Evening star., 1945-02-02
Report on Congress
Favors Relieving Il
.0f District Duties

/
compensated, relieved of minor tasks
such as governing the District of
Columbia-and maintaining closer
| liaison with the executive branch of
| the Government, was recommended
in a report made public last night
by a committee of the American
Political Science Association.
| The committee, appointed in 1941
| found Congress was an obsolescent
institution, handicapped by ancient
rules and institutions which hamper
its usefulness. The report con-
cluded:
80 Congress must modernize its
machinery and methods to fit mod
ern conditions if it is to keep pace
with a greatly enlarged and active
executive branch. This is a better
approach than that which seeks to
meet the problem by reducing and
hamstringing the Executive A
strong and more representative
legislature. in closer touch with and
better informed about the admins
tration. is the antidote to bu-
reaucracy.
Changes Recommended.
Unless 1t chooses to modernize
its machinery and equip itself with
the tools it needs. a frustrated Con-
gress may become, as Senator
OMahoney has warned, merely a
timid and formal appendix to bu-
reaucracy'
The committee made the follow
ing specific recommendations for
reshaping Congress to meet the
needs of this modern age:
l. That is divest itself of minor
tasks which it can appropriately
delegate to other agencies" such as
governing the District, settling pri-
vate claims and pensions and pass
ing purely private and local leeis-
lation 49, @ !,
2. That committees be adequately
stated with independent, qualified
expert advisors. ..~.
3. That the Legislative Reference
Service and the off1ce of the. Legis-
lative Counsel be adequately stated
and financed.
Legislative Council Proposed.
4. That the congressional commit
tee system be revised to eliminate in
active committees, consolidate those
with overlapping jurisdictions, Gre
ate twin committees organized func-
tionally in both Houses and correlate
them with major areas of public
policy and administration.
5. That legislative council be
established to include the Vice Presi-
dent, Speaker of the House, the ma
jority leaders in both chambers and
the chairman of the standing COM
mittees. 1t would plot Congress
legislative course and maintain nai-
son with the executive branch.
s. That administrative agencies
appoint congressional secretaries to
maintain liaison with Congress.
7. That the function of legis-
lative oversight of the Executive be
intrusted primarily to subcommit-
tees OF the House Appropriations
Committee. which would hold open
hearings at which representatives
of the executive branch could be
questioned
Time Limit on Chairman.
8. That representatives of all
groups appearing before congress
sional committees be required to
register and disclose their men,
bership, finances, etc.
| 8. That an automatic time limit OF
six years be fixed for chairmen of
committees or that they be chosen
at the beginning of each Congress
by committee on committees.
10. That the salaries of members
of Congress be raised from $4,000
to $4,000 yearly; that they be al
lowed additional secretarial help
and made eligible for the civil serv-
ice retirement fund.
| The report was drafted on the
basis of nearly four years of study
| by committee of 10. members, OF
which George B. Galloway is chair