The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1946-03-11
BY ESTHER V. W. TUFTY

Only one Michigan man had a
hand in the just released report
on the reorganization OF Congress.
Earl Kitchener, OF Adrian, was
hand.picked by Speaker Rayburn,
himself. who wanted "a man with
out any fool notions" on the IL.
man LaFollette- Monroney commit
tee.
The too;busy Kitchener was re;
luctant to accept. But he did, at
the Speakers .insistence and then
characteristically rang up the best
attendance record at the long
drawn out hearings.
The report has gone over big.
Many are surprised and full OF
thanksgiving. With broad strokes
OF craftsmanship. II sketches bold
and progressive plan for the res
toration OF Congress as an efficient
and responsible policymakin.; body
for the nation. But II may mean
nothing.
Surprise springs from the fact
that six members OF the Senate
and six members OF the House have
been able TO report unanimously,
on such a sweeping program. Con.
gress is seen as putting Its own
house in order. II reflects a new
awareness In Congress on Its loss
OF prestige and power.
The thankfulness springs from
the real achievements of the La
Eollat,o MaurlDav ennap,ftfaa Tha
proposed new committee system
reduces the Heterogeneous con-
glomeration of SO Senate commit
tees 10 l6 streamlined groups with
well defined jurisdiction. The
tangle Of as House committees is
reduced TO Is.
Other recommendation concern
strengthening fiscal controls, regis
tration OF lobbyists. revamping of
steering committees (Which seldom
meet and never steer, increasing
congressional salaries to $4,000
chats usually dodged) and q re-
tirement system extended to con-
gressmen.
All OF this is very rosy, but old
timer admit, off the record, that
probably nothing will come OF it,"
After all the report isn't bill
TO be voted upon one way or the
other. Some congressman will, of
course, introduce bills and use
the findings OF the report to support
their proposals. But IL no con-
gresham takes up the cudgels,
then the reports recommendations
will just gather dust in some
pigeonhole.
And that Unanimous" report
wasn't really unanimous. Probably
every one OF tie 12 men and true
didn't like one or more provisions.
Earl Kitchener. Michigan Re-
publican. for example Is vigorous
ly opposed to the proposal OF an
SS,000-a-year administrative assist
ant sor every senator an congress
man. The idea is to have an as
sistant with three years exper-
fence in the federal government In
Washington. Such an assistant, 1t
was contended by Senators Pepper
and Downey. would be able to
answer letters better from consti-
tuents.
But Kitchener. among others,
doesn't like such an added expense
and Is not unmindful that any ap-
plicant with the required three
years experience is likely to be q
New Dealer since the Democrats
have been in power for 13 years.
As to streamlining the commit
tee, that just will not happen, pre-
dict oldtimers. Wait until the
howl starts up as congressman re-
aliZe they might be fresh out OF a
committee assignment or reduced
in seniority rank. For example,
its proposed that a new Armed Ser
vice committee be set up to COM
bine the present Military Affairs
and Naval Affairs committees.
Anyone who knows the two chair
men MAY and Vinson respectively
realizes neither would like to step
down to the other, yet only one
could be named.