Evening star., 1950-03-13
End to NLRB Counsel Post Sought by President

NOunSeJ FOS
and subregional Offices and in
setting those Offices up and elm
mating them.
Mr.. Denham said he would not
stand for the board trying ito
usurp" his authority and that he
would seek a showdown. Labor
unions had asked for his removal.
but Mr.. Truman said then he
would not seek Mr.. Denham' S
custer.
Board Decisions Criticized.
DR.. Denham also has criticized
decisions of the board. maintain
ing that those decisions repealed
the Taft-Hartley Act by interpre-
tation. The board replied that
this criticism made an almost i'm
possible situation, pointing out
that it would be Mr.. Denham' S
duty to defend decisions which
are challenged and taken to the
Court of Appeals.
The Presidents plans provide for
I Strengthening the authority of de-
partment heads (Plans 1-6) trans
fer authority and functions from
subordinates to the agency head,
and also provide for the delega-
ton of the powers by that official.
Exceptions are made in cases of
examiners who conduct hearings
and corporations in the different
departments.
Cites Commission Report.
In this connection Mr.. Truman
said:
"A principal finding of the
Commission on Organization was
that clean-cut lines of authority
do not exist in the executive
branch. The commission stated
that the first and essential step
in the search for efficiency and
economy in the executive branch
Of the Federal Government is to
correct the present diffusion of
authority and confusion of re-
sponsibility. The commission
warned that without this action
all other steps to improve Or
ganization and management are
doomed to failure
He cited also the commission S
statement that department heads
must have adequate staff assist
ance. In line with this are the
recommendations for administra-
tive assistant secretaries in the
six departments. They would be
appointed by the department head
with the consent of the President,
and would be under Civil Service.
These measures accomplish
three principal objectives, Mr..
Truman said, listing them as fol-
lows:
/. Provide a clearer line of
responsibility and authority from
the President through the depart
ment heads down to the lowest
levels of operation.
2. Make the department heads
responsible. to the President and
Congress for activities within
their agencies.
8. Make it possible for depart
ment heads to effect internal ad-
justments for efficient organiza-
ton.
Would Pick Chairman.
The reorganization plans for
the regulatory agencies (Plans T.
13) transfer to the chairmen of
the seven regulatory bodies af-
fected, the executive and admins
trative functions of the agencies.
including the appointment and
supervision of personnel. The
chairman's appointments of heads
of major administrative units
must be approved by the agency
members.
Where not already provided,
the President, not the board or
commission itself, would desig-
nate the chairman.
Mr.. Truman quoted the Hoover
Commission as stating, Purely
executive duties-thoSe that can
be performed far better by a sin
gle administrative official-have
been imposed upon these commits
sions with the result that these
duties have sometimes been per-
formed badly"
He also quoted the Hoover
Commission as observing that
administration by plural execu-
tives is universally regarded as
inefficient. This has proved to
be true in connection with these
commissions"
The Presidents proposals re-
garding the Maritime Commission
are contained in his final plan
No. 81. Back in 1948 the staff of
the Senate Expenditures Com
nittee made a study of the COM
mission. 1t found the commits
sion's internal organization was
"labarynthine." and said that ef-
forts at correction tended further
| to- weaken the agency.
A Hoover Commission task
force criticized the operation Of
5