Holcombe Praises Roosevelt Proposal For Reorganization of Administration

Characterizing President Roosevelt's message on governmental re-organization as an "act of rare political courage," Arhur N. Holcombe '06, professor of Government, in an exclusive statement yesterday, declared that the proposals advocated by the President would "meet with the approval of all well-informed students of public administration."

Professor Holcombe, together with William Y. Elliott, professor of Government, was called in by the President's committee of three who drafted the report. Mr. Holcombe spent the entire summer working on the recommendations that were made, and assisting him was Merle Fainsod, instructor of Government. Professor Elliott could not be reached last night for comment. Holcombe's satement follows:

"The President's message on administrative management shows rare political courage, as such drastic reorganization as the President's committee had recommended to him would inevitably encounter political opposition.

"The President's long experience in state government as well as in federal administration before his election to the Presidency had given him an unusual preparation for the administrative tasks of the Presidency and his strenuous experience under the trying conditions of his first term made him realize the urgency of a thorough reorganization of the executive branch of the government.

His proposals submitted to Congress on Tuesday have been carefully considered by him and will meet with the approval of all well informed students of public administration. It is to be hoped they will command the necessary support in Congress. If adopted they will mark the beginning of a new era in the conduct of public business in Washington."

Although they declined to be quoted directly, many experts gave it as their opinion that the sections dealing with the abolition of the Comptroller-General's office would arouse the most opposition. It was not felt, however, that the President recommended the abolition of the office because of the check imposed upon the Chief Executive, but rather because the office was considered administratively unsound