The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1952-07-17
The MEANING OF THINGS
By Zdles N. Ecton
I. u. S. Senator

pleted action on legislation au-
thorizing $6.44 billion for for
eign aid, instead of $40 bill
lion as requested by President.
This, in addition to a ma
tional defense budget of $46
billion, is fiscal proof of the
load the taxpayers of America
must carry during a period of
uncertainty as to events abroad
and how they may affect our
daily existence Foreign aid
goes to IL countries in Europe,
IA in the Near East and Africa,
IL in Asia and the Pacific, and
10 American Republics. Amer
lea is jeopardizing its strength
and mortgaging its future.
Many people are genuinely
interested in the success of the
Hoover Commission plans for
government reorganization, so
in all fairness you folks should
be advised as to why the Sen
ate rejected Plans 2, 3 and 4
(placing poStmaSterS, customs
collectors and u. S. marshals
under Civil Service, etc. based
on adverse reports from the
Senate Committee on Govern
ment Operations. The Hoover
Commission itself did a COM
mendable job, but these plans,
like so many others, lost much
of the original Hoover Com
missions good intentions before
being presented to the Congress
after having been worked ov-
er by the presidents political
advisors.
Plan No. 2 was not actually
a reorganization plan since no
| provision was made in it for
the reorganization of Post Of
flee department. An actual re-
organization would require a
basic change in governmental
structure which would call for
substantive legislation.
Plan No. 2 would have made
no change in existing status
of postmasters as they have
been under Civil Service since
1917; it would have adversely
affected residence requirements
of postmasters since after ap-
pointment they could reside
outside delivery area of their
own post office (also, a favored
postal inspector, for instance,
could be assigned to a certain
office long enough to meet res
| idence requirements, then could
be named postmaster over a
local applicant); it would have
centralized absolute. authority
| over appointments in the post
master general, thus eliminat-
ing any check the public,
through their elected repre-
Sentatives, now have over ap-
| pointmentS.
If there ever was a time
when the Congress needs a
| check on the administration, it
is now. Groups representing
postal workers opposed the
plan. For instance, the Nation
al Association of Letter Car
riers wrote me: unfortunately,
there was a great deal of en-
thusiasm generally for the plan
by people who had no real con-
ception of what it actually was
about. It takes real statesman
ship to rise above the clamor
of these demands and vote to
sustain the fundamental prin-
cipleS of our American govern
ment."
/ Plan No. 3 would have re-
moved theoretically the polite
al aspects of naming customs
collectors but in practice pol
itics is bound to apply to a
certain extent in the selection
of the appointing officer.
therefore, it is a question OF
W h h the appointment
should be made by a political
appointee of the president
(Such as the secretary of the
treasury or whether the Sen
ate, with its power of confirm
alton, should have an oppor-
tunity to review the qualifica-
tons of the prospective can
! didate.
No. 3 violates the Reorgan-
ization Act of 1949 which pro-
hibits an increase in the terms
of office of officials involved in
a reorganization plan, which
in this case would substitute
permanent tenure for 4-year
terms; it would have added 20
supergrade posts to Bureau OF
Customs; it would have rend-
cred impracticable judicial re-
view of customs cases.
Plan No. 4 did not provide
for legitimate reorganization; ii
contemplated no changes what
soever in the operation of Of
fees of U. S. marshal other
than the method of appoint
ment; it would have permitted
the attorney general to name