Evening star., 1939-04-26
Plan No. |

4
plify the government structure un-
der the new Reorganization Act is
logical and commendable step to
bring together into three major
agencies most of the alphabetical
units that came into existence piece
meal in an effort to meet the dis
turbed economic conditions of recent
years.
Preliminary study of Plan No. l
reveals no drastic features. There is
bound to be some objection to parts
of the order, and this may become
more noticeable before the eXpira-
ton of the sixty days allowed Con-
gress to disapprove the plan if a
majority feel so disposed. But at the
outset it appears to stand good
chance of going through.
It. should not be assumed, how
ever, that this coordination of re-
lated activities, especially in the field
of public works, is complete solu-
ton.
Therefore, while the House and
Senate may let the consolidation
order become effective, as step in
the right direction, there are strong
indications they will go forward with
consideration of supplementary legis-
lation establishing the future scope
of work relief, providing a formula
for ALLEGATION of funds to the States,
and fixing a definite ratio of local
contribution. This may be taken up
in a separate bill, or offered as an
amendment to the 81 100000, 900 work
relief appropriation the administra-
ton is expected to seek soon for the
year commencing July l.
One of the aims of the Byrnes bill,
which was ready for consideration in
the Senate when the reorganization
plan was announced, is to eliminate
variations in percentage of State
contribution toward w. P. A. and
P. w. A. projects by requiring a
uniform local contribution toward
the cost of all projects within a
State.
Much of the success of the consoli-
dations proposed in the new plan will
depend on the qualifications and
experience of the three 2,OOO-a-year
administrators the President selects
to head the new agencies, and it is
safe to predict that there will be as
much, if not greater, interest in these
nominations as in the details of the
pending order. OF course, these ap-
pointments would not be made until
the plan had become effective, but
the Senate would have to confirm
the appointees.
Chairman Jesse H. Jones, of the
Reconstruction Finance Corporation,
has been mentioned as a desirable
head of the new lending agency, and
since the far-fung social security
program will play growing and
important part in the security set
up, no doubt Chairman A. j. Altmeyer
of the Social Security Board will be
mentioned as possible appointee
to head that group Both of these
officials have done excellent work
in their respective fields. There has
been less speculation over who may
become head man of the Works
Agency, but it is safe prediction the
Presidents choice will have to be
non-political in character to escape
attack in the Senate.
Placing the Budget Bureau and
certain research and planning groups
directly under the Executive should
prove helpful to the President in ex-
ercising general management over
the Federal structure, but these
transfers involve no marked change
in existing procedure. Likewise, the
placing of farm lending agencies un-
der Agriculture appears logical.
In the light of the Presidents esti-
mate that the savings under the re-
alignment will be between 5000 900
and $20000,00O a year, Plan No. l
may be regarded as primarily in the
interest of efficiency, without sud-
den or drastic economy 1t must be
remembered that, under the Reor-
ganization Act the President cannot
abolish a function of government,
and must transfer the function else
where when he abolishes a bureau
or agency