Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-01-29
The Political Mill :
6. o. P. Test in 1854
Depends on Congress
Issue on Reorganization
To Be Brought Into Open
By GouId Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
The Republican test-for members
of Congress comes in 1854, and out
come of the test will depend in large
measure upon how well they back Presi-
dent Eisenhower. There will be some
who do not realize this, and others who
do not wish to acknowledge it. But
when Republican President is elected,
carrying 80 Of the 48 States, and breaks
a Democratic winning streak Of 20
years, it means something. Particularly
in view Of the fact that the Republicans
nosed out the Democrats by the mar
rowest kind Of margin in both the
House and Senate.
It is a surprise, therefore, to learn
that two Republican-control COM
mittees, one of the House and the
other Of the Senate, turned thumbs
down on extending q law giving the
President Of the United States power
to reorganize the executive departments.
in as broad form as was granted
Democratic former President Truman.
The legislation was given high priority,
since the present act is due to expire
March 81. The action of the House
committee was taken, too, in defiance
Of the arguments submitted by Joseph
M. Dodge, new budget director and
spokesman for President Eisenhower.
Bill Reported Out.
The bill reported out by the COM
mittees extends the power of the Presi-
dent, to be sure, to reorganize the
executive departments it provides
that either house may veto a reorgan-
iZation plan by simple majority vote.
Twenty-Five Senators, under such o
plan, could block reorganization pro-
posal, and 10 members Of the House.
Under the existing law, it takes
constitutional majority"-or one more
than one-half of the total membership,
either of the House or Senate-to put
the clamps on.
Some of the Republican members
of the committees are expressing sur
prise that their action should be taken
as slap at Gen. Eisenhower. A mem
Der of the Senate Committee on Gov
eminent Operations said that the pro-
ceedings had been "perfunctory";; that
he, for one, did not know Of the pleas
put up by Mr.. Dodge. Also. he dis
avowed any desire to turn his back on
Gen. Eisenhower. The members of the
House committee, however, were fully
informed. Mr.. Dodge appeared before
that committee. All fifteen Republican
members of that committee voted to
make congressional veto of an Eisen-
hover reorganization plan very much
easier-and all IA Democratic members
tod IN &Iaa LH,No 10. AN,~
for the President.
Senator Taft Of Ohio, Republican
leader of the upper house, had q bill
before the Senate committee extending
the law as it is today. It was ignored,
however, in favor Of a bill jointly spon-
Sored by Senator Mccarthy of Wis
consin, Republican and committee chair
man, and Senator Mcclellan of Arkan-
sas, Democrat. One Democrat, Senator
Kennedy Of Massachusetts,, gave notice
he might offer to amend the bill on the
Senate hoor-preSumably to restore the
present provision regarding vetoes.
Many Jealous of Powers.
Gen. Eisenhower campaigned on q
promise to improve the Government
administration-and one Of the ways
to improve it is to do away with duph-
cations of work and overlapping Of
agencies, and to bring about a reduction
in number of agencies. Apparently
some of the Republicans in Congress.
jealous of their powers, are willing to
make it more difficult for the President
to get these improvements. Or so it
seems.
Some of the Republicans contend that
the change to mere majority of those
present and voting for veto Of re-
organization plan means little; that
any worthy reorganization plan can
command majority at all times. But
the question perSiStS-why then the
change in the law? Why make veto
of the Presidents proposals easier?
Obviously, it is more difficult to obtain
a constitutional majority to make a
congressional veto stick.
The Republicans, if they wish, can
support an amendment on the floor OF
the House and in the Senate, to give
President Eisenhower the same oppor-
tunity to get his reorganization plans
through as was given President Tru-
man-without being ditched by con-
gressional veto. Indeed. there Is every
prospect that they will be asked to vote
on such an amendment. Democrats
will accord them this opportunity, II
the Republicans themselves do not
either change the bills in committee
or offer amendments from the floor
The issue will, under those conditions.
be brought out into the open-and the
Republicans range themselves either
for or against the President on extend
ing the law as 1t Is.