R.V.S. 4 CONTENTS Brown, Hon. Clarence J., a Representative in Congress from the State Meriam, Lewis, vice president, Brookings Institution Fuller. Walter D., president, Curtis Publishing Co., and president, Hanes, John W., former Under Secretary of the Treasury, of New France, Jacob, chairman of the Mid-Continent Petroleum Corp., and Coolidge, T. Jefferson, former Under Secretary of the Treasury, and 3 FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION ON ORGANIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1947 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON EXPENDITURES IN THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS, Washington, D. C. The committee met at 10 a. m., pursuant to call, in room 1501 of the New House Office Building, Hon. Clare E. Hoffman (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. This morning we are to have a hearing on H. R. 775, a bill introduced by Representative Brown of Ohio. We will insert a copy of the bill in the record at this point. (The bill is as follows:) [H. R. 775, 80th Cong., 1st sess.] A BILL For the establishment of the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, DECLARATION OF POLICY SECTION 1. It is hereby declared to be the policy of Congress to promote economy, efficiency and improved service in the transaction of the public business in the departments, bureaus, agencies, boards, commissions, offices, independent establishments, and instrumentalities of the executive branch of the Government by (1) limiting expenditures to the lowest amount consistent with the efficient performance of essential services, activities, and functions; (2) eliminating duplication and overlapping of services, activities, and functions; (3) consolidating services, activities, and functions of a similar nature; (4) abolishing services, activities, and functions not necessary to the efficient conduct of government; and (5) defining and limiting executive functions, services, and activities. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION ON ORGANIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH SEC. 2. For the purpose of carrying out the policy set forth in section 1 of this Act, there is hereby established a bipartisan commission to be known as the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government (in this Act referred to as the "Commission"). MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION SEC. 3. (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.-The Commission shall be composed of twelve members as follows: (1) Four appointed by the President of the United States, two from the executive branch of the Government and two from private life; (2) Four appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, two from the Senate and two from private life; and 1 (3) Four appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two from the House of Representatives and two from private life. (b) POLITICAL AFFILIATION. Of each class of two members mentioned in subsection (a), not more than one member shall be from each of the two major political parties. (c) VACANCIES.-Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMISSION SEC. 4. The Commission shall elect a Chairman and a Vice Chairman from among its members. QUORUM SEC. 5. Seven members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SEC. 6. (a) MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.-Members of Congress who are members of the Commission shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their services as Members of Congress; but they shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties vested in the Commission. (b) MEMBERS FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.-The members of the Commission who are in the executive branch of the Government shall each receive the compensation which he would receive if he were not a member of the Commission, plus such additional compensation, if any (notwithstanding section 6 of the Act of May 10, 1916, as amended; 39 Stat. 582; 5 U. S. C. 58), as is necessary to make his aggregate salary $12,500; and they shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties vested in the Commission. (c) MEMBERS FROM PRIVATE LIFE.-The members from private life shall each receive $50 per diem when engaged in the performance of duties vested in the Commission, plus reimbursement for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of such duties. STAFF OF THE COMMISSION SEC. 7. The Commission shall have power to appoint and fix the compensation of such personnel as it deems advisable, in accordance with the provisions of the civil-service laws and the Classification Act of 1923, as amended. EXPENSES OF THE COMMISSION SEC. 8. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, so much as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. EXPIRATION OF THE COMMISSION SEC. 9. Ninety days after the submission to the Congress of the report provided for in section 10 (b), the Commission shall cease to exist. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION SEC. 10. (a) INVESTIGATION.-The Commission shall study and investigate the present organization and methods of operation of all departments, bureaus, agencies, boards, commissions, offices, independent establishments, and instrumentalities of the executive branch of the Government, to determine what changes therein are necessary in their opinion to accomplish the purposes set forth in section 1 of this Act. (b) REPORT.-Within ten days after the Eighty-first Congress is convened and organized, the Commission shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to the Congress. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION SEC. 11. (a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.-The Commission, or any member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, and take such testimony, as the Commission or such member may deem advisable. Any member of the Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before the Commission or before such member. (b) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.-The Commission is authorized to secure directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purpose of this Act; and each such department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, establishment, or instrumentality is authorized and directed to furnish such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the Commission, upon request made by the Chairman or Vice Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. We will hear from Representative Brown first. STATEMENT OF HON. CLARENCE J. BROWN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF OHIO Representative BROWN. I deeply appreciate the courtesy the chairman and the membership of this committee have shown me in allocating time this week for hearings on H. R. 775, which I introduced at the beginning of this session. This bill is very simple in its wording and very important in its objective. It provides for the establishment of a Commission on the Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government. The Commission would be authorized and directed to make a thorough study of the services, activities and functions of all departments, bureaus, agencies, boards, commissions, offices, independent establishments, and instrumentalities of the executive branch of the Government for the purpose of promoting economy, efficiency, and improved service in the transaction of the public business. This Commission of 12, as provided in the bill, would be completely bipartisan and truly representative. Included in its membership would be six officials of the Federal Government and six private citizens representing the general public. Four members of the Commission would be appointed by the President of the United States-two from the executive branch of the Government and two from private life. Four would be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, two from the Senate, and two from private life. Four would be appointed by the Speaker of the House-two from the House of Representatives and two from private life. All of these appointments would be on a bipartisan basis. Of each group of two, one would be a member of the Republican Party and one a member of the Democratic Party. Any vacancies on the Commission would be filled by the original appointing officer. You will note in the bill that Members of Congress who are members of the Commission shall serve without compensation other than that which they receive for services as Members of Congress, but that they shall be reimbursed for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the Commission. Members of the Commission who are in the executive branch of the Government are to be paid the same compensation as provided |