Evening star., 1941-05-18
Bill for Permanent
U. 5. Reports Office
Faces Senate Fight
Taft Says He Objects
To Plan for New Deal
Propaganda Agency
Ry T. A. OIEARY.

BY j. A. OLEARY.
The bill to give permanent status
to the Office of Government Reports
is expected to pass the Senate this
week, but not without fight.
Senator Taft, Republican. of
Ohio announced yesterday he is
preparing to join in the opposition
to the measure, previously expressed
in the minority report of Senator
Davis, Republican, of Pennsylvania.
However, Senator Hill, Democrat,
Of Alabama, who reported the bill
favorably from the Committee on
Expenditures in the Executive De-
partments, said last night he is con-
fident the bill will pass. 1t was ap-
proved by the House in March.
Senate action would send 1t to the
President for signature.
Taft Explains Objections.
Senaor Taft said his fundamental
objection to the organization, which
functions as a part of the Presi-
dents executive Office, is that "it is
a New Deal propaganda agency,
with employees all over the country" )"
The work of the agency has been
carried on in some form since 1888,
but with funds allocated from re-
lief appropriations. Last year its
existence was challenged when the
Appropriations Committees of Con-
gress struck its funds from the in
dependent Offices supply bill on the
ground it was not authorized by
law. Later it was provided with
operating expenses for the current
year in the Relief Appropriations
Act.
The pending bill clothes 1t with
legal authority and authorizes an
appropriation of not to exceed
S1,5O0,000 a year, to provide a clear
ing house of information on the
widespread activities of the Federal
Government.
Senator Hill said he would call the
bill up tomorrow, if there is time
after the Senate acts on two pend
ing appropriation bills carrying
Sl74,299, 900 for urgent deficiency
needs. and s278, 800 for the ex-
penses of the State, Commerce and
Justice Departments for next year.
Since the Senate is planning three
day recess tomorrow night, the ONCE
of Government Reports bill may go
over until Thursday.
Debate on the State, Commerce
and Justice bill will be marked by
controversy over the action of the
Senate Appropriations Committee
in cutting s750,000 from the So ,325,-
900 allowed by the House for the
antitrust division of the Justice
Department.
When the urgent deficiency, bill Is
taken up, Senator Reynolds, Demo-
crat, of North Carolina is expected
to renew the effort that failed in
committee to reopen the question
of erecting some of the new tenn
porary Government Office structures
in Arlington County, Va, or at other
points near" the District. With the
approval of Senator Reynolds, Con-
gresS six weeks ago decided to re-
quire the seven new structures, to
cost $4,100,000, to be built on Gov
ernment land within the District.
One of the sites selected is on the
grounds of the Army War College,
to which Senator Reynolds, new
chairman of the Military Affairs
Committee, objects.
Roosevelt Backs Reports Bill
He now believes the Federal Works
ennt11I hn yiynY1 6icnr0ttnY1
to erect them "in or near the Dis
trict."
When the bill to make the Office
of Government Reports permanent
was being considered in the House,
President Roosevelt urged its pas
sage. In a letter to the House COM
mittee he said the responsibilities
of the presidency have become such
shat even in normal times there
should be, as an integral part of
the Executive Office of the PreSi-
dent, an organization sufficiently
flexible and independent to meet
changing conditions, assist in deal
ing with special problems, serve as
a central clearing house for infor-
nation concerning Federal activi-
ties and report on the opinions,
needs and desires of citizens"
In the minority report to the
Senate, Senator Davis described the
bill as setting up lone of the most
elaborate, extensive and costly sys-
TENS of official publicity ever estab-
lished in peacetime under our dem
ocratic form of Government"
The minority contended the re-
ports agency is superimposed over
the entire structure of the Govern
ment to perform functions which
each department can best perform
for itself.
The minority also attacked the
establishment of field staffs in "a
of the States to keep Washington
informed on the functioning of the
Federal programs in the States.
Senator Davis report took the po-
sition the agencies directing those
programs are more qualified to re-
port to the President on how the
programs are functioning.