Evening star., 1939-03-12
Reorganization
Continued From First Page

With such authority, he said, a re-
dictionary President could overturn
progressive legislation.
"Al Congress is really doing is alb
dicating its powers and turning
them over to the executive branch
to legislate," the Montanan declared.
"There is nothing liberal or pro-
gressive about that sort of thing. On
the contrary. it is one of the most
reactionary courses that could be
taken.
"As I construe it. being liberal
means being in favor of parlia-
mentary government. Here you
have parliament saying we cannot
function, and turning it over to
some one else. How can the people
have confidence in parliamentary
government when that occurs? 1t
is the very negation of liberalism
and democracy.
Hero WOrshipers.
''The trouble with some of the
present-day liberals is they are not
liberals at all, but hero worshipers,
and are looking at legislation from
the standpoint of temporary gains
rather than the longtime effect of
legislation on democratic institu-
tions.
"Of course there is ineficiency in
the departments that ought to be
corrected. But in what depart
ments?
TT is in these newly created
bureaus and departments that have
been set up in hurry, with person.
mel picked up in hurry, and there
has been waste and extravaganza the
like of which I have never seen since
I have been in Washington. You
cannot have an appeasement with
small business in this country. The
people are not opposed to most of
the legislation that has been passed.
Presidential Speculation.
Specializing on what might hap
pen regarding reorganization if a
Republican President was elected in
1910. Senator Wheeler continued:
Let us assume he is a reaction
ary, as he undoubtedly will be. The
Job of reorganization of these de-
partments in the way it ought to be
done cannot be completed by 1910.
A reactionary comes in and wants to
destroy the progressive legislation
on the statute books He says to
the Democrats, The reorganization
Job hasn't been completed. I want
1t extended
What excuse can a Democrat or
a liberal have not to vote to give
the same power they have given a
Democratic President? Given that
power, he could destroy every vestige
of progressive legislation placed on
the statute books. without time to
be sufficiently debated in Congress
or understood in the country. I'll
never vote to give that power to any
President"
Senator Wheeler said it is not a
question of whether one is for or
against the President. This is a
matter involving fundamental prin-
ciples of Government, and it is
cheap political claptrap to say if
you don't vote for it, you're against
the Presidet or anybody else"
Hearings May Be Called.
Although indicating he did not
think Senate hearings would be
necessary, Senator Byrnes said he
would put that question up to the
committee tomorrow for decision,
He said there may be one or two
minor amendments, but that he had
no basic changes to suggest in the
House plan.
The resolution by which reor-
ganization order would be disap-
proved under the House bill would
be a concurrent resolution, which
means it would not require sigma
ture by the President. The aff1rma-
tive action required by the Wheeler
amendment, and also by the sub
stitute bill Of Senator Byrd, Demo-
crat. of Virginia, would be joint
resolution, requiring presidential
signature and having the full effect
of law.
Heretofore some doubt has been
expressed as to the constitutionality
of setting aside reorganization plans
by a concurrent resolution. One
Senate supporter of the House BILL
In minimizing the constitutional
issue. said the legal question could
be raised only by some employe who
had lost out through reorganization,
and suggested that even then it
probably would have to be raised by
some official who had been ap-