Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-09-12

N~@NAAAS Va
enough expense money, a tech
ntcally competent staff and
sufficient time to handle a huge
job during the next IA months.
House members hailed the
resolution establishing the
group as a move long overdue
in view of vast annual increases
IN Federal spending for re-
search and development prof.
ectS and an apparent lack of
coordination and central su-
pervision.
AppOinteeS Lauded
They also praised the ap-
pointees: Democratic Repre-
sentativeS Elliott Of Alabama,
Fogarty of Rhode Island, Mil
Ter Of California, Price Of I'LL
nois and Landrum Of Georgia,
and Republican Representatives
Brown Of Ohio, Anderson of
Illinois, Cleveland Of New
Hampshire and Martin Of CAL
ifornia.
Mr.. Elliott, designated chair
man, served prominently on the
House Education and Labor
Committee before going on the
Rules Committee. Mr.. Brown,
senior Republican on the Rules
Committee, was on the Hoover
Commission on Governmental
Reorganization. Mr.. Miller is
chairman Of the House Astro-
nautics and Space Committee,
Mr.. Price is on the Armed
Services Committee and the
Joint Committee on Atomic
Energy. Mr.. Fogarty heads the
Appropriations subcommittee
on Labor and HEW, and Mr..
Landrum is a veteran member
Of the Education and Labor
Committee. /
Hint Of Possible Conflict
This group generally was re-
garded as likely to work we'll
together. But comments. by Mr..
Elliott, Mr.. Price and Mr.. Mil
Ter showed signs Of some posi-
BILE conflict in determining the
extent Of the committees in
vestigation.
Chairman Elliott noted that
Federal budget requests for fl
nancing research and develop
ment, either directly by Gov
eminent agencies or by Federal
grants and contracts to pri-
vate groups increased from
1922 billion last year to $14.9
billion this year. as compared
with only about STA million in
1910.
II would think that in any
$14 billion enterprise, waste
full overlapping and just plain
needless duplication is bound
to occur" he said. Il would
miStrust any claim to the con-
trary because this is the nature
Of all human endeavors. I
would expect the committee to
painStakingly investigate each
and every charge Of waste and
recommend corrective action
wherever 1t may be necessary"
Aim for Coordination
Mr.. Price suggested, however,
that the committees principal
endeavor should be to aim for
coordination of Government
aided research programs and
prevention Of duplication Of eff
fort and waste of money.
He, as we'll as Mr.. Miller,
indicated the committee would
have more than enough to do
without trying to investigate
specific complaints or examine
highly complicated projects
within the Jurisdiction Of other
committees.
Mr.. Brown likewise said that
the purpose Of the new COM
mittee was not to interfere with
the jurisdiction. rights or priv
ileges Of other legislative COM
mittees.
Chairman Elliott agreed that
his committee would rely on,
rather than encroach on, other
committees concerned with
Government research programs.
He said 1t also would seek in
formation and advice from all
other appropriate public and
private groups and institutions.
General EvaIuatiOns"
While conceding that the
committee should not be a
project officer" Mr.. Elliott de-
clared that at least in broad
terms 1t must take the program
apart, by agency and by SUBJ
ject and make some general
evaluations Of its own"
He nevertheless indicated that
this would involve examination
Of some individual research
projects as we'll as agency and
fiscal procedures to get an
swers to such questions as:
Where can procedures be
improved How can needless
duplication be detected and
eliminated How can gaps, If
any, be detected and filled2
How can priorities be best de-
signed TO assure us Of a fair
return on our research dollar2"