Evening star., 1939-04-26
Reorganization
CONTINUED From First Page.)

by replacement of the Civil Service
Commission with a single admins
traitor. intends to 60 as far as pos
sible in keeping in touch with per-
sonnel matters in the new scheme
of things. One of the six assistants
he gets in the reorganization bill,
Mr.. Roosevelt explained, will act as
his llaiSon officer in personnel mat
tiers.
The transfer of the Budget Bureau
to the White House-Where for all
practical purposes control already is
centered-also is designed to keep
the President in closer touch with
administrative functions generally.
The plan to set up the Federal
Security, Federal Works and Federal
Loan offices once started speculation
as to the identity of the men who
will head them.
The names of Jesse H. Jones,
chairman of the Reconstruction
Finance Corp, for the loan unit
which will take over the corporation.
and Arthur j. Altmeyer, chairman
of the Social Security Board, for the
security group where the board is
headed, Immediately came to mind.
However, Mr.. Roosevelt said he had
given no thought to appointments.
Virtual Cabinet Status.
Since Congress has go days in
which to disapprove the reorganiza-
ton plan. it was thought in all like
lihood the President would await the
expiration Of this period before do
ing anything about administrators
for the three groups which, by their
very nature, virtually will have cab
met status.
The pay of the administra tors,
however, is scheduled to be $4,000
which is $4,000 less than a cabinet
officer gets.
In this connection attention of Mr..
Roosevelt was called to an opinion
expressed in Congressional circles
that the reorganization bill gave the
President no authority to fix sala-
ries. His answer was that the sala-
ries could not be paid until Congress
had confirmed his figure by making
an appropriation. The salaries men,
toned. he added, were what he
thought the places were worth.
The President also confirmed at
his conference what the terms of
the reorganization program ap-
peared to make evident-that any
personnel reductions involved will
be of minor nature. Mr.. Roosevelt,
estimating eventual savings at SIS
100000 to $2O0OO,OOO annually. said
that in the long run. there probably
would be fewer employees. In view
of the fact, however, that the Fed
eral pay roll now runs above 81 .OOO.-
100000 annually. and the President
expects some of the savings to come
out of rents and materials, there
will be little slack to be taken up by
personnel.
Reception Favorable.
As closely as can be estimated,
between 10000 and $4,000 employees
will be shifted by the changes now
proposed, with upward of IS per
cent of these outside of Washing
ton.
Administration supporters gave
hearty approval. and some Repub-
licans indicated it was looked on
kindly. There was some criticism,
both from Democrat and Republi-
can sources.
Senator Byrnes, Democrat. of
South Carolina, who wrote the re-
organization bill in the Senate.
termed the program "a very logical
grouping of agencies that should
result not only in economies. but in
creased efficiencies He said he ex-
pected a saving of 10000, 900 a year
in administrative costs.
McNary Approving.
Representative Warren, Democrat,
of North Carolina, author of the
House bill, said the proposal means
both economy and efficiency In gov
ernment' and predicted it would
meet with the overwhelming ap-
proval of the press and the people
of the country"
Senator McNary of Oregon, Re-
publican leader, said the plan was
comprehensive and challenges fur
ther study" He added:
If it spells economy and simpli-
cation in government, it will = be
warmly embraced by the Congress"