Evening star., 1938-03-13
RE0RGAN|z|NC BILL.
FOES FACING TEST.
Senators Hoping to Start
Detailed Consideration
of Amendments.

The first test of strength between
reorganization bill may come in the
Senate this week, as leaders hoped to
get down to detailed consideratio Of
amendments, after two weeks of gen.
eral debate.
Meanwhile, Senator Bailey, Demo-
crat, of North Carolina, member of
the opposition bloc, renewed the at
tack on the measure in its present
form in radio speech last night.
Granting the need for consolidation
and simplification of various Govern
ment agencies, Senator Bailey attacked
provisions that would give Legislative"
power to the President to abolish
modify. or transfer agencies and bu-
reaus
Trust American System.
Some of us consider that the Con-
gress ought to be allowed to approve
or disapprove the action of the Presi-
dent IN the premises" the North Caro-
lmian said. This is not because we
do not trust the President, but be-
cause we trust our American system,
our American way of conducting our
Government, more than we trust any
man"
Another development yesterday was
an indication from Senator Byrnes,
Democrat, of South Carolina, in charge
OF the bill, that he will oppose the
Bankhead amendment, which would
enable one house of Congress to stop
presidential reorganization order, if
Is per cent of the membership of
either branch petitioned for q vote.
The vote would be taken In both
houses, but negative result in one
would be sufficient.
such an amendment would be sub
stantially what was in the Reorgan-
izatton Act of 1882, and could not
agree to it because it would give one
mouse the right to set aside an ex-
ecutlve order issued under a proper
delegation of power to the Executive" :"
Senator Byrnes said.
Reference to Veto.
He had reference to the congress
sional veto by one house contained
In the reorganization authority given
to former President Hoover and which
resulted in disapproval of some or
ders issued at that time.
Senator Byrnes also said he agreed
with an opinion by former Attorney
General Mitchell unfavorable to the
plan of authorizing one house to
veto powers exercised under an act
OF Congress. The South Carolinian
argued that it would not be possible
to accomplish substantial changes tn
the Government set-up with a one
house veto provision
A considerable number of Sena-
tors, however, will contend that Con-
gress should reserve the power to
pass in some form upon reorganiza-
ton orders before they take effect,
and the vote on this phase of the bill
Is one of the major decisions con-
fronting the Senate.
Other equally controversial phases
OF the measure are whether the Civil
Service Commission and the Con-
troller Generals ONCE should be
abolished.
In his radio speech Senator Bailey
attacked the provisions that would
abolish the General Accounting Of
flee as "a most grave defect in the
bill" He also scored the proposal in
the bill to substitute one man in place
of the Civil Service Board.
Makes One Concession.
Senator Byrnes during the last week
made one concession to opponents by
offering amendments to make certain
the President could not repeal acts Of
Congress in the process of consolidat-
ing bureaus, and indications are this
is as far as he is ready to 60 on chang
ing the general reorganization section
Of the bill. The Byrnes amendments
provide, in substance, that a bureau
could be abolished only after the
functions for which 1t was created
have been merged with or transferred
to another agency.
From noon until 1870 pm. tomorrow
the Senate will consider a conference
report on changes in the Federal
Trade Commission law, but after that
Senator Byrnes hopes to obtain ac-
ton on non controversial amendments
IN the reorganization bill. Later In
the week votes may be taken on the
main points Of difference.
A strong effort will be made by the
opposition to preserve the Civil serv-
ice Commission, instead of setting up
q one-man civil service adninistra.
ton. and to retain the general ac-
counting office, instead of transfer
ring current accounting to the Budget