Evening star., 1938-04-07
MOVE TO SCUTTLE
RE0RGAN|zlNC BILL
IS BEATEN, 19l-169
Administration Defeats
Motion to Strike Out
Enacting Clause.
MEASURE NOW OPEN
FOR AMENDMENTS
Proponents Predict Vote Is Sure
Indication of Victory
in House.

Plan to reorgdniee Federal de-
portments has become center OF
most intense controversy in pres
ent session OF Congress. Despite
last-n1inute food OF protests, meas
ure got By Senate on seUen-uote
margin. Alredy approved in sec
tons in House, omnibus bill has run
into rough heather despite conces-
stons by administration.
Administration forces today defeated
the O'Connor motion to sidetrack the
reorganization bill The vote. coming
on motion to strike the enactins
clause, was l9l to 1863.
The measure was thrown open to
amendment Immediately afterWard.
Backers Of the bill said the vote was
a sure indication the House would pass
1t eventually. But opponents still had
opportunities to attempt to defeat it
after amendments we're disposed of.
This is Just one part of the fight.
Mr.. OConnor told reporters after his
proposal lost. There will not be
reorganization bill.
Red Backing Charged.
Before the vote, Communist sup
port for the bill was charged by Rep
resentative O'Connor, Democrat, of
New York, vigorous opponent of the
measure.
Just before the motion was made.
Representative Cochran, Democrat. of
Missouri, in charge of the bill. was
forced to concede point of order by
Representative Taber. Republican, of
New York. necessitating revision of
the first title, which confers general
reorganizing power on the President.
In urging the House to adopt his mo-
ton, Mr.. O'Connor declared that
those responsible for bringing the
bill in here have realized for some
time that they have a bear BY the
tail. We are trying to help them
let 60"
Charges Browder Lobbied.
Il hold IN my hand two issues of
the Daily Worker. organ of the Com
munist party" Mr. O'Connor con-
tinued They violently support the
bill and denounce the opponents as
Tories and Fascists who are fight
ing liberalism"
But the Communists are not con-
tent with merely the written word IN
this issue. Their chief leader, Earl
BroWder, their candidate for President,
has been actively lobbying in the Of
fees of members to obtain support sor
this bill
Il cannot Just figure out why Com
munlsts are for this bill and what
trick they think they are playing in
denouncing opponents as Fascists.
The country believes Fascism is with
US and that this bill is a further step
in that direction. The people fear
this bill will serve as an escalator to
ctatorship"
Proposed Amendments.
With the defeat of the OConnor mo-
tlon the opposing sides will go to bat
on amendments due to be offered to
virtually all main features of the bill,
namely:
The delegation of general authority
to the President to regroup bureaus,
unless Congress stops his orders by law
within so days; creation of a new De-
partment of Welfare: abolition of the
Civil Service Commission. to be re-
placed by single administrator: divl-
sion of the work of the General Ac-
counting Office between the controller
general and a newly created auditor
general, and appointment of six ad-
ministrative assistants to the Presi-
dent.
Leading opponents of the bill dis
agreed on the proposal to kill it before
considering amendments. While Rep
resentative O'Connor urged thie
course, Chairman Summers of til
Judiciary Committee recommended
voting down the O'Connor motion.
Il feel now it would be a mistako
not to consider this bill" he told the
House late yesterday Let's do tho
best We can to amend it, and then if
We can't amend it as We think it
ought to be, let's have the nerve to
beat it,
Some of the opponents were optimis-
tic today over their chances of elimi-
mating the new Department of Welfare
and of preserving the Civil Service
Commission
Fight Due on Power Limit.
The biggest fight will come, however,
over two conflicting plans for retain
ing in Congress method of passing on
general reorganization orders of the
President.
Representative Knifin Of Ohio.
member of the Reorganization Com
mittee, will offer the amendment ac-
ceptable to administration forces, un-
der which Congress could disapprove
an executive order within so days after
its issuance by concurrent resolution,
which does not have to be signed by
the President, and, therefore. could not
be vetoed. In the absence of anv
(See REORGANIZATION, Page A-4)