Evening star., 1950-05-25
Sawyer Gains Power
And Prestige Under
Reorganization Plan
BY the Associated Press


President Truman's new shake
up of the Government is carrying
the Commerce Department to the
highest peak of prestige and power
1t has enjoyed in its 47-year his
tory.
Secretary Sawyer yesterday be-
came supervising boss Of the Ma
tion's maritime affairs and, if
Congress assents to another reor-
ganization' plan now pending, will
take charge in July of the multi
million dollar lending operations
Of the reconstruction Finance
Corp.
When and If that happens, the
dapper. graying lawyer from Gin
cinnati-who walked into a
sprawling $500 million-a-year COL
lection of bureaus two years ago
this month-will be presiding over
a 50 billion agency with vast re-
sponsibility to see that industry
and Government get along.
Appeared to be Lame Duck"
Mr.. Sawyer's rise, his subordi-
hates recall, is the more spectac-
ular because he took the job
almost on a lame duck" basis. 1t
was in May, 194S, when most
politicians thought Harry Truman
was washed up. His appoint
ments were virtually going beg
ging.
Mr.. Sawyer left law practice in
Cincinnati to take the Govern
ment post. He is former lieuten-
ant governor of Ohio, a one-time
Cincinnati councilman, and a
former ambassador to Belgium
and minister to Luxembourg. He
is a minority owner of the Gin
cinnati Reds baseball team and
owns the Lancaster (Ohio) Eagle
Gazette. He has been a director
Of several corporations, but drop
ped most of his business con-
nections on taking the cabinet
Job.
The Secretary today is publish
ing his orders setting in motion
the new, three member Federal
Maritime Board and creating in
his department a Maritime Ad-
ministration.
Sawyer Gets Top Policy Powers.
The instructions to the board,
which replaces the old, independ-
ent Maritime Commission, re-
served to Mr.. Sawyr the top policy
powers in seeing that the United
States keeps a healthy merchant
marine af1oat by subsidy, ship
sales, vessel charters, and trade
route determination.
The move was a long step to-
ward an obvious, but undeclared
goal Of the President: To make
the Commerce Department the
Governments policy control cen
ter for air. rail. sea and highway
transportation.
1t followed series Of president
ial actions which make clear that
the White House Is turning more
and more frequently to Secretary
Sawyer to get its tough jobs done.
Mr.. Sawyer moved into the fore
ground as an economic adviser
when MI. Truman dispatched him
on a Nationwide survey Of busi-
ness conditions and unemployment
last year. Other White House
chores have since been piled on.
Senate Confirmat tion Required.
To help in organizing the Com
merce Department as the core of
the Federal transportation pro-
gram, Mr.. Sawyer yesterday ac-
quired the experienced admin
strator, Maj. Gen. Philip B. Flem-
ing, as a $17.500 a-year under
secretary for transportation. Gen.
Fleming was chairman of the
abolished Maritime Commission.
Gen. Fleming's appointment re-
quires Senate confirmation.
Other appointments made by
Mr.. Truman yesterday. under
authority of several of the 16 re-
organization plans which became
law, need no Senate approval.
These include the designation of
Mon c. Wallgren, former COVER
nor of Washington. as chairman of
the Federal Power Commission:
former Senator James Mead of
New York. as chairman of the
Federal Trade Commission, and the
disappointment of Harry MacDon-
aid as chairman of the Securities
and Exchange Commission. For
merly. these commissions elected
their own chairman.
Mr.. Wallgren was appointed
member of FPC this spring after
failing to win Senate confirmation
as chairman of the National Secu-
rity Resources Board. AS chair
man, he displaces Nelson Lee
Smith, an Independent with a
Republican background, who has
headed FPC for three years.
Mr.. Mead replaces the Repub-
lican acting chairman, Lowell
Mason On the FTC