Evening star., 1944-04-22

ora IdlkS on Cne military SlIudt
who recently returned from London,
cautioned the editors they must
guard zealously the right of reporters
to file uncensored dispatches from
any part of the world in the postwar
era.
Mr.. Knight commended Byron
Price, director of the Office of Cen
sorship, for his administration of
the codes during the past two and
a half years.
New officers were to be elected
today by the Board of Directors
which was chosen yesterday. Both
the new board and the elected Off
GERS will be announced during the
day.
The congressional panel meeting
last night, held in the Senate caucus
room, included eight members of
Congress who discussed the DOS
sibility of "streamlining" the proce-
dure of Congress. Those who
participated were Senators La Fol-
lette, Ball, OMahoney and Maloney,
and Representatives Halleck, Mon
roney, Cannon and Case.
About half of the legislators
denied congressional procedure
needed change. The others insisted
new rules would do the body good,
but they proposed various means to
achieve the changes.
Congress Reorganization Urged.
Here is what they told the editors:
Senator La Toilette - Congress
has been doing an excellent job,
considering its burdens. But there
is a growing tendency to turn to
the executive branch for new legis-
lation. Congress will have to re-
equip and reorganize itself if it
wants to remain the policy-making
instrument of the Government.
Unless constructive action is taken
by Congress to prepare for the COM
|plex problems of the war and post
war period, I for one have great
doubts as to its ability to maintain
its position in relation to the execu-
tive branch of the Government.
Representative Monroney-There
is a growing belief that we need
to improve the tools of Congress.
At the moment, there are two dozen
bills to reform the procedure of
Congress. I feel there are so many
problems that it requires a BIZ
partisan committee to consider
changes in the rules. One Of the
most tremendous errors of Congress
is the present practice of letting
bills be written by the bureaus and
agencies of the Government. Wei
can usually get out six or seven |
"Jokers" hidden in bills, but we're
likely to let two or three others
slip by. The committee system is
not sacred. 1t grew up as the need
arose. Now, I believe, when we
see the necessity for the consolida-
ton of committees, we should dis
play the same wisdom as the men
who built it up by making it less
cumbersome.
Defends Seniority Rule.
Senator O'Mahoney-All of the
suggestions for "streamlining" Con-
gress seem to be part and parcel
OF the current passion for central
management. If we abolished the
seniority rule, as has been pro-
posed by some advocates of change,
Congress would have to spend so
much time picking committees it
would have no time to legislate.
Representative Cannon-This Con-
gress has made a record unpar-
alleled in history. Several thou
sand congressman previously saw
no need for change. I don't see
why we should make over the rules.
I also say it would be impractical for
us to let cabinet officers speak to us
IN the chambers as has been sug-
gested in some quarters.
Senator Ball-Unless we have suf-
flclent unanimity among the people
concerning treaties after this war to
guarantee a tWo-thirds vote in the
Senate, it seems useless to consider
changing the rule requiring such a |
majority. The trouble with Con-
gress is that too many wise-crac
NSaAaSOSo anu DOyS WHO Call fld1leS
get into print. The hard working
boys who make sense don't usually
hit the news
Representative Halleck-There is
nothing wrong with Congress thatI
an election can't cure. What wei
need are some good public relations
men. Every one else in Washing
ton has them. Nothing could be |
more disastrous than that the people
of this country should lose faith in
Congress. Congress gets blamed for
a lot of things that are not its
fault. I don't know of any group
that help more to clear up this
situation than the newspapers.
Senator Maloney--I think we are
going to reform Congress. How are
we going to function properly un-
less we are equipped. The Office of
Price Administration at one time
had 2,700 lawyers. The Department
of Agriculture once had LOO press
agents. How can we meet such COM
petition under our present proce-