The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-04

" an amendment pronlDltlng the
r transferring the independent
The statement was made as
Speaker Bankhead expires
doubt whether debate on the bill
which has reached a peak of bit.
terness for recent years, could be
resumed before Thursday.
The house had a special cal.
endar UP for consideration today,
and will have other privileged legis-
lation before it tomorrow and
Wednesday.
The fight is veering around tt
a point where some observers pre-
dict that the final House vote or
the reorganization bill will bt
tantamount to a vote of conf
dence in the Administration.
DEMAND EXEMPTION
Although President Roosevelt
has said that he did not intend tt
reorganize the Veterans Admins
tration, leaders Of veterans or
carnations and the congressional
veterans bloc' insisted that a
definite exemption be written into
the bill.
In view Of what the Presi-
dent stated I see no necessity
for an amendment exempting
the Veterans Administration"
said Chairman Cochran CD Of
Missouri, of the reorganization
committee, but If the commit
tee feels, in view Of the re-
quests of the service organiza-
tons, that there should be an
exemption, I will have on OBJ.
lection and will join with them"
VETERANS WORRIED
Representative Warren CD Of
North Carolina, in charge Of re-
organization provisions of the bill,
denied a definite decision had
been reached, but said that Every
probably" the Veterans Admins
tration would be exempted.
Representative Griswold CD of
Indiana, leading the fight to
exempt the Veterans Administra-
tons, said the veterans are wor-
Iried over the possible effect Of
reorganization legislation.
Functions relating to public
health are put under the pro-
posed new Department of Wei
fare" said Griswold. "They fear
that The VereranS' AdminiStra-
ton, the benefits and compensa-
lions handled by it may also be
put in such a department.
DISTRUST HOPKINS
"They don't want to be put
there, so that Harry Hopkins
social workers could put them
on the shelf in a test tube"
GriSwo.d said Congress itself has
done "a pretty good job of re-
organizing the Veterans Admins
trati0n.'
Through a series Of legislative
lenactmentS, Congress has consoli.
dated veterans activities in the ad.
ministration. and taken from It's
functi ms not related to veterans,
he said.
Fortified by President Roose
velt's return from Warm Springs
and his assumption of command
Democratic leaders voiced conf
dence that they can break the
stubborn bipartisan opposition to
the measure.
LEADERS CHEERED
Mr.. Roosevelt, who calle
leaders to the White House soor
after his return to the city, waG
said to be cheered by the Opt
miStic reports given him.
Leaders said they informed the
President that the compromise
amendments announced after 9
telephone conference between
leaders and Mr.. Roosevelt, haC
gained votes and that the bill car
be passed without agreeing Il
emaSculating amendments.
Indicating concern as to what
may happen to the bill, If it is re
turned to the Senate, the President
called Vice President Garner anC
Senator Byrnes CD Of South Car
DINA to the conference.
THOSE IN FARLEY
House leaders comforting witt
him were Speaker Bankhead, Ma
jority Leader Rayburn and Rep
resentatives Cochran CD Of Mis-
souri,, Vinson CD Of Kentucky
Warren Cd of North Carolina
Mead Cd of New York, and Rob
inson CD Of Utah, all member
of the reorganization COMMITTEES
Mr.. Roosevelt approved the cor
duct Of Speaker Bankhead ant
: Democratic Leader Rayburn, il
their efforts to pacify an unrul,
House.