Evening star., 1938-03-22
BY J. A. OLEARY,

Final action on the Government
organization bill was expedited tod J,
when the Senate refused, by a vote b
30 to 33, to exempt the Forest Serv
from the general power of the Prd
dent to regroup bureaus.
1t was generally believed that
the Senate had adopted this exenI
ton move. opponents OF the meas,
would have had fair chance of 81
Cling out other agencies for exemptid
Although further exemptions may
offered, they have little chance
success in view of what happen
on the strongly-supported forest
motion.
On the other hand, it was report
today that if the Forest Service h
been definitely excluded from I'D
sible reorganization, it would have W
over several doubtful votes for fir
passage OF the measure.
The vote to exclude forestry wo,I
have been much larger and probat
would have carried except for
statement made many times duriI
debate that there is no intention
disturbing that branch of the Depad
ment Of Agriculture The reason
administration opposition to writ
the exemption into the law was q fe|
it would pave the way for numero
other exemptions that would preve
the President from planning q gener
reorganization.
Byrnes Fights Exemption. Y
Before the vote the Senate was an.
pealed to by Senator Byrnes, Demo
crat, Of South Carolina not to exemp
the Forest Service because Of tn,
stimulus such action would give tn,
more than dozen other amendment.
to exclude certain agencies.
This appeal was made as the Senat,
membership was being urged by vii.
liam Green. president of the American
Federation of Labor, to send the entire
bill back to committee for furthe,
study on the ground that only super.
lclal hearings were held previously.
Senators Hatch, Democrat, of New
Mexico and Capper. Republican, o
Kansas opened the days debate by an
nouncing they would vote to safeguar,
forestry from the possibility Of trans
fer from the Agriculture to the In
terror Department.
Hatch Explains Attitude.
Senator Hatch, a supporter Of tn
bill, said he was against the genera
principle of exemptions, and that hi
vote for forestry could not be taken q
precedent for what he will do OF
other exemptions. He took this stand
he said, because of a difference O
opinion among Senators as to whethe
certain functions of the Forest Servic
will be moved.
Repeating the belief expressed TO
several days that the administration
has no intention Of transferring thi
agency, Senator Byrnes pointed ou
that If the President intended to max,
such a transfer he could have don,
it when he possessed similar reorgani
zation power for 18 months after h,
took Office, but did not touch tn,
Forest Service.
Earlier, while Senator Hatch wa.
speaking, Senator Caraway, Democrat
OF Arkansas, observed:
will not the Senator agree thai
If the President has no intention o.
moving forestry, he could have no oh.
lection to this amendment"
> Accounting Office Bloc.
One other major controversy await
consideration over the future Of tn,
General Accounting Office. Senate
Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia will lea,
a fight to prevent abolition Of tha
Office and the splitting OF its func
tions between the Budget Bureau an,
a new Auditor Generals Once. Th
defeat Of the opposition bloc on othe
important issues, however, leaves littl
prospect for stopping this change IL
Government accounting procedure.
The Senate late yesterday defeated
56 to %, the move of Senator Byrd t.
make a 10 per cent cut in the regula,
expenses of the Government for tn
fiscal year 1910 one Of the specific OBJ
jectives Of the bill.
The American Federation Of Labor
plea for recommittal Of the bill wa!
contained in a telegram to member,
of the Senate by President Green.
Asserting that the bill contain
broad and sweeping delegation O
power to the executive branch Of Gov