Evening star., 1938-04-02

SAAAAiie Aidiy VI tllSlll tIlc result VI
propaganda, while opponents defended
them as expressions of public senti-
ment.
Merit Advocates Disagree.
Near the close of the day, two Dem
ocratic friends of the merit system
disagreed over the civil service fea-
lures of the bill. Representative Mead
of New York made a strong appeal for
the bill, declaring it would mean
greater progress for civil service than
friends OF the merit system had hoped
to accomplish in the next ten years.
He was followed, however, by Chair
man Ramspeck of the House Civil
Service Committee, who centered his
opposition on the specific proposal to
abolish the Civil Service Commission
and substitute a single administrator
He announced he will move later to
retain the Commission.
Two separate moves developed dur
ing the day to amend the bill to re-
tain in Congress the right to pass on
the Presidents reorganization orders
before they could take effect
Representative Kniffin of Ohio an
nounced he has prepared an amend
ment under which Congress could dis
approve an order by concurrent reso-
luton during the so days the order
would be pending in Congress. Such
a resolution does not require the Presi-
dents signature.
Veto Escape Suggested.
Representative Boileau, Progressive,
of Wisconsin urged an alternative pro-
posal under which the Presidents
orders would not become effective un-
less Congress approved them by joint
resolution within the go days. While
this resolution of approval would 60
to the President for signature, If the
majority in Congress was opposed to
an order it could stop it by refusing
to pass the resolution of approval
This would eliminate the necessity of
overriding veto, which would require
two-thirds.
After score of Republicans and
Democrats had spoken for and against
the bill early in the afternoon, Mr.
OConnor took the floor with a plea
to the House to adjourn until Monday
without closing debate.
BIoodshed Mentioned.
Urging the House to turn its atten-
ton to unemployment and means of
checking the business recession, he
argued the pending bill places too
much power in the executive branch
and usurps the power of the legislative
branch. He began by declaring this
is the first time he has failed to sup
port the Presidents program. Later.
he concluded with the declaration that
he has been IAN organization man all
my life, but this is too much" He
added that he had made his decision
on this bill and would follow that path
even if he went alone
The reason for this unparalleled
protest." he said, referring to the tele-
grams, "is that there has grown up
throughout the country in the minds
OF our people, rightly or wrongly, the
belief that this reorganization bill not
only usurps the power Of their rep
resentative body in Congress. but
places too much power in the Execu-
tive, tending toward a dictatorship"
The New Yorker then said there
was not going to be q dictator in
this country and that he believed the
President was sincere in saying he
had no desire to be one.
The fact is, nevertheless" he went
on, that our people are inflamed
almost to the point of revolution
and I use my words guardedly-at
the thought of the possibilities of this
bill.
Some letters mention 'bloodshed,
others resort to arms That Is the
situation which concerns me-"
A few minutes later Ma jority Leader