Evening star., 1940-05-15
Senaie Approval
Clears the Way for
{. A. A. Transfer
Vote Is 46 to 81; Shift
To Be EffectivesJun 10.
Unless Congress Leaves

The way was clear today for end
Ing the independent status of the
Civil Aeronautics Authority and
transferring it to the Department Of
Commerce.
President Roosevelts bitterly
contested Reorganization Plan ",
providing for this change, won the
approval late yesterday of the SEN
ate which, by vote Of 46 to "a re-
tected q resolution that would have
prevented the shift. The resolution
earlier had received House approval,
but passage by both House and Sem
ate is necessary to defeat q reor-
ganization plan.
The shift is due to become efYec-
tive June 10-ten days after another
reorganization plan-No. 3Egoes
into effect. Should Congress adj
journ before June 10 however, Plan
~ would be held up until 60 days
after the next session opens, as
reorganization orders must be be-
fore Congress go days, and it went
forward from the President, April IL.
The reorganization will bring
about a new lineup in the admin
istration of the affairs of commercial
aeronautics. The Air Safety Board
will be abolished and its functions
performed by the Civil Aeronautics
Board-as the authority will be
known. The Weather Bureau will
be fitted into the aviation machinery
also, being transferred from the
Agriculture Department.
Meanwhile, in an address today
before the Insurance Club Of WASH
mgton, Col. Sumpter Smith, chair
man of the Interdepartmental Com
mission of the Washington National
Airport at Gravelly Point, said that
under the reorganization provisions
the G. A. AS duties have been clari-
fied, and its responsibilities, par
ticularly with regard to safety in
the air, have been made more di-
rect"
Will Remain Independent.
Pointing out Chat certain services
Of the Commerce Department will
be made available to the Civil Aero
nautics Board, Col Smith, formerly
q member of the Air Safety Board,
stated that the c. A. B., under the
statute which governs it and ire
spective of anything the Secretary
Of Commerce may do, still will re-
main as independent as a hog on
ice"
Col. Smith pointed out that the
G. A. B. will do exactly the same
things" done by the Air Safety
Board in addition to the old duties
Of the c. A. A. itself.
Senators La Toilette, Progressive,
Of Wisconsin, and Norris, independ-
ent, Of Nebraska joined A Demo-
Gratis in supporting the President,
while 20 Republicans, IL Democrats
and 2 Farmer-Laborites opposed the
change.
Sharp debate preceded the vote.
Proponents of the change contended
1t would make for more efIicient
regulation of the airways and elm
mate friction within the c. "A. A.
while opponents argued that the
independence Of the. agency would
be destroyed and subject 1t to
political influences"
The opposition attacks which
started when the plan was broached
had been characterized by Presi-
dent Roosevelt as spinach"
After approving the reorganiza-
tion plan, the Senate confirmed the
nomination of John Monroe johnson
of South Carolina as member of
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. Action on the appointment
had been delayed several days at
the request of Senator McCarran,
Democrat, of Nevada, a leading op-
ponent Of the reorganization.
Mr.. johnson, the White House has
announced. probably will be sue
ceeded as Assistant Secretary of
Commerce by Robert Hinckley, pres
ent chairman Of the c. A. A.
In addition to the controversial
shift Of the c. A. A. and the Weather
Bureau transfer, the reorganization
order makes the following changes:
Supervision over st. Elizabeth's
Hospital, Freedmens Hospital, How
ard University and Columbia Insti-
tuition for the Deaf is moved from
the Interior Department to Federal
Security Agency.
Other Changes.
The Secretary of Labor takes over
functions now discharged by the
Secretary of the Treasury and the
Secretary Of Interior relating to en-
forcement of minimum wage pro-
visions in contracts for Federal con-
struction.
The Food and Drug Administra-
tion-with the exception of two
functions intimately related to agri-
culture-goes from the Department
Of Agriculture to Federal Security
Agency.
Treasury takes from the Justice
Department the authority to ap-
prove cut-of-co settlement of
cases arising under the Federal Al
cohol Administration Act.
Justice will continue to supervise
ON a permanent basis-disbursements
by United States marshals instead
OF putting this work under the divi-
sion OF disbursement of the Treas
ury where disbursements generally
are centered.
Pnss ONCE will continue likewise
70 fandie postal disbursements.
Interior will assume soil conserva-
ton functions on public lands now
discharged by Agriculture, and the
Maritime Commission, instead Of
the Navy, will have jurisdiction over
merchant marine training schools.
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