Evening star., 1943-05-26
Budget Bureau
Denies Trying to
Influence Bills
Aide Admits Dotu
Gathered on Civil
Service Measures
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

influence or impeded passage of any
legislation by statements that the
proposals were mot in conformity
with the Presidents program"
Testifying before the Ramspeck
Civil Service Investigating Commit
tee, Mr. Bailey, an assistant director
In the Budget Bureaus Division Of
Legislative Reference, declared:
We try to be faithful in present.
Ing to the President both sides of a
legislative problem. We have tried
to exercise complete fidelity and the
record of the Seventy-seventh Con-
sress, in which the action of the
President upheld the reports of the
Bureau on 1887 bills, indicates that
we have not been far wrong
Replying to questions by Chair
man Ramspeck, Mr.. Bailey said that
1t would not be easy to mislead the
President because the Chief Execu-
i've has extensive personal and de-
tailed knowledge far beyond what
people generally believe, and likes
to handle Government matters per-
sonally and in detail" He said that
after AZ years continuous service in
the Government. he is constantly
amazed at the Presidents grasp of
problems and the tremendous VOL
ume of work he does"
Admits Collecting Data.
In answer to questions by Repre-
sentative LaFollette, Republican, of
Indiana and Representative Manas-
co, Democrat, of Alabama Mr..
Bailey explained that his Office sub
mits enrolled bills to the heads of
all agencies affected so that the best
advice can be collected before the
bureau submits recommendations to
the President when the bill comes
before him for his signature. This
facilitates final action, he said.
Mr.. Lafollette argued that since
the Budget Bureau has become an
agency of the executive department
under reorganization of the Govern
ment, that the legislative branch
needs some one to represent its in
terests and will on Legislation. He
suggested that the Budget Bureau
supply to Congress all the informa-
tion it gathers regarding each leg
lslative proposal. through letters of
advice from the various agencies
or otherwise. He questioned how
much attention was paid by the
bureau to the hearings held before
committees of Congress and the
committee reports.
Evolution of System.
Mr.. Bailey explained that the
present procedure in his office is an
evolution of the system adopted
when Charles Dawes was director
in 1881, when the plan of submit
ting enrolled bills to the various
agencies was started with respect
to fiscal legislation. and since ex-
panded to include all legislation.
He pointed out that the principal
basis for determining the relation
to the program of the President of
proposed legislation or depart
mental reports thereon are: %
General policies that the President
has enunciated in his messages to
Congress or his public statements:
~ messages that the President has
transmitted to Congress in vetoing
bills. 80 discussions by the director
OF the Budget Bureau with the Pres
ident. (4) reviewing the accumu-
lated files of the bureau on the sub
lect. and, IS, the preparation and
submission to the President of mem
oranda which gives him a complete
analysis OF the scope and purpose
of each proposal and the arguments
for and against it. as means of
eliciting his views and wishes in the
matter.
Agencies are not prohibited from
submitting legislation, but in send
ing 1t to the Speaker or Vice Presi-
dent, after it has failed to get clear
ance through the Budget Bureau. it
should carry the nota ton that this
is not considered to be in conform
ity with the program of the Presi-
dent
Agencies Advice Sought.
On proposed legisla ton the Bud
get Bureau seeks the advice of the
General Accounting Office and Of
the Civil Service Commission on all
personnel questions. Mr.. Bailey testi-
fed, as we'll as the agencies affected,
and then tries to work out a COM
promise that might get around the
objections. He emphasized that the
viewpoint of each department is an
'ex-parte opinion and that the
strength of the Budget Bureau in
endeavoring to work out compro-
misses is that it can cut across de-
partmental boundaries and get a
broader view of what is good legis-
lation.
There is no effort to abrogate
authority" he declared emphati-
cally, In answer to questions he
said that all the information on
which the Budget Bureau acts in
making it's recommendations to the
President is available to any COM
mittees of Congress that ask for it.
Representative Ramspeck also
brought out that members of Con-
gress have access to the budget
authorities while they are preparing
their reports on legislation for the
President. Mr.. Bailey said that
their policy is never deny any one
at any time, under any circum-
stance an opportunity to express
his views
Representative Mcmillan. Demo-
crat, OF South Carolina. complained
that he could not see why any
member of Congress who presents
bill cannot get action until after
report has been received on the
proposal from the departments.
Chairman Ramspeck explained that
he used to think the same way. but
has found that waiting to hear the
departmental report and learning
what the objections are. often saves
much time and facilitates eventual
passage of a measure.
K, Of c. to Present MinstreIs
An fashioned minstrel show
will be presented by the Washing
ton Council. Knights Of Columbus,
alta pm. tomorrow in ST MichaePs