Evening star., 1938-03-06
By ]. A. O'LEARY.

issue.
BY j. A. O'LEARY.
The plan to set up boards of re-
view in each Government department
to pass on complaints of employees
concerning their efficiency ratings will
be accepted as an amendment to TIE
reorganization bill, Senator Bygncs.
Democrat. Of South Carolina IN
charge of the measure, made known
yesterday.
Meanwhile, as the controversial FIVE
point measure faced q second week
Of debate. its supporters, led by the
South Carolinian, were hopeful of a
vote within five or six days. They
also believe they will have sufficient
votes to defeat major amendments to
the Presidents reorganizing power
and to put through the abolition of
the Civil Service Commission and
general accounting ONCE.
Members of the opposition bloc said
they have taken no polls to ascer-
tain their probable strength in the
voting. but indicated they were not
through discussing what they 1eRard
as dangerous transfers Of authority
from Congress to the Executive.
Promises Thorough Discussion.
Senator Byrd, Virginia Democrat
and leading opponent. declared there
Is no filibuster against the measure,
but said there will be fair and thor
ough discussion.
The reviewing board amendment
Is sponsored by Senator OMahonev.
Democrat. Of Wyoming, who has con-
fined his opposition to advocacy of
certain changes in the civil service
features Of the bill He believes that
having a separate board within each
department will overcome past oppo-
Sltlon to establishment of this an
peilate machinery for employees. Each
board would have three members. two
from the department., but with a
chairman named by the proposed
civil service administrator.
Agrees to Amendment.
senator ByrneS also has agreed to
accept an amendment to make it GER
tain the President would have to
approve any rules promulgated by the
clVil service administrator, who would
replace the existing three-member
civil Service Commission.
Those in charge of the bill indi-
cate, however. they will continue to
neht against the move to strike out
the administrator and preserve the
commission.
PROBABLY the first and major fight
When the voting starts, will come on
the Wheeler amendment to REQUIRE
oennite congressional approval of
presidential orders to transfer or
abolish bureaus before they could take
enect. As the bill stands, the Or
oers would be merely submitted to
congress for so days while in ses-
sion.
Effect Of Amendment,
Supporters of the bill contend the
wheeler amendment would make the
PRESIDENTS orders merely recommend
atoms. such as he could submit with
out any legislation. Opponents on
the other hand, argue that even If
Congress passed a bill within so days
TO stop an order under the pending
bill the President would have the
right to veto the disapproval, thereby
requiring two-thirds congressional
vote to override.
senator Byrd declared yesterday
that from the standpoint of practical
operation he regards the reoreaniza.
ton bill as more important than the
court reform bill of last year, because
OF the power it confers to abolish or
transfer functions.
Ihe Virginian insisted the bill is not
limited to reorganizing the machinery
OF government, but would enable the
Executive to change all or part of
particular functions and policies.
The Executive could discontinue
some Federal activity in one State and
continue it in all the Others" Senator
Byrd declared.
Adamant on One Point.
senator Byrd said he would be will
ing to accept the reorganizing section
OF the bill If the Wheeler amendment
were adopted. He would continue his
fight, however, to preserve the General
Accounting Once instead of the COM
mittee plan to transfer current ac-
counting to the Budget Bureau, con-
fining the new auditor generals ONCE
to a post-audit.
Senator Byrnes believes the Wheeler
amendment would leave the reorean-
izing part Of the bill ineffective, For
this reason no compromise is likely
on this feature. The test of the bills
strength is likely to come, therefore.
on the nat question of adopting or
rejecting the committee plan regard
ing transfer or abolition Of agencies.
Whether any middle ground is DOS
sible on the General Accounting Of
fice abolition remains to be seen. SEN
ator Byrnes indicated yesterday MOTH
ing proposed thus far offered 4 basis
for changing the provisions as re-
ported.
1t was not certain yesterday who
would speak tomorrow, but Senator
Wheeler Is scheduled to defend his