Evening star., 1938-03-20
BY J. A. OIEARY.

or consolidation will be offered this
week by Senator Clark, Democrat, of
Missouri as Senate administration
leaders push for final passage of the
reorganization bill.
Senator Clark was one of those who
favored retention by Congress of gen.
eral power to approve or disapprove
any reorganization order before it
takes effect. but the Wheeler amend
ment to accomplish that was beaten
Friday, 43 to 80
The Mlssourlan said yesterday that
since the bill as reported from COM
mittee already excludes the Armv
Engineer Corps and Mississippi River
Commission, he thought the Senate
should have chance to consider
whether it also wants to exempt CO..
tain other activities. Accordingly, he
has prepared separate amendments
designed to place the following
agencies beyond the general power of
reorganization:
Soil Conservation Service, Veterans
Administration, Tariff Commission,
National Park Service. Bureau of
Animal Industry. Bureau of Investi-
CATION, Bureau of Reclamation, For
est Service, National Mediation
Board, Railroad Retirement Board,
Bureau of Agricultural Economics,
Tennessee Valley Authority, United
States Employees Compensation Com
mission, Bureau of Chemistry and
Soils. Bureau of Public Roads and
Burea of Biological Survey.
To Prolong Debate.
Most of these agencies deal with
functions that have strong support in
Congress, and if Senator Clark sue
cesos IN obtaining roll call votes on
his new amendments, it proba bly,
Will keep alive for several more davs
the question of whether restrictions
should be placed on the general re-
organizing power.
Meanwhile. it was doubtful last
night whether the proposal to allow
Congress to nullify reorganization
order by concurrent resolution will be
pressed. 1t was filed by Senator'S
Gillette OF Iowa, Brown Of Michigan
and johnson of Colorado, all Demo-
Gratis. after the defeat of the Wheeler
amendment. These three Senators
will confer tomorrow to decide
whether to call it up for considera-
tion. but it was believed an some
quarters yesterday that 1t probab bly,
will be abandoned.
Unlike the Wheeler amendment, the
Gillette Brown johnson proposal
would not make a vote mandatory,
put would make it possible for Con-
gress to disapprove any part of a re-
organization order by concurrent reso-
luton, which would not require presi-
Dental signature. 1t. therefore, would
eliminate the possibility of White
House veto, that would require a two
thirds vote to override.
Byrd Amendment Tn.
The issue before the Senate to-
morrow will be the Byrd motion call
Ing for 10 per cent saving on reg.
ular expenses of the Government in
the fiscal year 1910, but there is little
likelihood of its adoption.
The biggest remaining fight will
come on the move to preserve the
General Accounting Office, which the
bill seeks to abolish for the purpose
of transferring current accounting to
the Budget Bureau, with new auditor
general, to be appointed by a Joint
congressional committee, but confined
to the making of post-audits for the
information of Congress.
Senators Byrd of Virginia, Bailey
OF North Carolina and Burke of Ne
braska, all Democrats. have combined
IN the preparation of amendments to
restore the General Accounting ONCE
to the bill. Supporters of the bill do
not believe this motion will prevail,
particularly in view of the defeat of
the Wheeler amendment. which is
thought to have reached the peak in
opposition strength.
A variety of smaller amendments re-
main to be considered. While admin
istration spokesmen are hoping for
final passage by Tuesday, debate over
changes may continue until nearer the
end of the week
Byrnes Discusses Cut.
Discussing the 10 per cent cut
amendment yesterday, Senator Byrnes,
Democrat. of South Carolina. in
charge of the bill, pointed out the
measure already has been amended
to prevent the President from abol-
ishing any function, by providing he
must transfer the function elsewhere
before he abolishes a bureau.
you can't prohibit the President
from abolishing a function, and then
expect him to save half a billion
dollars on the budget" said Senator
BYnes. predicting the pending motion
would be defeated.
The South Carolinian also will op-
pose the various moves to exempt Ger
tain bureaus from reorganization.
Senator Clark has emphasized that
he has no desire to take out of the
bill the two committee exemptions
for the Army Engineer Corps and
the Mississippi River Commission, but
feels Congress should not be deprived
OF the chance to pass on what should
be done regarding other agencies.
In addition to the two exemptions
referred to. the bill as reported ex-
cludes a group of quasijudicial inde-
pendent establishments, such as the
Interstate Commerce Commission,
Board of Tax Appeals and seven
others.
AS the omnibus measure approaches
q final Senate vote, there is specu-
1ation as to what course the House
will follow That body broke up. the
reorganization plan into four bills,
but has passed only two-the Presi-
dents general reorganization power,
and the six administrative assistants
to the President. The Senate prob
ably will incorporate its all-inclusive
measure in the House general reor-
ganization bill, which would send the
entire subject to the House at once
The House has not had an oppor-
tunity to act on the Civil Service
and General Accounting Office fea-
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