Evening star., 1945-09-18
Reorganization Plan
Faces Opposition Of
Senate Judiciary Unit
By JOSEPH YOUNG.

Dy JOOET n 1OONu.
President Truman faced addi-
tional curtailment of the power he
seeks to reorganize the Government
as the Senate Judiciary Committee
resumed hearings today on reor-
ganization legislation.
The attitude of most of the COM
mittee's members toward reorgan-
ization seems to be similar to that
of the House Expenditures Commit
tee which also Is working on re-
organization legislation. The House
bill specifically exempts 81 inde-
pendent and quasi-judicial and
quasi-legislative Federal agencies
from anw presidential organization
plan. ..
In the Senate reorganization leg
islation introduced by Chairman
McCarran of the Senate judiciary
Committee gives the President
broad revamping powers, including
all agencies in the executive branch
of the Government. However, Sem
ator McCarran and other commit
tee members during recent hearings
appear to have swung to the view
that some agencies should be ex-
empted from presidential reorgan-
ization.
These views have been expressed
as witnesses appeared before the
committee to urge that some agen.
cies be exempted Senator Nc.
Carran, together with Senators
Revercomb, Republican, of West
Virginia and Ferguson, Republican
Of Michigan has expressed fear that
blanket powers given to the Presi-
dent might cause Congress to lose
any semblance of control over Fed.
eral agencies.
Fear Loss Of Political Freedom.
Committee members also appear
concerned over the possible loss ol
political freedom of such quasi
Judicial or quasi Legislative agencies
as the Interstate Commerce Com.
mission, Federal Trade Commission
and others, should they be included
in the legislation.
Advocates of the measure sa,
there is no danger of Congress Civ.
the President blank check" since
any reorganization plan is subject
to possible veto by Congress. TIL,
Congress has the right to reiect
any presidential reorganization
plan by an unfavorable vote OF bott
houses within 60 days after the pro.
posal Is submitted to it, supporter.
OF the measure point out.
The Senate committee will re.
sumo hearings on the bill at 2 p.m
today. Several heads of Fedora
agencies are expected to present
their views on the measure.
Yesterday the committee heard
opposition of labor officials to provi.
sions of the bill which would give
PRESIDENT Truman reorganization
powers over the National Mediation
Board, the Railroad Adjustmen,
Board, the Railroad Retirement
Board and the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Claims Rail Worker Opposition.
A. E. Lyon, executive secretary OF
the Railway Labor Executives As.
soclatlon, declared that railroad
workers opposed putting these in
dependent agencies under the direct
power Of the President. The as
sociation is composed of top union
officials of l9 rail unions and in.
cludes all but two of the railroad
brotherhood unions.
Mr.. Lyon said the operation OF
these agencies has proved beneficial
to labor and management and that
this efficiency might be impaired
through any reorganiza ton of these
agencies.
II there are any changes needed, ~
Mr.. Lyon said, "let Congress enact
the necessary legislation in the usual
constitutional way"
Another witness, Mrs. Harold A.
Stone, director of the National Board
OF the National League of Women
Voters, urged that the bill be passed
In its present form. She said there
was an urgent need for reorganiza-
ton and that no agency should be
exempted.