Evening star., 1945-10-05
Speedy Senate Action
Sought After House
0ks Reorganization

Administration leaders today
sought speedy action in the Sem
ate on legislation giving Presi-
dent Truman broad powers to
revamp the Government, fol-
lowing House passage last night
of a reorganization measure
which contained nearly every
thing the President requested.
Indications in the Senate were
that the bill would emerge from
that body with few major changes.
Hearings have been completed by
the Senate Judiciary Committee
and bill is expecaed to be report
ed out momentarily.
AS passed by the House, the bill
authorizes the President to regroup,
reorganize or abolish executive
agencies, with some restrictions,
simply by notifying Congress. The
latter would have so days to veto
a reorganization plan by an un-
favorable vote of both houses.
Cabinet Ranks Untouched.
The President could not abolish
or merge a department of cabinet
ranking, such as War, Navy, State
or Justice Departments. Nor could
Truman could abolish or transfer
numerous other agencies and con-
solidate or reShuff1e bureaus and
divisions within the cabinet de-
partmentS.
Although Mr.. Truman got nearly
everything he asked for in the bill
administration forces had several
close calls yesterday, beating off
amendments which would have
limited Mr.. Truman's powers. Strict
party lines we're observed, with Re-
publicans voting as bloc to sup
port the amendments and the
Democrats rallying to defeat them
BY vote of 145 to Ill, the House
defeated an amendment offered by
Representative Hoffman, Republic
an, of Michigan, which would have
required that any reorganization
plan get direct approval of Con-
gresS instead of becoming law
within so days unless Congress reg
istered its disapproval.
Rayburn Takes Floor.
Another defeated amendment pro-
vided that a veto vote by either
House could defeat any reorganiza-
tion plan.
The amendments were beaten
after Speaker Rayburn took the
floor and told the House that the
amendments if passed would defeat
the intent Of reorganization.
The Texan said the present veto
provisions of the bill will expedite
reorganization and prevent delays
which could occur under normal
procedure
The House also turned down an
amendment that would have per-
mitted Mr. Truman to merge the
War and Navy Departments into a
single national defense agency
The House also exempted from
any change the Federal Trade Com
mission, the Interstate Commerce
Commission, the Securities and Ex-
change Commission and several
agencies created under provisions
of the Railroad Mediation Act.
Reason for the exemptions were the
quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative
character of these agencies and the
desire of the House to keep them
free from any political domination,
Several Others Exempted.
Also exempted from any blanket
mergers were the Federal Commu-
nications Commission, the Civil
Service Commission, the Tariff
Commission, the Veterans Admins
tration and the Federal Deposit In
surance Corp. Reorganization pro-
posals dealing with any of those
agencies would have to be handled
separately and not as part of
general plan.
Republicans, aided by few
Democrats, wrote into the bill an
amendment by Minority Leader
Martin, expressing the policy and
expectation" of Congress that a
saving of at least Is per cent IN
administrative costs sohuld result
from any reorganization.
The saving is not mandatory, but
only declaration of policy.