The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1938-04-14

ness. All had known from the De-
ginning that the vote was going to
be close but some of us had almost
despaired Of defeating 1t because OF
the great pressure that was
brought on the Democrats to-
stand by the President" Cover
nors called their state members by
long distance phone. Postmaster
General Farley also used the tele-
phone, and a number OF Depart
ment heads spent days up on the
Hill trying to line up those who
were on the fence. livery credit
should go to the 1O8 Democrats, and
they come from all parts OF the
country, who voted mol" The vote
Of the Minnesota delegation was
divided, the three Republicans, An
dresen, Mas and myself; the lone
Democrat, Ryan, and Johnson and
Kvali, Farm er-Laborites voted
against the passage OF the bill,
while Teigan, Bernard and Buckler
voted for it.
In this instance the communists
showed their hand by coming out
intellectually fer the reorganiza-
ton and their official newspaper,
1.-THE Daily Worker" published in
New York City, contained some
strong articles in favor Of the meas
ure, calling those who opposed 1t
reactionaries and Tories. notice
in the st. Clcud-Journal for last
Thursday that Earl Browder, COM
munist candidate for President in
1885, while in Minneapolis denied
my statement that he had been in
Washington to urge Congressman
to vote for the bill. It Is my in
formation that Browder personal
ly contacted at least one IL not
more members Of the Wisconsin
delegation in support of the meas
ure and I have no reason to doubt
the veracity of my informant.
There is no question but what the
government should be reorganized
in order to effect economies and
bring about greater efficiency but
Representatives Woodrum Of Vir-
ginia, a New Dealer and perhaps
as well posted on government mon
ey matters as any man in either
House Of Congress, made the state
ment during the debate that the
reorganization bill would saddle an
additional annual cost Of govern
ment on the American taxpayers OF
anywhere from one thousand mil
lion to three thousand million dol
lars a year. To me that was a
very ccgent reason for voting
against it. Then, too, the passage
Of the bill would have resulted in
virtually abolishing all checks on
government spending because II
would have transferred the control
Of the Comptroller General from
Congress to the President and that
was unthinkable because 1t would
allow the spending authorities to
audit their own books. The Comp
troller Generals Office has saved
the government hundreds Of mil
lions CT dollars since it was created
16 years ago and will save more
The credit for defeating the re.
organization bill must primarily 60
! to Father Coughlin who aroused
the American people to the true
situation. It was the thousands up.
on thousands CT kilograms and let
tiers that poured in on Congress
that defeated the bill. Then, we
must not forget that sterling pat.
riot, Congressman John j. OCon-
nor Of New York, Chairman CT the
powerful Rules Committee, who led
the fight. He gave an exhibition
of parliamentary generalship that
has never been surpassed in any
legislative body. The fact that he
Is a close personal friend Of the
President made his task all the
more difficult and his position the
more commendable and praisewcr-
thy.
Strikes Out Excise Tax
When the tax bill was before the
House a month ago we inserted q