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House Speech Hoover Commission, March 13, 1951
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4525684
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House Speech Hoover Commission, March 13, 1951
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Speeches
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Government reorganization
Independent regulatory commissions
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1951-03-31
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1951
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1951
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The original documents are located in Box D14, folder "House Speech Hoover Commission,
March 13, 1951" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box D14 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
388
MR. FORD. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike out the last word.
Mr. Chairman, this legislation, as all of us know, is an amend-
ment to the Reorganization Act of 1949, which was approved on June 20th
of that year. Furthermore all of us also know that the Reorganization
Act of 1949 was enacted for the sole purpose of effectuating the Hoover
Commission recommendations.
It might be well for us to review the record in reference to the
Hoover Commission proposals. I have in my hand a report recently issued
by the Citizens Committee for the Hoover Report. This report indicates that
in the past 20 months almost 50 per cent of the Hoover Commission recommenda-
tions have been effectuated. They have printed in the report a box score
which is rather imposing. Needless to say, most of us would like to see
a greater degree of progress where efficiency and economy would result, but
even in that interim period there has been substantial result attained. This
legislation before us today is for the purpose, at least the alleged purpose,
of even greater economy and efficiency during the present emergency.
The Hoover Commission made about 380 recommendations. Under the
present legislation without these amendments which are on the floor today
nearly 50 per cent of those recommendations have been put into operation in
a period of 20 months. It seems to me under the existing legislation we now
have, which this bill will amend, we could still accomplish all reforms in
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
the executive branch of the government that would be necessary in a
reasonably short time under any emergency situation.
I have examined the committee report and the committee hearings.
I have failed to find any recommendation w the Citizens' Committee for the
Hoover Report for the enactment of these amendments. If you will recall,
in the last 18 months whenever any amendments to existing legislation or
any reorganization plans were submitted concerning the Hoover recommendations
the Citizens' Committee for the Hoover Report would appear and testify in
favor of the legislative proposals or in favor of the reorganisation plans.
MR. BURNSIDE. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
MR. FORD. I yield.
MR. BURNSIDE. The gentleman from Michigan is well acquainted
with Mr. McCormick of the Citizens' Committee?
MR. FORD. I am. I have in my hand the report by his group.
MR. BURNSIDE. He testified before the other body in favor of
the bill S. 101 which is complementary legislation to this legislation which
we are now considering.
MR. FORD. But there is nothing in this committee report and no
testimeny before this legislative committee of the House which would indicate
that they were in favor of 1t.
MR. BURNSIDE. That question came up on last Thursday and I would
like to give the gentleman the exact words. It is on page 60 of the report
of the other body.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
MR. FORD. I am glad to have that information.
MR. BURNSIDE. Here is the statement. This is Mr. McCormick.
MR. FORD. Was he testifying before them?
MR. BURNSIDE. Yes. This is the testimeny:
"My name is Robert L. L. McCormick, Dr. Robert L. Johnson,
Chairman of the Citisens' Committee for the Hoover Report requested that
I present the Committee's views on S. 101 in my capacity as research
director. His request to me, appendix A hereto, is submitted subject to
your approval, Mr. Chairman, for the record. We very much appreciate,
Mr. Chairman, your kind invitation to appear before this committee."
MR. FORD. If I may ask the gentleman a question, can the
gentleman give me the substance of what the recommendation was rather
than read the entire testimony at this time?
MR. BURNSIDE. He recommended the MIL.
MR. FORD. In toto?
MR. BURNSIDE. The bill is practically the same bill except
that the House bill first had 15 days and later the House accepted the 18
days as contained in the Senate MII.
MR, FORD. I am glad to have the information from the
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
gentlemen. However, information has been given me to the effect that
the Citizens' Committee for the Hoover Report is not in favor of this
MII, at least the Citizens' Committee does not approve unless certain
changes are incorporated. I understand there are several proposals in
reference to Sec. 302 which the Citizens' Committee advocates. The most
important amendment advocated would be the addition of a new subparagraph
to Sec. 303 to insure that all reorganisation plans submitted, outside
of those affecting the var effort, would be in conformity with the
recommendations of the Hoover Commission. I might add at this point
that if the Hoover Commission were reactivated at this time, as I have
advocated, recommendations concerning all phases of the federal government
would be available for Presidential and Congressional action.
The Citizens' Committee has raised some question concerning
other provisions in this bill. See. 304(b) seems unwise and Sec. 304(a)
would seem too broad and gives the Executive Branch of the federal government
too much latitude in the field of substantive law.
In conclusion the enactment of this bill is unnecessary. The
Reorganisation Act of 1949 has worked fairly well. The President can do
practically everything under this law that he could do under the proposed
changes. The principal difference lies in the time period of 18 days.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
In view of the fact that approximately so per cent of the Hoover Commission
proposals have been effecuated under existing procedures and new
Presidential Reorganization plans could be handled in the name vay,
I see no need for amendment to present law. The enactment of these amend-
ments would only give greater authority to President Truman and I doubt
if the American public want Congress to abandon or turn over additional
power to the White House under the present circumstances. If anything.
Congress should seek to recapture some of its Constitutional prerogatives.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY