Evening star., 1950-04-23
Senate Politicians StuII
Hoover Group Reforms
Writer Sees P. o. Economy
Imperiled by lnertio
By Fronk r. Kent

t"PS'"SS ~ '"Ss'S
By Fronk r. Kent
As the big test on the Hoover Com
missions reorganization plan approaches,
the opposition concentrates and grows
stronger. The full significance OF this
ought to be graSped. There could be no
clearer case of the interests Of the people
versus the interests of the politicians,
Regardless Of the vital need to restore
order and sense tas we'll as reduce Its
shocking cost to the vast overlapping
and almost unworkable Federal machin-
cry, a desperate undercover fight is being
waged to block action at this session.
certain that failure now will end for
years TO come-if not forever-all at
temptS at reorganization. The motives
back OF this fight are not only wholly
political but as sordid and selfish as
politics ever gets The men making il
put politics above the national welfare,
Their triumph would be a blow to every
friend Of decent government in the
country.
1t would be q diSgraceful demonstra-
ton Of the inability Of the people TO
make their will prevail under our system.
1t would prove the power OF a few un-
principled politicians to kill the most
important proposal that has been before
Congress i'll years and to which there is
almost no open opposition. Public and
press are practically united in its sup
port Mr.. Truman has Endorsed the
recommendations. They are the direct
result OF request by both branches OF
Congress and no real argument against
either their soundnesS or deSirability has
ever been made Yet only 20 per cent
OF the program has thus far been adopted
and the balance is in grave peril.
Perhaps the best illustration OF the
manner in which the Shiny hand of
politics is moving to destroy is afforded
by what has happened to Senate bill
22l3. This is the bill to reorganize the
Post Oftice Department. The post ONCE
today Is one Of the worlds biggest busi-
nesseS. Its revenues are $l3 billion q
year: 1t employs 10000 persons; 1t oper-
ateS AZ. 1000 branches and maintains a.
900 buildings. 1t could and should oper-
ate at profit. but this year its annual
deficit will reach q new peak OF $540
million. This is nearly third Of its
total revenue. which is an economic abb
surdity.
BY undermining the organization. its
methods and equipment sl40 million
can be saved and an additional STA
million added by fixing new rates on
certain items But the most important
proposal in the bill is to remove $4,000
poStmaSters from politics by making
Senate confirmation Of their selection
unnecessary. No one denies that this
would tremendously promote efficiency
and economy. Clearly, the requirement
by Senate confirmation discourages am
bition and promotes ineptitude. The
President approves the change. So does
Postmaster General Donaldson. So do
the employees and the people generally.
Yet, the bill would deprive Senators Of
patronage plumS which they have cher
ished for years.
Accordingly, the Senate Committee on
Post Office and Civil Service brazenly
plans to smother the bill. Its decision to
postpone action Indefinitely" was made
some time ago. This is an outrageous,
indefensible and cowardly performance.
1t is flagrantly against the public inter-
est And it ought to arouse q wave Of
public indignation all over the country.
The bill was approved by subcommittee
but laid on the table by the full commit
tee. No one doubts that II the bill were
to come out on the floor Of the Senate 1t
would pass by an overwhelming majority.
Extremely few Senators would care to
go on record against it.
This seems to make 1t important to
know the names of the committee Sena-
tors who favor the bill and those who are
aiding in its murder. Here they are:
Members of the subcommittee who voted
favorably were Senators j. Allen Frear OF
Delaware, Russell B. Long Of Louisiana.
Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota and
Henry c Dworshak Of Idaho. The eight
other members Of the full committee who
voted to smother were Senators Olin
johnson of South Carolina. Kenneth
McKellar OF Tennessee Matthew Nicely
of West Virginia. Harry Darby Of Kan
sas. Edward Lawrence Leahy Of Rhode
Island, William LANCER Of North Dakota.
Zales N. Ecton Of Montana and Ralph Z.
Flanders of Vermont. AS things stand
now nothing but an unusual display OF
public sentiment can force this bill out
in the OPEN The Citizens Committee for
the Hoover Report has called for such
display. It ought to be necessary only to
get the facts to the public to get the
response. But, such is the inertia OF the
American people concerning the things
in which their welfare Is involved that
good deal more than that will be needed.