Evening star., 1939-04-24
BY J. A. OLEARY.


Four far-reaching reorganization
orders for the regrouping of many
Government activities, including
some old-established as we'll as New
Deal agencies, are in process Of
completion by the President, con.
gressional leaders made known to.
day.
That one Of the four plans will
propose consolidation of work relief
activities was revealed definitely,
when Senator Byrnes, Democrat, Of
South Carolina advised the Senate
today he is postponing debate on the
pending public works bill to await
the Presidents program, which Is
expected tomorrow.
From other sources it was learned
the Chief Executive is working on
three other unification plans. deal
ing with the following general sub.
jects:
/. Welfare activities.
2. Lending agencies.
3. Possible consolidation of dupli-
eating or similar work in different
executive departments.
Plans for New Agency.
The new welfare agency, UNDER
stood to be contemplated by one
order, may take in Social Security
Board. Public Health, now under the
Treasury; Bureau of Education, now
In Interior. and the National Youth
Administration. which, under the
Byrnes bill, would become part Of
the proposed Public Works agency.
AS it stands. the Byrnes bill would
merge P. W. A., w. P. A., N. Y. A.,
c. c. c., Public Building Section Of
the Procurement Division and the
Bureau of Public Roads now in the
Agriculture Department.
Reliable reports are that the Presi.
dent is considering placing N. Y. A.
and c. C. C. elsewhere and that he
may add the United States Hous-
ing Authority to the Public Works
group.
The lending group, it was sug.
gested. may take in such activities
as Federal Housing Administration
and Home Owners Loan Corp. No
definite information was available
as to whether r. F. c. would go into
this consolidation.
Scope Is Tentative.
Congressional leaders indicated
that the exact scope of each of the
four orders is tentative and that
alternative plans for the placement
OF some agencies are still being
studied by administration leaders.
There were reports that the gen.
eral inter-departmental order may
consolidate some of the law en-.
forcement agencies now in separate
departments or bureaus.
While the impending reorganiza-
ton program will postpone consid-
Grafton of the Byrnes bill temporar-
lily. it will not sidetrack it entirely.
The South Carolina Senator said
today that the bill contains several
provisions that should be enacted
into law aside from the consoIida-
ton features.
One is establishment Of q definite
formula for ALLEGATION of public
work relief funds to the States. on
the basis of population and degree
OF unemployment. Another is the
fixing of definite ratio OF local con-
tribution. which the bill places at
one-third of the cost of all tho
projects in State. Still another is
the proposed ban on so-called Fed.
eral projects. under which heading
relief funds have been allocated to
other Federal agencies for carrying
on activities toward which no State
contribution was necessary.
May Reopen Old Fight.
The Byrnes bill would permit con.
tlnuation of so-called white-collar
projects, but only when a State
sponsors them and contributes part
of the cost.
If one of the reorganization orders
proposes a new welfare agency. as
reports indicate. it may reopen to
some extent the old fight that de-
feated the administrations reor-
garization bill last year. Much Of
the controversy that blocked that
measure in the House revolved
around new department of welfare.
Under the new law the President
cannot create new executive de-
partment, but he could consolidate
various agencies and bureaus that
relate to welfare activity.
Under the reorganization law II
no opposition to the orders develops
they take effect at the end of the
6O-day period. In the event of op-
position. a concurrent resolution,
which does not require presidential
signature. would have to be intro
duced. The reorganization law, how.
ever, limits debate on such a resolu-
ton to insure a vote before the 60
days expire.
Announced to Senate.
Speculation had been rife for sew
eral days over reported transfer Of
r. F. c. to the Commerce Depart
ment, but this was the first intima.
ton that the reorganization order
would deal with work relief activi.
ties.
Shortly after Majority Leader
Barkley returned from a White
House conference of congressional
leaders, Senator Byrnes formally
announced to the Senate the Presi-
dents intention of initiating con-
solidation move.
A moment later Senator Vanden.
berg Of Michigan introduced the Re-
publican substitute for the Byrnes
bill, which would give the States
control over administration of relief
funds, to be provided for at a def
mite ratio Of Federal grants and
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