Evening star., 1953-12-04
Trial Examiner Status
ToBe Studied by US.
In SfreamIining Effort


Conference on Administrative
Procedure declared last night
that q thorough study will be
made Of the status of the Fed
eral trial examiner as a key to
streamlined administrative tri-
bunals.
Earl w. Kintner, chairman Of
the conferences subcommittee
on trial examiners, said his group
will call for opinions on this
problem by examiners, Govern
ment agency officials. the Civil
Service Commission and others,
The Presidents conference last
week completed its first general
meeting, after approving 20
recommendations aimed at cut
ting down on time and expense
in the administration Of judicial
disputes.
Rejects Proposal.
The conference, after approx
ing a recommendation to set up
an ONCE of Administrative Pro-
cedure. voted down a proposal
that the director Of this Office
work with the Civil Service
Commission in respect to its
functions affecting hearing ex-
aminers.
The proposed Office would
have the same relation to the
administrative tribunals as the
administrative Office of tn e
United States courts has to the
Federal court system.
In a talk before the Federal
Trade Examiners Conference in
the Raleigh Hotel, Mr.. Kintner
declared that the problem Of
hearing officers status was the
key to the goal Of the Presidents
conference.
His committee, he said, will
look into such questions as
whether or not the job is a dead
end" and. If so. whether the
examiner should be given special
tenure of Office as compensation.
Appointment Method Is Issue.
Another question to be re-
solved, he stated, is whether the
method of appointment should
be based on the merit system. or
by the President, Government
agencies, or the proposed ad-
ministrative procedure Office.
Another speaker, Judge John
A. Danaher of the U. S. Court
of Appeals for the District of
Columbia, favored giving more
power along this line to the Ad-
ministrative Procedure Office in
order to expedite a more efficient
system of promotions and re-
placements.
Judge Danaher, who also de-
clared that the proper ex-
aminers' status is vital to the
work of the conference. stressed
the need for immediate action
to "feed the life-stream" of the
examiners with proper replace
ments and promotions. He
criticized the present setup in
that the Civil Service Commis-
sion's hearing examiner register
from which appointments are
made-has been closed more
than four years.
Judge E. Barrett Prettyman
of the U. S. Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia is
chairman of the conference.
In a general outline of the
conference work, Judge Pretty
man pointed out that recon-
mendations by the group should
be adapted by the various agen-
cies to fit individual needs.
Sees Proof Of Team Work.
The conference. Judge Pretty
man declared, has proved as a
fact that representatives of ad-
ministrative agencies. the bar.
and trial examiners can sit
down together and work out
these problems"
This, he said, "is a great
achievement in good govern
ment." The jurist went on to
urge agencies to concentrate on
pre-hearing conferences which,
he said, the courts have proved
can reduce trial time to a frac-
tion."
Judge Prettyman told the
group that the answer to the
problems of long delays and high
costs lies in a continuing effort.
Such an effort, he declared, re-
Quires an administrative pro-
cedure Office to use improved
methods brought forth by pro-
cedure conference.
The Presidents Conference on
Administrative Procedure Is made
up Of representatives of Sc Gov
ernment agencies, three hearing
examiners. three judges and IL