Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-12-28

Heller S Group Urges
Joint Committee on
Stream|ining Congress
Creation OF a joint standing
committee to continue the work
of streamlining Congress was rec
commended today by the National
Committee for Strengthening Con-
gress.
In a 10-page letter to each Sen
ator and Representative, Robert
Heller, Cleveland business engineer
and chairman of the group OF
leaders in journalism, business
labor and agriculture, pointed out
strengths and weaknesses of the
Congressional setup as revealed
by the last session. He urged
second round of organizing.
Included in one of five main
proposals was and indication that
the District should be given home
rule, to help reduce the work
load" on Congress. This was also
called for by the first Reorganiza-
ton Act of 1916. which followed a
1914 report. Strengthening the
Congress-" issued by Mr.. Heller.
The five new changes suggested
by the committee are:
/. Establishment of a joint
standing committee on organiza-
ton. The 1916 act. wrote Mr.
Heller, went far to strengthen
internal organization and opera
ton. But the experience of the
last three years. and especially
of the last session, indicates that
strengthening the Congress should
be a continuous process and that
much remains to be done to in
crease its efficiency"
2. Better control of expendi-
lures. especially through the legis-
lative budget provided in the 1916
bill.
3. Modernized procedure in the
Senate, with tighter controls on
debate and on absenteeism.
4. Increased party responsibility
through revival and more extern
sive use of the caucus as an in
strument for the formation and
promotion of party policy"
S. Reduction of work load by
transferring private claims and
immigration and deportation bills
to courts and boards.
Hits "City Council' Role.
In this connection, Mr.. Heller
also declared: 1.-THE Reorganiza-
ton Act also proposed home rule
for the District of Columbia. But
Congress still sits once every two
weeks as the city council of Wash
lngton, a burden it ought not to
bear"
Among strengths" exhibited by
the last session. Mr.. Heller noted
effective functioning Of the
committee structure,
Use of joint committees and joint
action in supervisory activities,
breaking of the House Rules Com
nittee's veto" power by the "2l-
lay rule" and agreement in both
chambers to include all general
appropriation bills In one con-
solidated bill beginning in 1850.
Mr.. Heller listed some of the
weaknesses" Of the slst Congress
as failure to adopt a legislative
budget. the unprecedented delay
in the passage by the Senate of
some Of the general supply bills"
Of the session IL weeks
beyond the July 81 deadline set
by the Reorganization Act, due
largely to q three-week filibuster"
and "large-scale time-consuming
irrelevancy in Senate debate"
On the Legislative budget, Mr..
Heller said 1t had never been given
q reasonable trial" He suggested
that a Joint Budget Committee
study revenue and expenditure
estimates and report by Febru-
airy Is.
Would Curb Senate Debate.
Regarding Senate procedure,
Mr.. Heller's letter declared: 1--WE
believe that there is growing SEN
timent in the Senate in favor Of
amending its rules to require that
debate be germane to the pend
ing business. The House of Rep
resentatives has had a rule OF
relevancy since 1889. We urge
the Senate to adopt such a rule
at It's next session."
Mr.. Heller. who directed the
study of the Post Office Depart
ment for the Hoover Commission
Is now engaged In reorganization
work for the Department Of De-
tense.
Among members of the national
committee which Mr.. Heller rep
resents are Winthrop w. Aldrich,
chairman of the board of Chase
National Bank. New York: James
B. Carey, secretary-treasurer of
the CLIO: Henry r. Luce, editor
of Time magazine, and Mrs. Anna
Lord Strauss, president Of the Ma
tional League of Women Voters.
Man Who Fell 3 Floors
Still in Serious Condition
William J. Hearns, ~. colored.