Evening star., 1939-03-07
Reorganization
Foes in 1888
Back New Bill
Shift of Position in
House Expected to
Pass Compromise
BACKGROUND

HcoIyuHIeutIOH OF LHe eTeCuLtDC
branch of the Government long
has been the subject of a hot dts
pute in Congress. 1t proUided one
OF the major battles OF last ses-
sion, 10hen measure giptng the
President reorgantsing potDer
1oithout check by Congress was
passed by the Senate, but re-
5ected by the House.
The shift of position by House
members who opposed the Govern
ment reorganization bill last year
and who are expected to supply
sufficient administration strength to
secure its adoption by the present
Congress became a matter of record
today as eight hours OF general
debate on the measure began in the
House.
Representative Cox, Democrat, of
Georgia, one of the foes of last
years bill, was the first to take the
floor in support of the pending
measure.
Remarking that he could find mo
valid ground on which to base OBJ
lection to the bill we have before
U.s." Representativ Cox announced
I'VE are now closer to adoption of
reorganization bill that expresses
the will of this House, uninfluenced
by any outside interference, than
we've ever been before"
That the compromise features OF
the present bill still will not assure
it OF Republican support was indi-
Gated, however, by the first minority
speaker, Representative Springer of
Indiana, who complained that the
measure still implied an abdication
Of congressional powers to the
President.
Byrd Bill May Be Offered.
Meanwhile, it was generally ex-
pected some opponent of the House
plan would offer as substitute the
bill introduced in the Senate yester-
day by Senator Byrd. Democrat, of
Virginia. 1t retains in the hands of
Congress tighter rein on reorgani-
Zation.
The major difference between the
two measures is whether to let presi-
dental regrouping orders take effect
automatically after 60 days unless
disapproved by Congress through a
concurrent resolution under the
House bill, or require definite action
by Congress before orders take ef-
feet. as required in the Byrd bill.
Both bills contain safeguards against
f1libustering to defeat reorganization
orders.
Democratic leaders also expect sew
eral efforts will be made in the
House to add more agencies to the
list already granted exemption from
reorganization in the bill.
Representative Warren, Democrat,
of North Carolina, author of the
House bill. promptly turned thumbs
down on the Byrd bill. He argued
that If affirmative action by Con-
gress on presidential order is re-
quired the bill would be no different
from existing law, since the Presi-
dent could merely make recon-
mendations to Congress.
Dangerous, Says Springer.
Representative Springer told the
House last years measure was de-
feated largely because of the new
powers it conferred on the Presi-
dent. He added:
1T is dangerous to vest unlimited
power in a President, no matter who
he may be-"
Representative Martin of Massa-
chusetts, the minority leader, said
some members of his party objected
at caucus last night to powers
given the President under the ad-
ministration bill.
Senator Byrd offered his bill yes
terday with the backing of three
others on the Senate Reorganization
Committee, which he heads. They
were Senators Brown, Democrat, of
Michigan; McNary, Republican, of
Oregon, and Townsend, Republican,
of Delaware.
Taber Seeks Change.
While some Republicans wanted
to offer Byrd's plan in the House
Representative Taber, Republican,
of New York, said If some OF the
amendments he has in mind were
adopted, the administration meas
ure probably would get considerable
support from the minority.
Democrats, during debate yester-
day, contended it was a good bill
without changes. They pointed out
that the principal objections raised
(See REORGANIZATION, Pg. A-6)