Evening star., 1938-03-25
BY DOROTHY THOMPSON,

4 T THE outset it is only fair to
~ state that there is no dispute
~ about the need for reorgan-
"A izing the executive branch of
the Government. The real dispute is
about the means used, which, whether
intended or not by the President, are
calculated to transform our democ-
racy into a variant OF authoritarian
ism.
Starting then with the minor fea-
lures, there is no reason why the
President should not be provided with
sufficient personnel to enable him
to meet his obligations. But in the
light of the conduct of affairs under
the third New Deal, care must be
exercised that this "self1ess six" do
not usurp the functions of the cabinet
and, indeed, of congressional COM
mittees. So far the source of legis-
lation has been this cabal of presi-
dental secretaries, who have carried
on their functions with such Machia-
vellian cunning that in the case of the
seven T. V. A. bill they drafted one
bill for Senator Norris and a milder-
looking but actually no different bill
for Representative Mansfield, so that
If opposition developed to the ruth
less method of destroying states
rights the spurious compromise bill
could be railroaded through.
Terms Of Program.
Similarly, a great deal could be
said in favor of the suggestion for the
separation of judicial functions from
the investigatory and inquisitorial
functions of several commissions. With
appropriate safeguards this could be-
come very real improvement on the
present unedifying practice Of the
same body or Government organ play
ing the role of prosecuting attorney
and court-of which we have had a
shocking illustration in the Presidents
authoritarian trial of DR.. Morgan.
The need for recognizing the Gov
ernment, which goes back to the pro-
posals OF President Taft, is and must
be accepted. When stated in general
obJectives 1t evokes almost universal
sympathy and support SO that the
Strictest adherent of our democratic
institutions and practices can sub
scribe to the broad terms of a pro-
gram that would include ca expand
ing the White House staff to simplify
the Presidents work, tb) strengthen
ing and developing managerial agencies
OF Government, Co extending the
merit system, (d) overhauling the
miscellaneous agencies, boards and
commissions, and (e) co-ordinating
the accounting and auditing functions.
1t is when We return to the spe-
cific provision of the redrafted
Byrnes bill that the cleavage devel-
ops between those who want to pre-
serve our democratic and conSt!tu-
tional Government and that small
minority which has sought to ex-
plot needs and emergencies for in
augurating a totally different system,
which, for all its paternalism and
alleged humanitarianism. is author-
tartan in functioning and destructive
of the rights of the majority as we'll
ac itS anu Vi lilS llDSlltVS VI
future and present generations.
The Original Bill.
The original bill, submitted to the
President at the time of and as a
supplement to his Supreme Court re-
organization proposals. left no doubt
that Congress would be reduced under
it to a mere presidential appendage
and ratifying function.
In the present bill this is attempt
ed in a more direct way, in that it
reduces the Controller General. while
still an agent of Congress, to the
status Of an auditor attached to the
presidential Budget Bureau.
Similarly, it threatens to destroy the
whole civil service. Under the new
bill the man in charge of the civil
service would owe his place to the
President in Office.
Even more dangerous Is the aboli-
ton Of the General Accounting Once
and the Once OF the Controller Gen.