposal, but would
authorize only one new government
department instead of the two sug-
gested by the Chief Executive.
Furthermore. 1t would eliminate one
OF the most controversial items In the
Presidents original program-the
placing OF present independent boards
and agencies under executive depart
ments.
The bill would carry out some Of
the Presidents ideas, however, in that
1t would:
l. Give the Chief Executive broad
authority to shift or abolish Federal
agencies.
2. Put the civil service under a single
administrator instead Of commission.
5. Abolish the General Accounting
Once.
4. Give the President six executive
assistants.
G. o. P. to Fight Bill.
Republicans have served notice they
will fight the broad general authority
in the bill for the President to shift
or abolish Federal agencies.
The new Department OF Public We'll
fare, for which provision is made in
the Presidents new (third) omnibus
reorganization bill, is designed to:
Promote public health safety and
sanitation; protect the consumer; pro-
mote the cause Of education; provide
relief OF unemployment and hardships
and sufferings caused thereby: relief
OF the needy and destitute; assistance
FOR the aged; relief and vocational
rehabilitation Of the physically dis
abled; coordination and promotion
Of public health, education and welfare
activities
The new Secretary and Undersecre-
tary would be appointed by the Presi-
dent. Two assistant secretaries, at a
salary OF $4,000 year, would be ap-
pointed by the Secretary.
With certain exceptions, the meas
ure would permit the President to
transfer, reorganize, or abolish agen-
cies, provided he gave Congress so
days in which to veto his changes.
The exceptions would be that he
could not abolish an executive de-
partment, or independent establish
ment, or the Board OF Governors of
the Federal Reserve Board, and could
not transfer the functions Of the
Forest Service, the Army engineers
with regard to flood control, or the
Mississippi River Commission.
Neither could he create any new
agencies.
Transfer Of Activities.
Instead OF having power to put
independent establishments such as
the Interstate Commerce Commission
under regular departments, the Presi-
dent could only transfer their routine
administrative and executive functions
which are common to other agencies"
such as preparation OF estimates for
appropriations and procurement Of
material.
Much Of the Al pages OF the bill Is
devoted to the civil service.
The new civil service administrator
would be appointed for IS years at 4
salary Of 10000 and would not be
eligible for reappointment. He would
be subject to removal for ineficiency,
neglect OF duty or malfeasance in
office.
The administrator would appoint
his deputy in accordance with civil
service laws and the classification act.
The administrator would be ex-
pected to prepare for the President
plans for a career service in the Gov
ernment; would establish employe
training programs; would be required
to study personnel standards and pol
icies in other governments and in
private industry; would cooperate
with the States and the District Of
Columbia and other political subdi-
visions IN extension Of the merit sys-
tenn and the establishment of joint
eligible registers. He would request
experts In personnel matters to advise
with him and be authorized to pay
such advisers their travel costs and
SIS day.
The proposed new ofice Of auditor
general. to replace the controller gen.
eral would receive salary Of $40. 900,
with an assistant under civil service,
each to have q 15-year term. The
auditor general would not be eligible
for reappointment, and either of these
oh1cers would be subject to removal
by resolution OF Congress after hear
ing. Retirement would be compulsory
at the age OF 10.
The proposed new audit system
would be entirely post audit rs dia-
metrically opposed to the pre-audit
system which Congress is demanding.