Evening star., 1945-09-05
Warren Urges
House-CIeaniinq
OF u. ). Setup
Tells House Group
Of DupIicotions
By U. S. Agencies

~ -. VSSuNISS
Controller General Lindsay c..
Warren today told a congressional
committee the present Government
setup Is a "hodge-podge and crazy
quilt of Implications, overlapping
tnefflciencies and inconsistencies"
Testifying before the House Ex-
penditures Committee in support of
President Trumans plea for broad
powers to reorganize Government
agencies, Mr.. Warren told Congress
1t cannot be expected to remedy the
situation and aoked instead that
the President be given authority to
"clean house"
The present system is probably
an ideal one for the tax eaters and
those who wish to keep themselves
perpetually attached to the payroll,
but 1t is bad for those who have
to pay the BILL" Mr.. Warren de-
clared
Pictures Overlapping.
Mr.. Warren gave this picture of
some Federal establishments:
l. The transportation field is di-
vided among rs bureaus, divisions
and agencies. The Governments
travel and freight bill is as much as
1t cost to run the whole Federal
establishment 30 years ago.
2. The Labor Department collects
the statistics from the individuals
constituting the labor force while
the Commerce Department collects
the data from the employers.
3. There are at least IL Federal
retirement systems, each with its
own rules.
4. Public housing is financed by
Is agencies.
S, Labor relations are spread over
eight departments and agencies.
6. A dozen bureaus and depart
ments are involved in administra-
ton of public land.
"An Obvious Conflict"
7. There is IAN obvious conflict"
between the functions of various
agencies concerning aid to the States
In care of dependent children.
8. Two Government corporations
ARE doing thriving customs busi-
ness" in addition to the Bureau of
Customs.
Mr.. Warren said the instances
cited ARE merely a drop in the
bucket of things which the Presi-
dent should be empowered to look
into and remedy"
Il don't advocate abolition of
anything that is proper or neces-
sary,'' Mr.. Warren said, adding
although, with a $500, 900, 900 900
debt, I am not to be considered as
too old-fashioned if I say it is time
we draw in our belts; to see that the
Government at least gets value for
It's huge expenditures, and to weed
out ineff1ciencies and to hold those
In charge to responsibility that
cannot be lodged or evaded"
Backs Plea for Revision.
Congress can give the taxpayers
their first break in a long time by
giving the President authority he
asks for" Mr.. Warren declared.
Mr.. Warren said the legislation
should provide for abolition of
agency functions instead of lust
their transfer Only that will make
for real economy. he said He also
recommended that reorganizatio
authority be given to President
Truman only for the length of his
term.
After yesterdays opening hearing
on reorganization legislation, Chair
man Manasco, Democrat, of Ala
bama. told committee members we
would be foolish to even attempt to
report out to the House the kind of
bill that the administration is seek
Ing. We would be batted down in
the House so fast it wouldn't be
funny" Other members appeared
to agree with him.
-. Would Exempt 21 Agencies
Mr.. Manasco has introduced legis-
1ation which would exempt 21 agen-
ces from Presidential reorganization,
among them the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation, Federal Com
munications Commission, Federal
Trade Commission, General Ac-
counting Office and the Veterans
Administration.
Members of the committee agreed
reorganization legislation is needed.
but they baked at including all
agencies in the program. Mr.. Man
asco said, however, it was possible
several of the agencies exempted in
his bill would be included in the
final reorganization legislation.
The members yesterday heard
Budget Director Harold D. Smith
urge that the President be given
power to reorganize all Government
agencies. Exemption of the 21
agencies would prevent the Govern
ment from having a well-run pro-
gram and policy as a whole, he said.
Senate hearings will start at 10: 30
a.m. tomorrow on the McCarran re-
organization bill The legislation is
more liberal to the President than
the House bill, granting the Presi-
dent powers to reorganize all execu-
tive agencies except the General Ac-