Evening star., 1938-12-21
BY the Associated Press.

H IOIyI cSS.
BY the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt was reported
in informed quarters today to have
forbidden administrative depart
ments to draft legislation for sub
mission to Congress.
Congressional leaders, asking that
their names be withheld, said the
Chief Executive had advised them
he had adopted definite policy"
Of leaving the job Of bill drafting up
to Senate and House committees.
The Presidents forthcoming mes
sage to Congress, they said. merely
will make affirmative suggestions"
for legislation
Mr.. Roosevelt's decision presum-
ably would prevent future bill draft
ing by such government officials as
Thomas Corcoran and Benjamin
Cohen, who have been credited with
writing much New Deal legislation.
This practice has been criticized by
anti administration Congressman.
Merger Bill Discussed.
There have been other indications
that the President intends to recon-
mend only broad principles at this
session and let Congress work out
the details. He told his press confer
ence yesterday that such would be
the case with expansion of the social
security program.
1t also was understood on Capitol
Hill that he would leave parliament
tary strategy on the Government re-
organization program to his House
and Senate leaders. He discussed it
yesterday with Representatives
Cochran, Democrat, of Missouri and
Warren, Democrat, of North Caro-
lima, who helped handle the legisla-
ton last spring.
Mr.. Warren said afterward that
without any disparagement to the
Senate" a reorganization program
would have been enacted last ses-
\ sion If Senate sponsors had per-
mitted its division into four bills.
The Senate passed general meas
ure, but 1t was shelved in the House.
Roosevelt reported stopping admin
lstrative departments writing bills.
Senator Byrnes, Democrat Of
South Carolina, chairman of the
Senate Reorganization Committee,
said recently he probably would ac-
cept the four-bill idea at the next
session.
Wheeler Plan Faces Trouble.
Mr.. Cochran and Mr.. Warren
foresaw trouble in the House over
a proposal of Senator Wheeler,
Democrat. of Montana to require
affirmative congressional approval
before reorganization proposal of
the President could become effective.
I'VE will insist on something like
the Kniffln amendment we had last
spring" said Mr.. Warren.
| (That proposal, by Represent
ative Kniffin, Democrat, of Ohio,
would have permitted any re-
organization plan to become ef-
fective in so days unless Congress
disapproved by majority vote.)
Mr.. Warren, indicating that the
administration would count noses
closely before permitting the legis-
lation to come to a vote this winter,
said rs Democrats who opposed it
last year were reelected.
Asked how he expected the 80 new
Republican members would vote
Mr.. Warren said:
They'll undoubtedly join the
other Republican opponents and
make party issue out of it,
There was widespread discussion
among Senators as to whether Presi-
dent Roosevelt would nominate
Harry Hopkins, w. P. A. administra-
tor, to be Secretary of Commerce
and whether the Senate would con-
firm him in such an event.
Three Promise Approval.
Senators Minton, Democrat, OF
Indiana; Norris, independent, Ne
braska, and Adams, Democrat, OF
Colorado, were among those who SAID
they would approve the nomination
Senator Vandenberg, Republican
OF Michigan, said he had no conf
dence in the ability Of Mr.. Hopkins
to fill position of such high re-
sponsibility."
The Michigan Senator added he
had not decided how he would vote
on such nomination.
If I'm asked to register vote OF
confidence in Mr.. Hopkins. I won't
do so because I haven't any con-
fldence in him in this kind of high
responsibility" Senator Vandenbere
said.
He added the President was en-
titled to 1.-The widest latitude" in
filling his cabinet, and said he be-
lieved "the President ought to be
permitted to function through SYM
pathetic SOULS