Evening star., 1938-04-06
BY ]. A. OLEARY.

The House agreed today to close
general debate on the reorganization
bill this evening, paving the way for
the first showdown vote tomorrow on
the controversial measure, which has
split Democratic ranks in the House.
as it did in the Senate
After repeated efforts since last
Friday, leaders finally obtained unani-
nous consent shortly after convening
to make this the last day of discus
sion and to begin reading the bill for
amendments tomorrow.
When Representative OMalley,
Democrat of Wisconsin asked if men,
bers could be given some idea when
the bill will be voted on, Representa-
tive OConnor, Democrat, of New York,
leading opponent, broke in:
I'VE will come to a vote about
o'clock tomorrow afternoon when l
submit motion to strike out the
enacting clause"
Anticipates Concessions.
The New Yorker had announced late
yesterday his intention of trying this
method of side-tracking the measure,
before administration leaders reach the
point OF presenting the concessions
they plan to offer to stem the tide of
opposition. If the O'Connor motion
prevails, the fight will be over. If it
fails. the House will settle down to at
least two days of acting on numerous
amendments before reaching a final
vote. The agreement to close debate
by unanimous consent avoided the ne
, cessity for the formal motion to ac-
complish that end which leaders had
expected to make this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Representative Boland
OF Pennsylvania predicted about eight
out of ten Democrats would 60 down
the line for the measure.
In a radio speech last night, Mr..
O'Connor described as "flimsy" the ad-
ministration concession to allow Con-
gress to disapprove presidential re-
organization orders by concurrent
resolution, which does not 60 back to
the President for signature.
How f1imsy this concession is can
be evidenced by the fact that the
President himself has publicly ex-
pressed doubt Of the constitutionality
OF the use of mere resolution agreed
to by both Houses to override his ac-
tion," said the New York Representa-
tive.
Predicts Other Concessions.
He predicted further concessions
probably will be offered, adding chat
the slogan of the proponents of the
bill is, anything to pass the bill"
Indications that an amendment to
exempt the Veterans Administration
from reorganization would not be
strenuously resisted were called bait"
by Mr. O'Connor who urged his listen
ers to keep watch for what happens to
the various amendments when the bill
goes into conference
Mr.. O'Connor also declared there is
already on the statute books a law
passed in 1921, which lis entirely
adequate to afford a reorganization of
the Government. 1t provides that the
President may recommend to Congress
such changes as he desires, whereupon
Congress can, if it sees fit, approve of
these changes in whole or in part.
That law has been lost sight of, delib-
erately or otherwise, in all of this
discussion over reorganization.
MIR. O'Connor charged the conces-
sions made thus far by supporters of
the bill have two objects, first, to get
the bill to conference, "to be rewritten
as intended" and second, to furnish
alibis to some members for voting for
the measure"
Answering the appeal of House lead
ers to stand by the President, Mr..
O'Connor said, Il have been walking
with Franklin Delano Roosevelt for
good many years and along hazard
Gus road, when some others were
hiding in the bushes or throwing rocks
from the bypaths."
However" he added, II conceive
It to be my duty as a duly elected
(See REORGANIZATION. Page A-31