Evening star., 1939-02-24

The Purge Thot Failed
Adds Unknown Factor
To Compromise Plan
Foes of the Government reorgan-
ization bill defeated in the last Con-
gress were noncommittal today on
their attitude toward a compromise
measure introduced yesterday in the
House.
Drafted by Representative Warren,
Democrat, of North Carolina, and
introduced by Representative Coch-
ran, Democrat, of Missouri, the new
bill will come before the latter's
Special Reorganization Committee
early next week.
The new measure omits three
highly controversial provisions of
last years observation-disclosures permit
ting the President to reorganize the
General Accounting Office, which
has criticized some New Deal ex-
penditures; to substitute single
administrator for the present three
member Civil Service Commission.
and to create new Department of
Public Welfare.
Congressional Veto Provided.
AS a further concession to critics
OF granting the President wide
discretionary powers, the measure
provides that Congress shall have
the right to veto by majority vote
any change in the Government set
up proposed by the Chief Executive.
Further, the measure proposes to
lay down special House and Senate
rules to prevent resolutions against
presidential plans from being bot
tied up in congressional commit
tees or being defeated by prolonged
debate in either chamber.
Representatives Cochran and
Warren said the proposed rules
would make it possible for a ma
jority opposing any White House
reorganization proposal to obtain q
vote on the question.
Mr.. Cochran said the House COM
mittee might take up measures
dealing with the General Account
ing Office and the Civil Service
Commission after getting the gen.
eral reorganization measure out of
the way. But Mr.. Warren, declar-
ing he spoke only for himself, said
he thought the new bill was suff1-
cient and that it would accomplish
the major purposes Of reorganiza-
ton.
Challenge to G. o. p. Seen.
$50 far as partisan opposition is
concerned" Representative Warren
added, II think our friends, the Re-
publicans, will have to think a long
time before they decide to vote
against it. It will permit a thor
ough-going Job of reorganization
surrounded by the proper restric-
tions and review by Congress if de-
sired"
Representative Taber, Republican,
Of New York took the position, how
ever, that the bill was only a little
less far-reaching than that rejected
last year and that the proper method
OF reorganizing the Government was
for Congress to work out the details
instead of delegating that task to
the President.
Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Vir-
ginia, who contends the administra-
tons original reorganization pro-
gram did not place enough emphasis
on economy. withheld comment
pending study of the bill.
Some other Senators said privately
chat, since the Senate passed re-
organization legislation last year
and the House side-tracked it, Mr..
Roosevelt's unsuccessful effort to
defeat several Democratic Senators
for denomination had added factor
difficult to calculate.
Glass Wants Spending Cut.
Senator Glass, Democrat, of Vir-
gtnia said he wanted a reorganiza-
ton Of the Government that would
materially reduce expenditures
which "are now shameless" A re-
organization should be designed, he
added, to save millions of dollars
Tor the taxpayers.
The Warren bill provides that re-
duction of expenditures "to the
fullest extent consistent with the
efficient operation of the Govern
ment" may be purpose of reorgan-
1zation plans. It requests the Presi-
dent to state, in such cases, the
amount of reductions expected to
result from his proposals.
The legislation authorizes the
Chief Executive to investigate and
propose plans of consolidating ex-
ecutive agencies, and of reducing or
abolishing functions, for any one of
several purposes. Among these are
the reduction of Federal expendi-
lures ito the fullest extent consistent
with the efficient operation of the
Government" and the elimination
OF overlapping effort.
The Presidents plans would 20
into effect within 60 days after they
were submitted to Congress, unless
both houses voted against them In
the meantime.
Many Agencies Exempted.
Exempt from the Presidents re-
organization powers would be the
Civil Service Commission, the Coast
Guard, the Army Engineers, Com
munications Commission, Power
Commission, Trade Commission,
General Accounting Office, Inter-
state Commerce Commission, Ma
tional Bituminous Coal Commission,
National Labor Relations Board,
Securities and Exchange Commis-
sion, Board of Tax Appeals, EN-
ployes' Compensation Commission,
Maritime Commission, Tariff Com
mission and Veterans Administra-
ton.
The bill provides also that no re-
organization plan shall provide for